Advantages & Disadvantages of Moving to Texas

You think about moving to Texas but want to get additional information about the state, job prospects, income level, housing situation, living costs, climate, safety, nightlife, education and much more before making your final decision in this regard?

Great! This article is for you since I will show you the pros and cons of moving to Texas in the following chapters.

You will also find some detailed information about the major cities of Texas at the end of this article so you will also get a better idea of what part of Texas you might want to move to.

Table of Contents

Living in Texas – Overview

ClimateTexas offers a subtropical climate with hot and humid summers and rather mild winters.
HousingProperty prices and rents are still pretty low and housing shortage is not a big problem in most parts of texas outside the major cities.
Living CostsLiving costs in Texas are below the national average and many people can still live a decent lifestyle in this region without making enormous amounts of money from their jobs.
IncomeThe average income in Texas is significantly below the US average and it is hard to make really good money from your job in this state.
SafetyWhile Texas is a rather safe state, crime rates can still be pretty high in the major cities.
EducationWhile you will find many good schools and universities in the major cities of Texas, you should still not expect great education in the rural parts of the state.
Job MarketUnemployment rate in Texas has been above national average for the past decades and many low-qualified people have a hard time finding decent jobs in this region.
CultureWhile you can enjoy high levels of cultural diversity in the major cities, you should still know that different cultural influences in smaller towns or villages may be rather limited.
Leisure ActivitiesPeople in Texas often go hunting, fishing, hiking and do many other nice things in nature.
LandscapeTexas offers lots of beautiful nature and you will find many nice lakes, rivers, forests and nature reserves where you can relax and also have a great time with your loved ones.
InfrastructureWhile public transport and medical infrastructure are solid in the major cities of Texas, those things still get worse once you get to the outskirts and the rural parts of the state.
Level of ToleranceWhile you will find many tolerant people in the big cities, you should still know that many people in the rural parts of Texas are still pretty conservative and traditional and may not be as open to new things as people living in California or other more liberal states.
NightlifeWhile there are many great bars and clubs in the major cities, nightlife is often not great outside those big metropolitan regions.
Total Population29.53 million inhabitants.
advantages and disadvantages of living in texas

Advantages of Living in Texas

  1. Low living costs are attractive for many people living in Texas
  2. Rents are still affordable for the general public
  3. Property prices are rather low in most regions of Texas
  4. Easy to find a solid place to stay rather quickly
  5. Low overall competition in the Texas housing market
  6. Many different housing options for families as well as single households
  7. Low overall financial pressure for people moving to Texas
  8. You don’t have to make great money to afford a decent lifestyle in many parts of Texas
  9. Money may not be as important as in many other states
  10. You can enjoy many beautiful nature locations in Texas
  11. People moving to Texas can spend lots of time outdoors
  12. You can get lots of fresh air in many parts of Texas
  13. Moving to Texas may help you become fit
  14. You can live in line with natural forces
  15. You may be able to live in a self-sufficient manner in Texas
  16. Moving to Texas may let you slow down your life
  17. You may be able to live a pretty original life in Texas
  18. You may realize what really matters by moving to Texas
  19. Moving to Texas lets you focus on yourself
  20. Many recreational spaces in Texas
  21. Many major cities in Texas
  22. Good mix of big city life and nature activities
  23. Many great shopping opportunities in the major cities of Texas
  24. Many great sports teams in Texas
  25. Decent nightlife in the big cities of Texas
  26. You can experience high levels of cultural diversity in the major cities of Texas
  27. Decent art scenes in the big cities of Texas
  28. Texas has a broad coastline
  29. You can enjoy sunny summers in Texas
  30. Mild winters are attractive to many people living in Texas
  31. Many nice day trips you can make in Texas
  32. The big cities of Texas are well-connected to the world
  33. You can experience many different lifestyles in Texas
  34. Texas is a pretty interesting state
  35. Many big corporations to work for in Texas
  36. Easy to build a strong business network in the major cities of Texas
  37. Texas may be an interesting place to retire
  38. Many interesting student cities in Texas
  39. Easy to socialize in the big metropolitan regions
  40. You can meet many friendly people in Texas
  41. Many people in Texas are pretty helpful
  42. People in Texas may not be in the same rush as people in many other states
  43. Decent internet connection in the urban parts of Texas
  44. Decent supply of material goods
  45. Texas becomes increasingly popular by people from all over the US
  46. Texas may still be an underrated state

