So, you’re curious about living in Texas? Well, you’ve come to the right place!
The expert movers, travelers, and worldwide locals that make up the team at Relocalate.com are here to help.
We’ve compiled the ultimate guides to answer the most common questions people just like you have about living in the great state of Texas.
Dive deep into the topics you’re interested in to make sure your new home in Texas matches what you’re looking for.
We’ll explore whether Texas is a good place for YOU to live, and we’ll highlight some of the best cities for you to visit, explore, and ultimately call home.
Pros and Cons of Living in Texas
You’ve heard it before, and it’s true: no place is perfect. What matters is how good of a fit it is for you.
Relocalate.com is here to help you decide whether Texas is the best place for YOU to live.
Here are some reasons to love living in Texas:
- The good outweighs the bad when considering all that Texas has to offer prospective residents.
- It’s no wonder why so many people choose to move here every year! Many new Texans find that the cost-of-living is lower than in other parts of the country where they relocated from.
- The state offers a thriving economy with many jobs available at all skill levels in many different industries.
And, on the flip side, here are some of the downsides of living in Texas:
- It’s hot. Really, really hot – and this is coming from people who are originally from Texas.
- The cost-of-living may be cheaper than other states but it can still go up quite a bit depending on where you live in the state. Housing options outside major cities could mean long commutes to work or daycare for many families (which means spending more money). Higher property taxes might also affect your finances negatively. You’ll need to consider these factors before settling down in any particular location!
Moving to Texas is a huge decision that will affect many aspects of your life. So before you declare this as the place for you, take some time to consider everything! We hope these tips and insights have given you a clearer picture of what it’s really like living in our great state.
Tips:
- When looking for a house, find an agent who knows the area well or has experience with relocating families from out-of-state – they can help make sure you find the right fit.
- Take your time researching where you want to move within Texas so that once you’re there, the transition goes smoothly and quickly.
Read More: Is Texas a Good Place to Live?
Best Place to Live in Texas
So, you’ve got your heart set on living in Texas? Well, the decision making doesn’t end there. You’ve still got to decide where to live in Texas!
In some other articles, we’ll dive deeper into some of the best places to live in Texas.
Our experts have considered a whole bunch of different criteria to select the top locations, including:
- The best places to live for families, retirees, singles, young adults, outdoor lovers, foodies, and more.
- The safest places to live.
- The cheapest places to live.
- The best schools.
- The best job markets.
- The best housing markets.
- And so much more.
Just want a quick list? No worries, here are some of the best cities to live in Texas:
- Amarillo
- Arlington
- Austin
- Cinco Ranch
- Corpus Christi
- Dallas
- El Paso
- Fort Worth
- Frisco
- Houston
- Irving
- Mckinney
- Plano
- Round Rock
- San Antonio
- Waco
- West University Place
Read More: Best Places to Live in Texas
Checklist for Moving to Texas
So now you’re preparing for your big move to Texas. Maybe you’ve even started packing!
As you probably already know, there are a lot of things to take care of when you’re moving. Both in your current state and once you get to Texas.
Here are some of the major things you’ll want to take care of when you move to Texas:
- Updating your address with USPS.
- Getting your Texas driver’s license.
- Transferring your vehicle titles and registrations to Texas
- Getting Texas car insurance.
- Signing up for health insurance in Texas and finding new doctors, dentists, and local hospitals.
- Updating/changing other insurance policies you may need (homeowner’s insurance, renter’s insurance, pet insurance, motorcycle insurance, etc.)
- Registering to vote in your district in Texas.
- Updating your address with your banks, credit cards, subscription services, loans, investments, phone plans, and bill pay.
- Enrolling your kids in their new school district.
- Licensing your pets and finding a new vet.
- Setting up your utilities for your new home.
- Preparing to file state taxes for Texas and your previous home state.
Visit your Texas Moving Checklist for a detailed guide on all of the above.
Read More: Moving to Texas Checklist
While we’re at it, let’s cover some high-level questions and fun facts about Texas.
