Advantages & Disadvantages of Moving to Houston

You think about moving to Houston but want to get additional information about this city before making your final decision in this regard?

Great! This article is exactly for you since I will show you all the pros and cons of living in Houston in the following chapters so that you can better decide whether you still want to move to Houston or rather want to live in a different region instead.

Living in Houston – Overview

Advantages of Living in Houston

1. Growing population in Houston
2. Houston is a popular place to live
3. Property prices are still pretty low
4. Rents are at a reasonably low level as well
5. People from all over the country think about moving to Houston
6. Houston offers the comfort of a big city
7. People in Houston are tolerant
8. People are willing to help you out
9. People are not in that much of a hurry as in many other big cities
10. Houston is less crowded than other major cities in the US
11. Housing shortage is not a big problem in Houston yet
12. It will not take you long to find a suitable place to live
13. Living costs are lower compared to other major cities
14. Average person can afford a decent lifestyle
15. Houston offers decent schools and colleges
16. Houston is directly located at the coast
17. You can enjoy lots of time in nature
18. Great weather in Houston
19. Winters are warmer than in most other states
20. You can spend lots of time outdoors
21. Highly-qualified people can make good money in Houston
22. Many big companies to work for
23. You can build a strong business network in Houston
24. You can meet people from all over the world
25. Houston has many great sports teams
26. Houston has a decent art scene
27. Many museums to visit in Houston
28. It is easy to socialize in Houston
29. Decent bars and clubs in Houston
30. Houston is an important economic center
31. Decent future outlook for Houston
32. Houston offers big city life
33. Decent shopping opportunities in Houston
34. You will find most things for daily life within walking distance
35. Decent public transport near the city center
36. Houston has a big international airport
37. You will never get bored in Houston
38. Houston is popular all over the US
39. Good medical infrastructure in Houston
40. You can choose between many different neighborhoods
41. You can try many delicious foods
42. Houston has many recreational spaces
43. Houston can be a great place to live for students
44. You can experience many different cultures
45. You can have many interesting conversations
46. More than enough entertainment opportunities in Houston

Growing population in Houston

One benefit of living in Houston is that population is growing and this means that the city becomes more popular and experiences a boom.

In turn, many people will move to Houston and overall public infrastructure and opportunities may increase as well in various aspects of life.

Moreover, with growing population, you don’t have to worry that the city may become unimportant in the future and can expect to enjoy decent infrastructure for many years to come.

Houston is a popular place to live

While Houston is not as popular as NYC or L.A., it is still a popular place and known all over the US.

Hence, many people from different states may envy you if you tell them about your plans of moving to Houston and you can therefore really impress your circle of friends.

Property prices are still pretty low

Another reason to move to Houston is that property prices are still pretty low compared to other big cities in the US.

While people living in Los Angeles have to spend lots of money on buying a home and often really struggle to pay their monthly rates, you will have a rather relaxed time in Houston in this regard and will have enough disposable income left to spend on other things.

Rents are at a reasonably low level as well

Not only property prices are reasonable, but also rents are much lower compared to most other big cities in the US and while people in many other cities really struggle to pay rent and may get evicted sooner or later, you don’t have to worry in this regard too much in Houston since rents are pretty low and almost everyone can afford renting a decent place in Houston right now.

People from all over the country think about moving to Houston

Since property prices and rents are pretty low and Houston still offers many nice things many people want to experience, people from all over the country consider moving to Houston and it may therefore become even more popular in the near future.

Houston offers the comfort of a big city

Another upside to living in Houston is that you can just enjoy the comfort that most people expect from a big city.

You will find many amenities within walking distance to your home and will also get everything you need without having to drive to other cities as would be the case if you lived in smaller towns where the overall variety of products is rather limited.

People in Houston are tolerant

People in Houston are also considered pretty tolerant and you will therefore be welcome no matter where you come from as long as you are tolerant and friendly yourself and also willing to adapt to local cultural norms.

People are willing to help you out

Not only are people in Houston tolerant, but most of them are also willing to help you out in case you get in trouble or need support in various parts of life.

