10 Great Reasons to Move to Texas

Planning a move to Texas? You’re not alone. The Lone Star State is the second most populous state in the country — and it’s easy to see why. The warm weather, diverse population and melting pot of cultures attract numerous people each year. In fact, the December 2021 estimates by U.S. Census Bureau show the population of Texas grew 1.1 percent between July 1, 2020, and July 1, 2021. During that period, the state added 310,288 residents, going from 29,217,653 to 29,527,941. https://www.allieddubaimovers.com

Texas’s terrain is vast. It spreads over 1,000 miles from north to south. From the glitz and glam of downtown Dallas to the quintessential Texas rodeos of San Antonio, there’s something for everyone in Texas. Not convinced Texas is for you? Here are 10 reasons why moving to Texas is a great idea.

The Lone Star State is famous for its barbecue and beef brisket, chili, Tex-Mex dishes (chile con queso, anyone?), margaritas, Frito pie, Dr. Pepper, Shiner Boch beer and a number of other food and drink options. Texas BBQ traditions are wide-ranging and depend on what part of the state you’re in. For instance, if you find yourself in the central part of Texas, you will see that the barbeque style there is to have very little or none of the sauce. Whatever style you encounter, Texas barbeque is a must-try. The same goes for TexMex, which is a beloved food category by itself.

There’s more to Texas than barbeque, ribs and tacos, of course. In the non-meat category, there are the popular Texas toast, kolaches (like Louisiana, Texas inherited kolaches from the Czech immigrants of the past) and jalapeno cornbread. Texas grows fantastic peaches and ruby red grapefruit and is home to the Blue Bell Creameries.

Not sure where to try all this deliciousness? There are many food guides out there, including the newcomer restaurants for 2022. For specific cities, check out these top recommendations for the best restaurants in Austin for 2022, plus the ones for Houston, Dallas— the list goes on.

Don’t forget about the diverse natural beauty of Texas. From the beaches along the Gulf coast to a slew of national parks, Texas offers a range of natural beauty. The Padre Island National Seashore is a protected 70-mile stretch of undeveloped coastline with dunes, prairies and beaches that are teeming with marine life. The Big Ben National Park offers scenic drives, hiking, canyons and access to the legendary Rio Grande River. The Guadalupe Mountains National Park features several landscapes and ecosystems. It attracts thousands of visitors every year, many of whom want to hike to the summit of Guadalupe Peak, the highest point in Texas. And, the Dinosaur Valley State Park has real dinosaur tracks from millions of years ago!

In addition, Texas’s major cities (think thriving hubs like Austin, Dallas and Houston) are all home to many of the best moversdubai, shopping and cultural offerings you’ll find anywhere.

1. The economy is booming

   The State of Texas is home to one of the healthiest state economies in the country. WalletHub recently ranked Texas the best state to start a business and the top second for its business environment. Texas beat Georgia and California in this ranking of 50 states. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Texas produces nine percent of the U.S. GDP, second only to California. Texas also entered 2021 as the world’s ninth-largest economy, ahead of Canada, South Korea and Brazil. That’s thanks in part to several corporate giants moving their operations to Texas in 2020 (Amazon, CBRE, Tesla, HP and Oracle). Job seekers should be able to find plenty of employment throughout the state as well. The Texas Tribune noted back in January that “job growth in the state, driven by population gains, has outpaced the rest of the country in recent months…” The Tribune cites data from the Texas Workforce Commission on how the state ended 2021 with about 13.06 million nonagricultural jobs. That is about 89,600 more jobs before the onset of the pandemic. Unemployment, which skyrocketed to 12.9 percent when Gov. Greg Abbott ordered shutdowns in April 2020 to curb the spread of COVID-19, had also dropped to 5 percent as of December 2021.And the salaries are decent too. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s latest available data on median income (2020), the median household income in Houston, the city with a population of 2,304,580, is $53,600. Plano’s median household income is $96,348, for a population of 285,494, and Dallas, a city of 1,304, 379 residents, has a median household income of $54,747.

