Moving to Houston, Texas? Here’s Why You’ll Love Living Here
May 9, 2023 | Moving
Would you love to live in a vibrant city with so much to see, do, and explore you’d never find a moment’s boredom? If so, consider moving to Houston. You’ll love the cost of living; Houston is cheaper than in most other major metro areas. Moreover, Houston is a global city and hotbed for art, innovation, and medical research. These factors, plus a healthy job market and plenty of fun activities, make Houston a great place to settle down.
According to the Council for Community and Economic Research’s Cost of Living Index, Houston has the second lowest cost of living compared to the United States 20 most populous metropolitan areas. Combine this with the absence of city and state tax, and Houston becomes an even more attractive place to live, work, and play.
Love the outdoors? Houston is home to more than 366 municipal parks and an additional 200 green spaces. If you’re relocating for a new job, Houston is known for its diverse economy, which includes energy, healthcare, aerospace, and technology industries, and for being the home of the Johnson Space Center and NASA’s Mission Control.
If you’re considering moving to Texas, here’s why people new to Houston quickly discover how much they love living here.
Houston is the Largest City in Texas
With a population of over 2.3 million people, Houston is the largest city in Texas, which is one of the many reasons it’s also the most famous city in Texas. Houston is one of four of Texas’s largest cities that make up “Texaplex,” also known as the Texas Triangle— Houston, San Antonio, Austin, and Dallas-Fort Worth.
Houston has also played a significant role in American history, including being the site of the Battle of San Jacinto, a decisive battle in the Texas Revolution, and being a key location in the civil rights movement of the 1960s.
Today, Houston is a diverse city bringing cultural traditions from different parts of the world. According to Houston Public Media, “There is something inherently cool about a city that just isn’t one thing. Our city’s many nicknames reflect Houston’s connections to climate (the “Bayou City”), culture (“H-town”), and industry (“Space City”)…”
Houston’s Diverse Arts and Culture Scene
H-Town is unique amongst cities for its seven distinct cultural hubs throughout its neighborhood districts. Its cultural districts include: 1) Arts District Houston, 2) Midtown Cultural Arts & Entertainment District, 3) Theater District Houston, 4) Houston Museum District, 5) East End Cultural District, 6) Third Ward Cultural District, and 7) Fifth Ward Cultural District.
The East End Cultural District, Third Ward Cultural District, and Fifth Ward Cultural District are all historic neighborhoods dedicated to preserving their long-standing cultural identities through the arts and civic engagement.
The Midtown Houston District is a vibrant and trendy arts and entertainment district. It’s home to two city parks. Bagby Park is where you can relax under shade trees, grab a snack at La Calle Tacos, and take your favorite furry friend to run and play at Bagby Dog Park. From Zumba and sound bath meditations to yappy hour and heroes again boot camp, you’ll always find something to do in Houston’s Midtown District.
Museum Lover’s Paradise
Houston’s scenic Museum District is nestled along oak-lined boulevards just south of downtown. On a pleasant day, you can park once and visit multiple museums. There are also public transportation options; cyclists can grab a bike at a B-cycle station or bring their own. Houston, TX, is home to several prominent museums.
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston: This is the largest art museum in Texas and one of the largest in the United States. The museum features a vast collection of more than 70,000 works of art from around the world, including paintings, sculptures, prints, photographs, and decorative arts.
The Houston Museum of Natural Science: One of the most visited museums in the country and features a variety of exhibits on astronomy, geology, paleontology, and natural history. It has an extensive collection of fossils, gems, minerals, a planetarium, and a butterfly center.
The Children’s Museum of Houston: The largest children’s museum in the country and is designed for children ages 0-12. The museum features interactive exhibits and programs that encourage learning through play and exploration.
The Holocaust Museum Houston: The largest Holocaust museum in the country and features exhibits and programs that educate visitors about the history and legacy of the Holocaust.
The Buffalo Soldiers National Museum: This museum is dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of African American soldiers who served in the U.S. Army from the Civil War to World War II. It has an extensive collection of artifacts, photographs, and documents related to the Buffalo Soldiers.
Houston is Space City
Space City is the home of the Space Center Houston, the official visitor center of NASA Johnson Space Center, which is home to Mission Control and astronaut training.