People are not in that much of a hurry as in many other big cities

Since people in Houston don’t have to make as much money as in other states to pay their bills since rents are pretty low, people are also not as stressed and rather relaxed compared to many other big cities where people run up and down the streets to be on time for important meetings and don’t have time for anything else than their careers.

Houston is less crowded than other major cities in the US

While Houston is a big city, it is still far less crowded than other major cities in the US.

For instance, if you live in New York, you will often run into people and you will just feel like a fish in a can and may not have any space to move in the inner city.

In Houston, you will not have that many issues in this regard and you will also find many quiet spaces to unplug from your stressful life for a while.

Housing shortage is not a big problem in Houston yet

While Houston has gained in popularity over the past years, housing shortage is not a big problem yet and you will not have to compete with as many other prospective tenants as in more popular cities.

It will not take you long to find a suitable place to live

Since competition for housing is not as high as in other major cities in the US, chances are that you will find a suitable place to live pretty soon and that you don’t have to spend much time and effort in this regard.

Living costs are lower compared to other major cities

Another advantage of living in Houston is that living costs are far lower compared to other major cities in the US.

For instance, while you will often have to pay a small fortune for drinks in New York City, you will not have to spend as much money in Houston on average and this is not only true for drinks but also for various other parts of daily life.

Average person can afford a decent lifestyle

Since rents and property prices are low and living costs are also lower compared to other major cities, people with an average income can still afford a decent lifestyle in Houston while many other people with average incomes who live in San Francisco other big cities in the US often struggle in this regard.

Houston offers decent schools and colleges

Another upside to moving to Houston is that the city offers many decent schools and colleges and if you have the money, you can make sure that your kids get the best education possible to give them a head start for their future lives and the best possible career outlook.

Houston is directly located at the coast

Living in Houston can also be great since the city is directly located at the coast and you can therefore take a swim, surf or just relax on the beach before or after work or sometimes even during lunch break to relax and to reload your batteries for the stressful things yet to come.

You can enjoy lots of time in nature

Not only will you be able to enjoy your time at the beach, but you will also have many nature reserves and parks nearby where you can relax and unplug from your stressful life to reload your batteries and maximize your level of productivity in the long run.

Great weather in Houston

You should also know that Houston offers great weather and you will be able to enjoy many hours of sun.

Thus, if you are a sun lover, Houston can be a great place for you to stay since you will be able to enjoy more hours of sun than in most other big cities in the US.

Winters are warmer than in most other states

Not only summers are great in Houston, but also winters are pretty warm and you can often stay outdoors with a shirt and don’t have to wear heavy jackets as would be the case if you moved to Chicago or other colder places.

You can spend lots of time outdoors

Due to the good weather and the warm climate, you can also spend lots of time outdoors in the Houston region and this can really contribute to high quality of life since the more time you spend outdoors in nature, the less likely it will be that you get depressed on average.

Highly-qualified people can make good money in Houston

Another advantage of moving to Houston is that you can make really good money, at least if you are highly-qualified and have many valuable skills needed in the job market right now.

Many big companies to work for

You can also work for many different companies in different industry branches and it doesn’t really matter whether you are an engineer, financial expert or lawyer as long as you have skills that are in high demand so that you can provide enough value to the company you work for in the long run.

You can build a strong business network in Houston

Since Houston is a big city and has many great job opportunities for highly-qualified people, you can also meet many influential people in the long run and can build a pretty strong business network from which you can benefit for the rest of your life.

You can meet people from all over the world

Houston is well-known all over the US and even the world and it has also become an attractive place to live for people from many foreign countries.

Consequently, you can meet many interesting and exotic people and by having conversations with those people, you can really grow in character, become more tolerant and start to see the world from a different perspective.

Houston has many great sports teams

Houston is also a great place to live if you love sports and want to watch games on a regular basis.

Not only can you watch the Houston Rockets, but there are also many other prestigious sports teams in the city and you can just choose your favorite sport and enjoy many nice games.

