houston
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Are you interested in moving to Houston, Texas?

Home to many Fortune 500 companies, various booming industries, and known for its global economy, Houston is one of the most coveted cities in America.

As the 5th largest metro area in the country, Houston’s low cost of living makes it more affordable compared to other metro areas across the country.

The Space City is a foodie’s haven and is home to various livable neighborhoods with many inner waterways.

If all of that sounds like what you’ll like to be a part of, moving to Houston is right for you.

This guide contains all the key information you need to know about Space City to figure out if moving to Houston TX is right for you.

QuickFacts

Quick facts to know before moving to Houston, TX

  • Houston’s cost of living is lower than the U.S. average
  • There is no income tax in Texas
  • Houston’s median home cost is $220,000
  • The average annual pay for jobs in Houston is $61,268 a year
  • Houston is a city of millennials with a median age of 33 years

What’s the population of Houston, TX?

Houston’s population is 2,323,660 people. The Space City spreads across 672 miles making it the largest city in Texas and the 4th largest in the U.S. The following is a breakdown of the city’s population since you’re considering moving to Houston, TX:

  • Houston’s population is currently growing at a rate of 0.07% annually
  • Houston has a population density of 3,630 people per square mile
  • The median age in Houston is 33 years
  • The median age is 32.7 years for males, and 33.4 years for females

How fast can you commute in Houston, TX?

Houston’s average one-way commute time takes 27.0 minutes. The U.S. average is 26.4 minutes. Houston is a car-friendly city and you can easily commute to work in your own vehicle. Since you’re considering moving to Houston, here’s how most of the city’s residents commute to work:

  • Around 76.6% of Houston residents drive their own car alone
  • Up to 11.3% of Houston residents carpool with others
  • About 3.6% of Houston residents work from home
  • Around 3.9% of Houston residents take mass transit

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How is the weather like in Houston?

Houston averages 204 sunny days per year. The U.S. average is 205 sunny days. If the weather is one of the key things you’d like to consider before moving to Houston, here’s a simple analysis of the city’s weather:

  • Houston’s July summer high is around 93 degrees
  • Houston’s January winter low is around 43 degrees
  • Houston averages 90 days of precipitation per year
  • Houston gets 0 inches of snow per year. U.S. average is 28 inches
  • Houston averages 53 inches of rain a year. U.S. average is 38 inches
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Top 10 reasons to move to Houston

Why should you consider moving to Houston, Texas?

Thousands of people move to Houston every year for various reasons. We’ve made a list of the top ten reasons why people are moving to Houston, check out the list below:

  • Houston’s cost of living is lower than the national average
  • Homes are affordable in Houston
  • Houston has a robust job market
  • Houston has a legendary food scene
  • You’ll find numerous things to do in Houston
  • Houstonians are friendly people
  • There are lots of beautiful livable neighborhoods in Houston
  • Houston is home to several top-quality schools
  • Houston is a car-friendly city
  • If you enjoy spending time outdoor, welcome to Houston
pros and cons of Houston

Pros & cons of moving to Houston, TX

Considering the pros and cons of moving to Houston TX can make it easier for you to figure out if the city is right for you or not.

We’ve made a list of the key pros and cons of moving to the city to help you get started:

The pros
  • Houston has a robust job market
  • Houston’s costs of living are lower than the U.S. average
  • The city is a melting pot of cultures
  • Houston is close to several other fun places
  • Houston’s food scene is absolutely tasty
  • Flying in and out of Houston is easy
  • There are lots of fun activities to do in Houston
  • You’ll have easier access to top-quality schools in Houston
  • Houston has zero income tax
  • There are lots of things to do and experience in Houston
The cons
  • Traffic can be really terrible in Houston
  • Driving can be a terrible experience in Houston
  • It will take some time for you to get used to the weather
  • Houston is a breeding ground for mosquitoes
  • You may have to put up with hurricanes in Houston
  • Sales taxes are higher in Houston
  • You’ll need a car to move around in Houston
  • You’ll have to put up with the city’s heat and humidity
  • Houston’s weather is unpredictable

