Alex is the founder of 9Kilo Moving, which he started to help people easily find and choose the right moving company to make their move as stress-free and seamless as possible. He has spent over 20 years working in the moving industry, so he knows every aspect of the business and uses his knowledge to write about the industry and give moving advice. More on about us page
Texas, the Lone Star State, calls out with its wide-open skies, diverse landscapes, rich culture, and dynamic cities. Relocating here means embracing a lifestyle of warm hospitality, strong traditions, and a meld of influences from its Native American, Mexican, and Southern roots.
However, any move, even to a vibrant place like Texas, is not without its hurdles and unknowns. This in-depth guide is here to help you navigate those twists and turns by offering crucial information, practical tips, and local insights for your move to Texas.
Whether you're attracted by the state's thriving job market, affordability, or the allure of varied urban and rural living options, our goal is to assist you in seamlessly transitioning into Texas life. So, prepare your favorite beverage, sit back, and let's traverse together through what could potentially be your new home—Texas!
✅ Texas is the second-largest U.S. state by area and population.
✅ Ouston, Texas, is home to NASA's Johnson Space Center, where astronaut training, research, and flight control are conducted.
✅ Texas is the leading crude oil producer in the U.S.
✅ The Alamo is in Texas and is one of the most famous historic sites in America. It’s known for the pivotal battle fought in the Texas Revolution of 1836.
✅ Dr. Pepper was invented in Waco, Texas, in 1885.
✅ Texas has two state mammals: the nine-banded armadillo and the Texas Longhorn.
✅ Six nations ruled over Texas; it was an independent country for nine years from 1836-1845.
✅ The King Ranch in Texas is bigger than the state of Rhode Island. It's one of the largest ranches in the world.
As one of the most populous states in the U.S., Texas boasts a diverse and dynamic demographic landscape. Texas's population in 2023 is approximately 30,500,280.
The state has a significant Hispanic population, comprising around 39% of the total population, making it one of the largest minority groups in Texas. Non-Hispanic Whites account for approximately 41%, African Americans about 12%, and Asian Americans around 5%. There's also a notable presence of individuals of Native American descent (0.23%)
Texas also has a relatively young population, with a median age of around 34.2 years. 50.4% of the population are females, and 49.6% are males.
Additionally, it's important to highlight the influence of immigration on Texas's demographics, with about 17% of the population being foreign-born.
Due to its vast size and geographical features, the weather in Texas is as diverse as the state itself. Generally, temperatures average from 39°F to 96°F and rarely go below 26°F or above 102°F.
That said, Texas experiences a variety of climate types, which ranges from coastal humidity to arid desert conditions. Here's an overview:
🟧 Northern and Western Texas: These regions are home to the North Texas Panhandle and West Texas, where a semi-arid climate prevails. Summers can be hot, with temperatures frequently exceeding 100°F, while winters can be quite cold, often dropping below freezing with occasional snowfall.
🟧 Eastern and Central Texas: This region includes cities like Austin, Dallas, and Houston, and typically experiences a humid subtropical climate. Summers are hot and humid, with temperatures often in the 90s or above, and winters are mild to cool. This region sees more rainfall than the rest of the state, especially in the spring and fall.
🟧 Southern Texas and Gulf Coast: This area has a tropical or subtropical climate, with hot, humid summers and mild winters. It's also the region most prone to hurricanes and tropical storms, especially between June and November.
🟧 Mountainous regions: Mountain regions in the far western part of the state, like the Guadalupe Mountains, can be cooler and experience more precipitation than the surrounding desert areas.
In this section, we'll delve into the top reasons that make Texas an attractive choice for your next home:
➡️ Cost of living: Texas often ranks as having one of the lower costs of living in the U.S., with a cost of living index of 92.1, which is lower than the national average of 100.
➡️ No state income tax: Texas is one of the few states where residents pay zero income tax. This results in considerable savings for residents.
➡️ Booming economy: Texas has a vibrant job market with sectors ranging from the oil and gas industry to technology, health care, and education, providing plenty of job opportunities. Texas ranks number 8 in the U.S. in terms of economy. The state also has a relatively low unemployment rate.
➡️ Outdoor activities: With its vast size, Texas offers a wide range of outdoor activities, from beach days on the Gulf Coast to hiking in the Texas Hill Country.