Houston has a decent art scene

Another benefit of moving to Houston is that it also has a decent art scene and if you are an artist yourself or just interested in art as a hobby, chances are that you will find many like-minded people and can really improve your skills in the long run.

Many museums to visit in Houston

Not only does Houston have a decent art scene, but you will also be able to enjoy many nice exhibitions in various museums of the city and chances are that you will never get bored in this regard.

It is easy to socialize in Houston

There are also many places in Houston where it is easy to socialize and since people are often friendly and outgoing, chances are that you will find new friends pretty soon and you therefore don’t have to worry about becoming socially isolated once you move to Houston.

Decent bars and clubs in Houston

Houston also offers decent nightlife. In fact, there are more than enough good bars and clubs to choose from even though you will still not have the same variety as in New York City or Los Angeles.

Houston is an important economic center

Another reason to move to Houston is that the city is an important economic center and is one of the largest cities in the US.

Consequently, it is pretty important for the state and will get lots of financial support so that the city will be an attractive place for many years to come.

Decent future outlook for Houston

Houston also has a pretty good future outlook in general since population in the Houston area is growing and Houston has also become increasingly popular over the past decade.

In turn, people from all over the country want to move to Houston and the city will therefore stay important for many decades.

Houston offers big city life

Houston can also be a great place to live for you if you really love big city life and want to spend your time in a crowded city where you will have many things going on 24/7.

Decent shopping opportunities in Houston

You will also have many good shopping opportunities in Houston and will find most things you are looking for, even though you will still not have as many fancy boutiques as in L.A. or NYC.

You will find most things for daily life within walking distance

Living in Houston is also pretty convenient since you can find many things of daily life within walking distance and can just walk down the street for a few minutes and get everything you need.

Decent public transport near the city center

Houston also offers decent public transport within the main city and you therefore don’t urgently need a car to get from A to B in Houston as long as you live in the city center and don’t want to live in the outskirts.

Houston has a big international airport

Another advantage of staying in Houston is that the city has a big international airport and you will therefore be able to get to many exotic places in the world pretty soon and don’t have to drive long hours for using other airports as would be the case if you lived in smaller towns.

You will never get bored in Houston

Since there are so many leisure and nature activities to choose from, chances are that you will also find something to do and that you will never get bored in Houston.

Houston is popular all over the US

Over the past decade, Houston has also become increasingly popular by people from all over the US and even the world and with increasing levels of popularity, also population has increased in Houston.

If this trend continues in the future, Houston may become an even more attractive place to live and property prices and rents may increase significantly. Hence, it may make sense to move to Houston right now before all of this unfolds.

Good medical infrastructure in Houston

You will also have pretty decent medical infrastructure in Houston and in case of emergency, you will have good doctors and hospitals taking care of you so that you can cure your disease as soon as possible.

You can choose between many different neighborhoods

Since Houston is such a big city, you can also choose between many different neighborhoods and can just settle down in a place where you find the most like-minded people and also feel most comfortable in general.

You can try many delicious foods

Since Houston is a big and diverse city, you can try many foods from all over the world and you will be surprised by how well many of those exotic dishes really taste and can have many great culinary experiences in the long run.

Houston has many recreational spaces

Houston also offers many recreational spaces, both within city borders as well as in the surrounding regions and this can be great since you will find many spots to relax and to reload your batteries and can also enjoy your leisure in a nice manner.

Houston can be a great place to live for students

Since living costs and rents are relatively low while the city still has a lot to offer for young people, Houston is also a great student city and attracts students from all over the country.

You can experience many different cultures

Since Houston is a multicultural city, you can meet many people from all over the world and can become friends with people from many remote regions.

In turn, you can make many valuable contacts for your travels and can also visit those people in their home countries and have a great time.

You can have many interesting conversations

Since you can meet so many different people, you can also have many interesting conversations with people in Houston and chances are that you will never get bored in this regard and that there will always something to be learned.

More than enough entertainment opportunities in Houston

Houston also offers more than enough entertainment and many nice events take place in this city. In turn, you will never run out of ideas regarding how to spend your leisure.