2. Lively sports culture

   On any given weekend, you’ll find crowds of Texans at sports bars and in the stadiums rooting for their favorite team. Several of the most popular professional teams in Texas include the Dallas Cowboys, Houston Astros, Houston Texans, Dallas Mavericks, Texas Rangers and San Antonio Spurs — among others.Texas State Historical Association also points out that Texas had earned a national reputation for sports all the way back in the pioneer days because of the Texas cowboy rodeos. To this day, the rodeos are still alive and well. https://www.themoveme.com

3. You can actually afford to buy a home in Texas

   Frustrated by the absurdly expensive housing prices in many of America’s most popular cities? Move to Texas, and you’ll be able to find plenty of affordable homes in and around major cities. In fact, many of the best places to live in Texas are also relatively affordable. For instance, the median listing home price in San Antonio, one of the most popular cities in Texas, is $280,000 (that’s $159 per square foot). In Plano, where schools are top-notch, the median listing home price is $475,000. In Houston, a city with numerous job opportunities, the median listing home price is $329,000. Take a look at our roundup of some other fantastic (and affordable) places to call home when you move to Texas.

4. You won’t have to pay state income tax

   There’s no doubt about it — Texas is one of the most tax-friendly states in the country. In addition to Texas’s low cost of living and affordable cities, the state doesn’t require that residents pay taxes on their personal income. Instead, it relies on sale and property taxes.

5. There are plenty of safe cities and suburbs to call home

   Are safety and security at the top of your priority list? Then Texas may be the right place for you. In fact, many of Texas’s cities and suburbs are exceptionally safe and family-friendly. According to a March 2022 SafeWise report, the top 10 safest cities in the state are:

   • Trophy Club
   • Fulshear
   • Fairview
   • Colleyville
   • Memorial Villages
   • Elgin
   • Highland Village
   • Fate
   • Southlake
   • Sachse

6. The educational opportunities are top-notch

   There’s no shortage of educational opportunities in Texas. According to the 2022 U.S. News & World Report, many of the colleges and universities in Texas are located in the cities of Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, El Paso, Corpus Christi and the state capital, Austin.Two of the state’s publicly funded universities, the University of Texas in Austin and Texas A&M University in College Station, are among the largest universities in the country, with each enrolling about 40,000 undergraduate students. Rice University in Houston ranks number 17 nationally, followed by the University of Texas and SMU in Dallas, tying at number 38. In addition to large research universities, Texas is home to many midsize colleges, small liberal arts schools and several notable private colleges and universities.According to https://servicebasketuae.com, several of the best public school districts in Texas include Eanes Independent School District in Austin, South Texas Independent School District in Mercedes, Highland Park Independent School District in Dallas, and Round Rock Independent School District in Round Rock.

7. The food and drink options are second to none

   While Texas’s iconic fare may not be the healthiest, it’s certainly the tastiest. If we could describe the best things to eat in Texas in one sentence, it would be about big flavors, even bigger portions, and how delicious they are. Most of the popular Texas foods aren’t unique to Texas, and weren’t invented there. But they have evolved there, and are a big and well-loved part of the local culture.

8. The culture is one of the most unique in the country

   You know what they say: “Everything’s bigger in Texas” — including its culture. If you move to Texas, you will discover that cowboy boots are worn year-round, “mum” means more than “mom,” and “Texas proud” is a thing. In addition, Texas has an exceptionally vibrant art and entertainment scene, with a number of festivals, concerts and theaters throughout the state. There are over 30 annual music festivals in Texas alone. Some of the bigger festivals, like South by Southwest and Austin City Limits, attract a global crowd.

9. It’s diverse

   According to WalletHub, Texas is the second most diverse state in the nation. The study also ranked Texas fourth for “Most Racial and Ethnic Diversity,” third for “Most Linguistic Diversity” and first for “Most Industry Diversity.” The state’s wide range of companies and job offerings are part of the reason it attracts a diverse group of newcomers each year. In fact, according to Hotels.com, Houston is the most diverse city in America, thanks to its university campuses and many tech jobs. Austin alone is host to the regional and corporate headquarters to Apple, Charles Schwab, Facebook, General Motors, Home Depot, Whole Foods, Yeti, Indeed and LegalZoom.

10. There’s no shortage of things to see and do

    With so much to see and do in Texas, you’ll never be bored. The state is home to a number of popular cultural attractions, including the Space Center Houston, the San Antonio River Walk, the Fort Worth Stockyards Historic District and the USS Lexington Corpus Christi. The former Spanish mission of Alamo, in San Antonio, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, attracting millions of visitors from all over the world. One of the best attractions for the kids is the Dallas World Aquarium.

Ready to move to Texas?

For more information about cities within Texas, check Moving.com’s City Profile Report. Our reports include city demographics, real estate information, quality of life factors and more. Simply enter the desired zip code to get a free report at the click of a button. For help finding and booking the best moving company to hire when you move to Texas, check Moving.com’s extensive network of reputable and reliable movers. Best of luck and happy moving!