Best places to live in Houston, TX

The following is a list of the 10 best places to live in Houston if you’re moving to the Space City:

Rank Neighborhood Population Median Income
1 West University Place, TX 15,603 $250,001
2 Bellaire, TX 18,815 $206,734
3 Sugar Land, TX 118,709 $121,274
4 Meadows Place, TX 4,653 $75,744
5 Pearland, TX 122,078 $104,504
6 El Lago, TX 2,710 $90,357
7 Oak Ridge North, TX 3,149 $102,118
8 Shenandoah, TX 2,887 $80,451
9 Friendswood, TX 39,688 $111,478
10 Seabrook, TX 13,927 $89,817

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Cost of living in Houston, TX

Houston’s cost of living is 96.5. The national average is 100.

That means Houston’s costs of living are lower than the national average. This is one of the key benefits of moving to Houston Texas – a big city with a low living cost.

The following are the key components that make up the costs of living in Houston, TX:

Living Expense Houston Texas National Average
Overall 94 91 100
Services 102 95 100
Grocery 89 90 100
Health 92 97 100
Housing 82 83 100
Utilities 97 94 100
Transportation 107 102 100
Houston Job Market

How is the job market in Houston?

Similar to several other large city’s job markets, Houston’s job market is recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The following is a breakdown of the city’s job market since you’re considering moving to Houston, Texas:

  • Houston’s unemployment rate is 8.0%. The national average is 6.0%
  • Houston’s job growth has been positive so far
  • The number of jobs in Houston has risen by -5.61% over the past year
  • The average annual pay for average jobs in Houston is $61,268 per year
Employment Information Houston, Texas United States
The income per Cap $30,547 $31,177
Household Income $49,399 $57,652
Unemployment Rate 8 6.0%
Recent Job Growth -5.61% -6.18%
Future Job Growth 30.92% 33.51%

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Top career options in Houston, TX

The top career options in Houston, TX are the highest paying jobs in the city. Moving to Houston means you’ll most likely get the chance for any of the highest-paying jobs in the city. The following are the top ten highest paying jobs in the city if you’re moving to Houston, TX:

Rank Job Title Average Salary Entry Level Salary # Of People
1 Chief Executives $260,450 $144,390 1,710
2 Anesthesiologists $247,530 $61,860 960
3 Surgeons, Except Ophthalmologists $227,890 $58,420 1,120
4 Family Medicine Physicians $220,400 $70,080 1,830
5 Obstetricians and Gynecologists $210,920 $60,400 390
6 General Internal Medicine Physicians $207,040 $68,680 860
7 Podiatrists $203,660 $81,830 140
8 Physicians, All Other; and Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric $202,060 $52,630 6,050
9 Architectural and Engineering Managers $194,630 $109,550 5,680
10 Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers $188,400 $88,000 3,820

What’s the median salary in Houston, TX?

Houston’s job market is making the city an attractive spot for many millennials. If you’re interested in getting a job after moving to Houston, you’ll most likely be interested in the city’s average pay. The following is a simple breakdown of the average pay for various jobs in Houston, TX:

  • Texas minimum wage is $7.25 per hour
  • The average annual pay for average jobs category in Houston is $61,268 a year
  • The average hourly pay for average jobs in Houston is $29.46 an hour
  • The average weekly pay for average jobs in Houston is $1,178 per week
  • The average monthly pay for average jobs in Houston TX is $5,106 per month

Top industries in Houston

Houston is home to several large industries powering the state’s economy and creating thousands of job opportunities. Since you’re interested in moving to Houston Texas, the following are some of the city’s leading industries:

  • Oil and Gas
  • Aerospace & Aviation
  • Healthcare
  • Advanced Manufacturing
  • Energy
  • Life Sciences & Biotechnology
  • Headquarters
  • Digital Technology
  • Transportation & Logistics
  • Distribution

Houston housing market

  • Houston’s median home cost is $220,000
  • Over the past 10 years, home values in the city have risen by 84.7%
  • Currently, home appreciation in the city is up by 12.5%
  • Around 51% of Houston’s residents are homeowners
  • Up to 5.1% of homes and apartments in Houston are open to rent

What’s the average cost of renting a home in Houston, TX?