➡️ Affordable home prices: Compared to many other states, especially those that feature a coastline, housing in Texas can be more affordable. This makes homeownership attainable for more residents.
➡️ Sports culture: If you're a sports fan, Texas is a haven with its multiple professional football, basketball, baseball, and soccer teams. High school and college football are huge events.
➡️ Warm weather: If you love the sun, then you will love Texas! The state is ranked as one of the sunniest states in the U.S. What is even better, is that the winters are also mild and snow is not common!
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With the good comes the bad, and even though there are many reasons to live in Texas, there are some downsides to consider when moving to Texas:
❌ Healthcare accessibility: While major cities have excellent medical facilities, some rural areas in Texas have less access to high-quality healthcare services.
❌ Traffic: Major cities in Texas, such as Austin, Dallas, and Houston, are known for their traffic congestion, which can be a significant downside for commuters.
❌ Public transport: Public transportation can be lacking, especially outside of the major cities. Most Texans rely on a car for their daily commute.
❌ Weather: Texas can have scorching weather in the summer, and certain areas of the state are prone to severe weather events like tornadoes and hurricanes.
❌ Education: Although Texas has world-class universities, its K-12 public education system often ranks lower than other states. However, this varies significantly depending on the district.
❌ Gun culture: Texas has a strong culture of gun rights that has firm roots in Texas history. Texas does not require a license to purchase or possess rifles, shotguns, or handguns. Texas law also allows for permitless carry, which means that individuals 21 years and older—who are legally allowed to own a firearm—may carry a gun in public without a license. As a result, gun-related deaths in the state have increased significantly in the past few years.
Each region and city offers unique characteristics and attractions, so where you’d want to live would depend on your preferences in this regard when moving to Texas. Below we have broken down the best places to live in the different regions of Texas.
🔷 Austin: Known as the "Live Music Capital of the World," Austin is a vibrant, culturally rich city with a thriving tech industry. It offers an excellent food scene, numerous parks, and lakes for outdoor activities, and it's home to the University of Texas at Austin. Austin's eclectic culture, strong job market, and high quality of life make it a popular choice for many.
The city is emerging as a major hub for job opportunities and has drawn companies like Tesla to relocate here. Austin hosts an impressive lineup of top companies such as Facebook, Oracle, Whole Foods, Dell, and IBM. It's not just companies making the move; high-profile figures like Elon Musk, Joe Rogan, and Palantir's co-founder Joe Lonsdale have also chosen to make Texas their home. If you are thinking of moving here, have a look at some of the best neighborhoods in Austin for professionals.
🔷 Dallas-Fort Worth: This sprawling metropolitan area is a commercial and cultural hub of North Texas. It offers diverse job opportunities, particularly in the tech, finance, and telecommunications sectors. Dallas-Fort Worth has several world-class museums, a thriving arts district, and numerous professional sports teams.
🔷 Houston: As the largest city in Texas, Houston offers a strong job market, particularly in major industries like energy and aeronautics. The city has a diverse food scene and is home to the Texas Medical Center—the world’s largest complex of health care and research institutions.
🔷 San Antonio: Known for its rich colonial heritage, San Antonio offers affordable living, a low unemployment rate, and a warm climate. The city is famous for the Alamo, the River Walk, and its vibrant mix of cultures.
🔷 Plano: Part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area, Plano is known for its excellent school system, family-friendly environment, and wealth of job opportunities, particularly in the tech sector.
🔷 Round Rock: A suburb of Austin, Round Rock offers a high quality of life, with excellent schools, a thriving economy largely driven by tech companies, and a lower cost of living compared to Austin.
🔷 The Woodlands: Just north of Houston, The Woodlands is a planned community known for its lush green spaces, hiking and biking trails, and high standard of living. It offers the best schools and is a popular choice for young families.
🔷 Fredericksburg: Fredericksburg is a popular choice for those who prefer smaller-town charm. Known for its German heritage, it offers a quaint downtown area and wineries and is close to the natural beauty of the Texas Hill Country.
🔷 College Station: This small city is home to Texas A&M University and is a great place to live. The university heavily influences the city's atmosphere, which results in a vibrant college-town feel with abundant cultural activities, sports events, and educational opportunities. Some of College Station’s biggest appeals are its low crime rates and a strong sense of community.