Now that you know all the upsides to living in Houston, it is time to also talk about the negative things that come along with it so that you get a better picture of reality and can better decide whether you still want to move to Houston or rather want to live in a different city instead.

Disadvantages of Living in Houston

1. Houston has relatively high crime rates
2. Unemployment rate is above national average
3. Houston is not that popular among tourists
4. Houston has relatively poor air quality
5. Traffic is a big problem in Houston
6. You may have a hard time finding a parking lot
7. Housing shortage may become more severe in the near future
8. Property prices and rents may increase even further
9. Average person may no longer be able to make a living in the future
10. Good jobs only for highly-qualified people
11. Houston does not have the same high reputation as other big cities
12. Overall level of inequality in Houston has increased over the past decade
13. Social tensions have increased as well
14. Homelessness is a serious problem in Houston
15. Houston may be too hot for you
16. Lack of seasons may be annoying
17. Houston has many problems that come along with living in a big city
18. Houston is not as glamorous as other big cities
19. You will not meet many celebrities in Houston
20. Houston is not considered bike-friendly
21. It will take you quite long to get from one end of Houston to the other
22. Public transport in the suburbs is rather poor
23. You may just not like big city life
24. Water scarcity may become a problem in Houston
25. Wildfires may burn down your home
26. Some neighborhoods in Houston are pretty dodgy
27. Your expectations may be too high

Houston has relatively high crime rates

One problem with living in Houston is that the city has high crime rates and you may therefore just not feel safe when you walk down the streets, especially at nighttime.

In turn, you may rather spend more time indoors and may also be afraid to leave your home during certain hours which may greatly lower your overall quality of life in the long run.

Thus, if you are a careful person, you may rather want to move to Virginia Beach or other safer places instead.

Unemployment rate is above national average

Not only crime rates are pretty high, but also unemployment is a big problem, especially for low-qualified people who often don’t find good jobs in Houston and may also get laid off on a regular basis.

Houston is not that popular among tourists

While Houston has become increasingly popular among tourists over the past decade, it is still not on the same level as NYC or L.A. and you will therefore not have that many interesting conversations with people from all over the world compared to other big cities in the US.

Houston has relatively poor air quality

Another reason not to move to Houston is that air quality is pretty poor and you may therefore suffer from serious pulmonary or cardiovascular problems in the long run.

Traffic is a big problem in Houston

You should also know that traffic is a big problem in Houston and you will therefore have to spend lots of time in traffic jams when commuting to work and back and this can really get annoying in the long run.

You may have a hard time finding a parking lot

Due to heavy traffic, you may also have a hard time finding a parking lot and may have to spend lots of time and money in this regard.

Housing shortage may become more severe in the near future

Another disadvantage of moving to Houston is that demand for housing has increased over the past decade and if this trend continues, housing shortage may also become a problem in the future and you may have to search for longer before you find a suitable place to live.

Property prices and rents may increase even further

Due to increasing demand for housing, also property prices and rents may increase significantly in the near future and this implies that you would have to spend a higher fraction of your income on housing and would have less money left to spend on other things.

Average person may no longer be able to make a living in the future

If property prices and rents increase further and the region becomes more popular, the average person may no longer be able to make a decent living in Houston just a few years from now and many locals may have to leave the region which would take away part of the city’s charm.

Good jobs only for highly-qualified people

While highly-qualified people will find many decent jobs in Houston, low-qualified people will often have a hard time finding a good job and may have to work a second job to pay their bills.

Houston does not have the same high reputation as other big cities

Another downside to moving to Houston is that the city is still not as popular as other major cities in the US and your peers who live in more prestigious cities may just not understand your decision of moving to Houston and you may have to justify quite a lot for your decision.

Overall level of inequality in Houston has increased over the past decade

You should also note that overall level of inequality has increased over the past decade and people in Houston are no longer that friendly anymore since an increasing number of people has become frustrated with latest developments.