Space Center Houston is a leading science and space exploration learning center and one of Houston’s top attractions in addition to being the No. 1 attraction for international visitors. The exhibits and hands-on activities in this 250,000-square-foot educational entertainment complex tell the story of America’s human space flight program, giving guests an experience like no other.
Activities and exhibits are all related to space exploration and include:
- Fascinating historical artifacts from the space program’s early days.
- Interactive exhibits on current space missions.
- Simulations of spaceflight experiences.
But most exciting is that Space Center Houston is one of the only places on Earth where you’ll be able to see real astronauts train for missions and walk around under genuine SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets.
Excellent Employment Opportunities
Houston is home to The Texas Medical Center, the largest medical complex in the world. It sees 10 million patient visits annually and employs more than 106,000 people. Houston’s diverse economy is ideal for job seekers interested in careers in energy, healthcare, aerospace, or technology industries.
There are unlimited employment options to suit your career goals including private tech start-up companies to large, publicly held corporations, and more, which makes Houston hard to beat.
- Energy: Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell Oil Company, BP America, ConocoPhillips
- Healthcare: Memorial Hermann Health System, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Texas Children’s Hospital, Methodist Health System, St. Luke’s Health
- Aerospace: NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Jacobs
- Education: Houston Independent School District, University of Houston, Houston Community College, Texas Southern University, Rice University
- Technology: Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Dell Technologies, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon Web Services
- Finance: JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, BBVA Compass, Amegy Bank
- Manufacturing Dow Chemical Company, LyondellBasell Industries, Huntsman Corporation, Baker Hughes, National Oilwell Varco
- Retail: Walmart, H-E-B, Kroger, Target, Best Buy
- Transportation: United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, Union Pacific Railroad, BNSF Railway
- Hospitality: Marriott International, Hilton Worldwide, InterContinental Hotels Group, Hyatt Hotels, AccorHotels
To help find a job that’s right for you, there are several employment resources, including the Texas Workforce Commission, which provides job search resources, and the Greater Houston Partnership, which offers membership to networking events with the city’s top business leaders and managers.
The Best Time to Move to Houston
Generally, the best time to move to Houston is between October and February between the fall and winter months. But this can be tricky if you don’t control when you move because you’re relocating for a job or moving into a college dorm or apartment.
Houston has a humid subtropical climate with hot summers and mild winters. See our weather guide below so you know what to expect no matter what time of year you’re moving to Houston.
Summer: June – August in Houston is hot and humid, with average high temperatures in the 90s°F and high humidity levels. Thunderstorms are common during this time of year.
Fall: September – Novemberis mild and less humid than summer, with temperatures ranging from the mid-70s°F to the low 80s°F.
Winter: December – February is mild and chilly, with average high temperatures in the mid-60s°F and occasional cold fronts that can drop temperatures below freezing. Snow and ice are rare in Houston.
Spring: March-May in Houston is mild and pleasant, with temperatures gradually warming up towards the end of the season. Temperatures during this season range from the mid-70s°F to the low 80s°F. Thunderstorms are expected during spring.
In Summary: Why Houston Is a Great Choice
So if you’re considering making Houston your home, you’ll find the perfect mix of Southern hospitality and urban sophistication. Houston offers a low cost of living while maintaining a high quality of life with the amenities expected in a world-class city.
Houston’s housing costs are 17.9 percent below the nationwide average. Houston also ranks 2nd as the second most affordable place to live among the nation’s largest metros. You’ll appreciate that extra stash of cash to attend sports and entertainment events, museum exhibits, and concerts happening throughout the year.
Plan for Your Houston Move with Metro Self Storage
If you’re considering moving to Houston, you’ll enjoy discovering everything this vibrant city offers. For a stress-free move, consider storing your items in self storage while you find the perfect place to live.
When you choose Metro Self Storage, our friendly storage team will help you find the perfect business or household unit to meet your needs. We offer plenty of convenient amenities like complimentary carts, drive-up access units, boxes and moving supplies, and more.
We invite you to choose from a clean, state-of-the-art storage facility in Houston and find out how stress-free storage can be!