Overall, Texas offers a very affordable cost of living for those looking to relocate:
100= National Average (Data source)
Are you moving to Texas? It's essential to fully understand the typical living costs in the state. Below, we dive a little deeper into the average costs of living.
⚠️ Because Texas is such a big state, we've selected various cities that represent distinct areas of the Lone Star State to provide a more detailed understanding of the living costs you might expect when moving to Texas.
The bottom line is that the average monthly rent is below the U.S. average, and Texas offers its residents affordable housing. Below, we have listed the average rent prices by the number of bedrooms:
It's also important to remember that Texas is a big state, meaning the cost of living can vary. Below we’ve compared the most and least expensive cities to rent in Texas.
Home prices in Texas are well below the national average, so you can move to the Lone Star State without blowing your budget. The median home price in Texas is $302,333. Home appreciation in the last ten years has been 9.6%.
To help you get a sense of housing prices in Texas, we have listed the median home values for some of the well-known cities in the state:
Source: 2023 Zillow Home Values Index
The cost of utilities in Texas can vary based on where you live, but here's a general idea: For electricity, Texas is unique because it has a deregulated electricity market, which means you can choose your provider from a list of companies. This can help you find competitive rates. The average monthly electricity bill in Texas is around $130.
Regarding water, you can expect an average bill of around $45-70 per month. Many Texans use natural gas for heating during the cooler months, and costs fluctuate based on consumption and market prices. Lastly, Texas has numerous providers with varying plans and prices for Internet service, and the average monthly cost for Internet service is approximately $114.
Here's a breakdown of the average total costs for basic utilities (including electricity, water, and gas) across Texas:
➡️ Dallas: $205.72
➡️ Austin: $220.07
➡️ San Antonio: $205.60
➡️ Houston: $176.86
As the second-largest state in the United States, Texas boasts a vast and comprehensive transportation network designed to accommodate its extensive size and diverse population.
Highways form the backbone of its transport system, with Texas having more public roads and highways than any other state, including the iconic Route 66 and Interstate 35.
For city-dwellers and commuters, metropolitan areas offer well-established public transit systems:
➡️ Buses: Texas's major cities like Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio all have their own public bus systems for getting around town. Smaller towns and rural areas have less developed bus transit systems.
➡️ Rail: Houston has the well-established METRORail system, a 22.7-mile light rail that services major parts of the city, including Downtown, the Museum District, the Texas Medical Center, and more.
Dallas is served by the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) light rail system, which covers 93 miles and has 64 stations throughout the city. Conversely, Austin has the MetroRail, a commuter train service that runs from the city's downtown out to the northwestern suburbs.
According to MIT’s Living Wage Calculator, a single adult in Texas can expect to pay $5,477 in transport costs annually.
The average grocery cost in Texas is $327.17 per person per month.
MIT’s Living Wage Calculator estimates that the average Texan’s annual eating-at-home food cost is $3,926. A family of four can expect to spend $11,564 annually on groceries, which means a monthly cost of $964.50.
Here is a breakdown of average monthly food prices for one person in the larger urban areas of Texas:
➡️ Dallas: $423.76
➡️ Austin: $393.65
➡️ San Antonio: $341.48
➡️ Houston:$357.06
The following prices are what you might expect to pay a professional moving company to move your belongings to Texas:
Moving to Texas can range from $2,000 to $15,000. This range is wide because there are many factors to consider when moving long distances.
The two most important factors influencing the cost of your move are your home size and the travel distance. Here’s a table that shows average cross-country moving cost by home size, assuming a move of 2,000 miles:
A breakdown of the costs might look like this:
➡️ The size of your home: The more things you move, the more the move will cost. You’ll want to ensure you’re only bringing those things you genuinely want to have in Texas.
➡️ Distance: The distance you need to travel is also essential to factor in. Traveling further increases the expenses your moving company will need to cover, increasing your move's total cost.
➡️ Service requirements: The cost of moving depends on the assistance you’d require on your cross-country move. Additional services will increase the total cost of your move and include the following: Storage, specialty-item moving, packing assistance, moving containers, as well as packing and moving supplies.