Social tensions have increased as well

Due to increasing levels of inequality, also social tensions have increased and it is no longer that common that people from different social classes meet up and have a great time together.

Instead, the rich spend more time with other rich people and the poor spend time with the poor.

Homelessness is a serious problem in Houston

While homelessness is already a significant problem in Houston, it may become even worse in the future and this may greatly decrease overall quality of life for the general public in Houston in the long run.

Houston may be too hot for you

While the weather in Houston is great, it is also pretty hot during summer and if you don’t like the heat, chances are that you will be far better off living in cooler regions instead.

Lack of seasons may be annoying

Since also winters are pretty warm in Houston, the lack of real seasons may also become annoying in the long run and you may really wish for strong winters sooner or later.

Houston has many problems that come along with living in a big city

Since Houston is a big city, there are also many unpleasant things that come along with big city life in Houston and you will see lots of poverty, homelessness and other unpleasant things and you should be mentally prepared for those issues before you finally decide on moving to Houston.

Houston is not as glamorous as other big cities

While Houston offers the comfort of a big city, it is still not as glamorous as L.A. or NYC and if you are a person who wants to be at the heart of the universe, you may be better off spending your time in more prestigious cities instead of moving to Houston.

You will not meet many celebrities in Houston

Since Houston is not the most popular city in the US, you will also not meet many celebrities and many have to travel to other big cities to get in touch with your idols.

Houston is not considered bike-friendly

Another problem with moving to Houston is that it is not a bike-friendly city yet and this means that you will often have to take your car to get around and this is really bad for our planet since it contributes to global warming and air pollution.

It will take you quite long to get from one end of Houston to the other

Since Houston is a pretty big city, it will also take you quite long to get from one end to the other and you may also have to spend lots of time in traffic jams until you finally reach your destination.

Public transport in the suburbs is rather poor

While public transport is decent in the inner city, it is rather poor in the suburbs of Houston and if you don’t want to live in the city center, you would likely need a car to get around.

You may just not like big city life

You should also ask yourself whether you really enjoy big city life or if you rather want to move to a smaller town where life would be more relaxed and less stressful in general than in Houston.

Water scarcity may become a problem in Houston

Due to climate change, water scarcity may become a serious problem in Houston sooner or later and in case the city runs out of drinking water, this would really lower overall quality of life in the long run.

Wildfires may burn down your home

You should also be aware of the fact that wildfires may burn down your home and if you are unlucky, you may not only lose your home but even your life.

Some neighborhoods in Houston are pretty dodgy

While there are many nice neighborhoods in Houston, some of them are also pretty dodgy and you should therefore spend some time finding the best neighborhood for you so that you don’t end up in trouble in the long run.

Your expectations may be too high

You should also not expect the same lifestyle as in L.A. or NYC if you move to Houston since you would be pretty disappointed otherwise since the city just doesn’t have the same glamor and if you expect too much, your high expectations may just not be fulfilled and you may just be sad once you experience reality.

Top 10 Moving To Houston Pros & Cons – Summary List

Should You Move To Houston?

Houston can be a great city to live in since it offers the comfort of a big city and also has many nice things to offer so that you never get bored in your leisure.

Houston is also a relatively cheap place to live and the average person can afford to rent or buy a decent home.

However, Houston also has an above-average crime rate and unemployment rate and you may just not be able to make really good money in the long run if you are not highly-qualified.

In the end, you have to decide for yourself whether you still want to move to Houston or rather want to live in a different region instead.

Alternative Cities To Live In

If you don’t want to move to Houston anymore, you should also have a look at the following articles:

Advantages and disadvantages of living in Anaheim

Advantages and disadvantages of living in Minneapolis

Advantages and disadvantages of living in San José

Sources

https://www.houstontx.gov/

About the author

This site is about living, moving and traveling to various parts of our fascinating planet.

My name is Andreas and when I was younger, I traveled the world and learned a lot about different cultures and countries.

Thus, I want to share my experiences with you so that you can benefit from them and avoid common mistakes in this regard.

In my articles, you will find everything you need to find the best location for a happy and successful life.