Things to Know About Living in Texas
As you’re preparing for your move or getting settled into your new home in Texas, here are some things to know about living there.
Cost of Living in Texas
One thing to consider when moving to a new state is the relative cost of living.
Texas ranks 14th on the Cost of Living Index with an overall rating of 92.3, meaning it’s a relatively inexpensive place to live.
Here is how Texas scores for the cost of living in each specific category:
- Groceries: 91.2
- Housing: 83.5
- Utilities: 103.3
- Transportation: 90.9
- Health: 94.5
- Miscellaneous: 97
The average cost of living in this index is scored at 100. The numbers above represent the percentage of the average. A number higher than 100 represents an above average cost of living, while a number lower than 100 represents a lower cost of living. A lower rank indicates a lower cost of living.
This data comes from the Cost of Living Index prepared by the Council for Economic Research (C2ER), which compiles data from cities across the country to rank and compare the differences in costs of living.
Sales Tax Rates in Texas
Sales tax is a way that state and local governments collect tax revenue from its residents and visitors.
These taxes are applied when you purchase something. It’ll show up on your receipt or bill. If you’ve recently moved to Texas from somewhere else, the new sales tax rates may surprise you.
On top of the state sales tax rates, local rates for certain counties and cities may apply and vary as well.
Texas’s state sales tax rate is higher than the national average at 6.25%, with an average local rate of 1.94% (the highest local sales tax rate is 2%). Across the state, the average sales tax rate is about 8.19%.
Check with the Texas tax office for the most current tax rates.
Real-Estate Property Tax Rates in Texas
If you own or plan to own real estate in Texas, you’ll want to think about the property tax rates when you move there.
Texas ranks 45th (from low to high) for its state property tax rate of 1.8%.
There may be additional property taxes on top of the rate stated here depending on your county, city, and school districts.
Check with the Texas tax office for the most current tax rates.
Texas’s Job Market & Economy
Another thing to think about when moving to Texas is the job market and economic indicators.
Overall, Texas ranks 2nd for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the United States.
The GDP measures the overall monetary value of all goods and services produced within a certain place over a period of time.
Its top 10 industries (ranked from largest to smallest by economic contribution to the state) are:
- Manufacturing
- Professional and business services
- Real estate and rental and leasing
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Wholesale trade
- Educational services, health care, and social assistance
- Finance and insurance
- Retail trade
- Construction
- Transportation and warehousing
The top employer in Texas is Walmart.
Notable Destinations and Landmarks in Texas
Our Texas moving guide wouldn’t be complete without a brief mention of some of the most iconic destinations in the state.
When you get settled in, a road trip may just be in order.
One of the most iconic landmarks in Texas is The Alamo.
National Parks that you can visit in Texas include:
- Big Bend National Park
- Guadalupe Mountains National Park
National Monuments that you can find in Texas include:
- Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument
- Military Working Dog Teams National Monument
- Waco Mammoth National Monument
These destinations are all great places to visit when you get a chance.
Facts about Texas
Texas is the 28th state of the United States that lies in the southern region. To its north is Oklahoma, to its south is Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico, to its east is Louisiana, and to its west is New Mexico.
What is the capital of Texas?
The capital of Texas is Austin.
Austin is located in Travis County with a population of 964,254.
What is the population of Texas?
The population of Texas based on 2020 US Census data is 29,145,505.
What is the largest city in Texas?
The largest city in Texas is Houston.
Houston has a population of 2,325,502, and it is located in Harris County.
What is the size of Texas?
Texas is 268,596 square miles making it the 2nd largest state in the U.S.
What is the state motto of Texas?
The state motto of Texas is: Friendship
What is the state bird of Texas?
The state bird of Texas is the Northern mockingbird.
What is the state flower of Texas?
The state flower of Texas is the Bluebonnet.
What is the state tree of Texas?
The state tree of Texas is the Pecan.
What is the minimum wage in the state of Texas?
The minimum wage in Texas is $7.25 per hour.
What is the median income in Texas?
The median annual household salary in Texas is $60,629.