➡️ Moving dates are important: The moving industry experiences a busy season during spring and summer, which results in higher rates due to increased demand. On the other hand, the off-season during fall and winter sees a decrease in demand and lower rates. The cheapest way is to consider moving during the week in winter.
As one of the largest economies in the United States, Texas boasts a diverse and robust job market. Fueled by many industries, including energy, technology, health care, aerospace, and manufacturing, Texas consistently attracts new businesses and fosters entrepreneurship.
The state is home to numerous Fortune 500 companies, including ExxonMobil, AT&T, and Dell, contributing to a dynamic employment landscape. Cities such as Houston, renowned for its energy and healthcare sectors, Austin, with its thriving tech scene, and Dallas-Fort Worth, a hub for telecommunications and financial services, play significant roles in the state's economic health.
Despite global economic challenges, Texas has shown resilience, often outperforming other states in job growth, which is at 1.6% compared to the national average of 0.2%
According to the United States Census Bureau, the median household income in Texas is $67,321. The median individual income is $29,159. Below, we have listed the average salary for the bigger cities in Texas:
➡️ Dallas: $42,925 - $108,546, average: $77,029
➡️ Austin: $50,337 - $84,704, average: $68,271
➡️ San Antonio: $37,879 - $65,918, average: $52,219
➡️ Houston: $45,068 - $83,836, average: $69,483.
As we’ve mentioned above, Texas has room for improvement in education in the U.S., where it ranks #35th.
Like any education system, Texas faces specific challenges that can impact its students' quality and access to education. But with that said, Texas has over 1,000 school districts, ranging from small rural communities to large suburban ones, all overseen by the Texas Education Agency.
The state has adopted a standardized curriculum, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, implemented to ensure consistency across its public schools.
Texas is also home to numerous renowned higher education institutions. These include public universities such as The University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, and the University of Houston, as well as prestigious private institutions like Rice University and Southern Methodist University.
Texas's colleges and universities are recognized for their research programs, with many receiving substantial funding for advancements in fields like energy, medicine, and computer science.
Below, we have listed the best things to do in the bigger cities and across this diverse state!
➡️ Austin: Explore the live music scene, indulge in the food culture, and visit outdoor attractions like Lady Bird Lake and Zilker Park. The State Capitol and the vibrant shops and eateries on South Congress Avenue are also a must-visit.
➡️ San Antonio: The Alamo mission–an iconic historical landmark–is a must-visit here. Stroll the River Walk, explore the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, and discover the vibrant Pearl District.
➡️ Houston: From touring the Space Center Houston to exploring the Museum District and relaxing in Hermann Park, Houston has much to offer. Don't forget to check out the vibrant arts scene in the Heights neighborhood.
➡️ Dallas-Fort Worth: Visit the Dallas Museum of Art, the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, the Fort Worth Stockyards, and the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden.
➡️ Big Bend National Park: An ideal destination for outdoor enthusiasts, offering hiking, camping, birdwatching, and stargazing. It’s among the U.S.'s largest, most remote, and least-visited national parks.
➡️ Fredericksburg: Known for its German heritage, wineries, shopping, and Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, this charming town in the Texas Hill Country is a great place for a weekend visit.
➡️ Marfa: This small desert city is known for its art scene, mysterious lights, and striking Prada Marfa art installation.
➡️ Corpus Christi and Padre Island National Seashore: Ideal for a beach vacation, bird-watching, or fishing trip. Don't miss out on the USS Lexington Museum and Texas State Aquarium.
➡️ Galveston: This island city offers beautiful beaches, historic downtown with Victorian architecture, and attractions like Moody Gardens and Bishop's Palace.
➡️ Palo Duro Canyon State Park: Known as the "Grand Canyon of Texas," it offers hiking, camping, and horseback riding through scenic, rugged landscapes.
➡️ Guadalupe Mountains National Park: This park contains the highest peak in Texas and is perfect for hiking, bird watching, and viewing spectacular desert landscapes and diverse wildlife.
Relocating to a new state, particularly one as vast and diverse as Texas can be exciting and challenging at the same time!
Whether you're drawn to the vibrant city life of Austin or Dallas, the historic charm of San Antonio, or the natural beauty of the Texas Hill Country or Gulf Coast, the Lone Star State welcomes you with open arms.
If you are ready to move to Texas, let 9Kilo help make your transition as smooth and enjoyable as possible!
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