If you’re moving to Texas and interested in renting a home, you’ll most likely be interested in the average costs of renting. We’ve made a list here to make it easier for you to get started. Check out the list below:

  • The average cost of a studio apartment in Houston TX is $894
  • The average cost of a 1-bedroom home or apartment in Houston TX is $960
  • The average cost of a 2-bedroom home or apartment in Houston TX is $1,144
  • The average cost of a 3-bedroom home or apartment in Houston TX is $1,518
  • The average cost of a 4-bedroom home or apartment in Houston TX is $1,949

Texas Taxes

If you’re moving to Houston from out of state, you may not be familiar with Texas taxes.

So, here’s a simple breakdown of the state’s taxes:

  • There is no income tax in Texas
  • Texas sales tax is 6.25% - 8.25%
  • Texas property tax is 1.69% average effective rate
  • Texas gas tax is 20 cents per gallon of regular gasoline and diesel

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Rank City Population Unemployment Rate Home Value
1 Ocean View 2,272 2.2% $346,400
2 Lewes 3,198 1.3% $558,200
3 Milton 2,893 2.5% $300,900
4 Newark 33,448 4.4% $277,800
5 Wyoming 1,381 5.1% $186,200
6 Bellefonte 1,173 4.2% $226,300
7 Rehoboth Beach 1,400 2.0% $1,017,100
8 Townsend 2,434 3.2% $331,500
9 New Castle 5,242 3.7% $194,300
10 Clayton 3,282 3.9% $242,900

How safe is Houston, TX?

Before making up your mind about moving to Houston, TX, you’d most likely be interested in the city’s crime rates. We’ve curated key stats about the property and violent crimes in the city to give you an idea of what to expect if you’re moving to Houston, TX:

  • Violent crime rates in Houston TX are rated 50.4. The national average is 22.7
  • Property crime rate in Houston, TX is 63.2. The national average is 35.4
  • Residents have a 1 in 93.3 chance of being the victim of a violent crime each year
  • Residents have a 1 in 23.2 chance of being the victim of a property crime each year

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Statistic Count Raw Houston/ 100k People Texas/ 100k People National/ 100k People
Total Crimes Per 100K 127,007 5,391.7 2,809.6 2,476.7
Murder 275 11.7 4.9 5.0
Robbery 9,147 388.3 100.0 81.6
Aggravated Assault 14,586 619.2 263.0 250.2
Violent Crime 25,257 1,072.2 418.9 366.7
Burglary 17,038 723.3 392.8 340.5
Larceny 71,614 3,040.2 1,730.6 1,549.5
Car Theft 13,098 556.0 267.2 219.9
Property Crime 101,750 4,319.5 2,390.7 2,109.9

Safest Neighborhoods To Live In Houston

If you’re moving to Houston, you’d most likely be interested in living in the safest neighborhoods in the city. We’ve made a list of the ten best neighborhoods to live in the city to make it easier for you to streamline your house hunting:

Statistic Neighborhood Crime Per 100K
1 West University 2,614
2 Midtown 2,177
3 Far Northeast 3,588
4 Downtown 3,531
5 Pasadena 3,967
6 Southwest 4,032
7 Greater Memorial 4,734
8 Bellaire 4,313
9 Spring Branch 4,508
10 Sugarland 4,419

Best schools & universities in Houston, TX

One of the key perks of moving to Houston TX is easier access to top-quality schools.

From university and colleges to elementary schools, you’ll find several top-rated schools in Space City, if you decide to move to Houston, TX. Check out this list of the best schools in the city:

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