Low living costs are attractive for many people living in Texas

One advantage of moving to Texas is that while living costs can be rather high in the major cities, they are still pretty low in most parts of Texas and this means you don’t have to spend as much money on entertainment and many other things of life as people moving to San José or other far more expensive regions where price levels are usually much higher.

Rents are still affordable for the general public

Compared to many other states, also rents are still pretty affordable in most regions of Texas and this is great news since you don’t have to spend lots of money on housing yet and may have more money left to save and invest for retirement and for other important things.

Property prices are rather low in most regions of Texas

Not only rents are pretty low but also property prices are at a moderately low level as well so you can buy a decent home at a rather affordable price in most parts of Texas and may still be able to live the classic American dream without having to financially overextend yourself for it.

Easy to find a solid place to stay rather quickly

Since housing shortage is not a big problem in most parts of Texas yet, you will also find a decent place to stay rather quickly in most regions while people moving to Los Angeles or other more popular places may have to search far longer for finding a decent place to buy or rent.

Low overall competition in the Texas housing market

While competition can be solid in the housing markets of the major cities of Texas, overall competition in the Texas housing market on a state-wide level is rather low and you will therefore be in a rather good position as a homebuyer or a tenant since you may not have to compete with many other people and may even be able to find undervalued property if you put in the work and also know what you are doing in many regions.

Many different housing options for families as well as single households

Also no matter whether you search for a home for a big family or are single right now and just need a small flat, chances are you will find more than enough different housing options and can choose among a solid variety of flats and houses according to your personal preferences and situation in life.

Low overall financial pressure for people moving to Texas

Since housing and living costs in Texas are not as high as in many other states, people in Texas also don’t have to worry about financial pressure as much as in many other much more expensive places and may therefore be better able to enjoy their lives since they may not have to worry about money often.

You don’t have to make great money to afford a decent lifestyle in many parts of Texas

Since many things in Texas are not as expensive as in many other regions, you may also not have to make as much money from your job compared to people moving to Washington D.C. or other much more expensive regions and may also not have to work as many extra hours to make a living so you may have more time left to spend with your loved ones and on your favorite hobbies.

Money may not be as important as in many other states

Another upside to moving to Texas is that money doesn’t play the same important role as in many other regions since you will be able to meet many honest and real people in Texas who don’t care about how much money you make but rather about your character and you will therefore be able to have a really great time with great guys and gals no matter whether you make a fortune or just small bucks from your job.

You can enjoy many beautiful nature locations in Texas

You should also not forget that Texas also offers many really nice natural habits and nature reserves where you can hang out with your family and friends so you can have a great time and can also relax and reload your batteries for the stressful times yet ahead of you.

People moving to Texas can spend lots of time outdoors

Not only will you be able to relax in those natural habitats but you will also be able to do many nice things in nature.

For instance, many people living in Texas go fishing, hunting and do many other productive things in their leisure so they can have a great time and can also enjoy their catch by cooking nice things at home.

You can get lots of fresh air in many parts of Texas

Once you get outside of the major cities, you will also find many places where air quality is pretty decent and since you can spend lots of time outdoors, you will also get lots of oxygen which may help your body and your brain work properly in the long run.

Moving to Texas may help you become fit

Since you can do so many nice things outdoors, you may also be able to stay fit in this region since you can exercise quite a lot by going hiking or doing other nature activities and may just be able to stay in shape without the need of going to the gym.

You can live in line with natural forces

Another benefit of moving to Texas is that it is also a place where you will find many interesting natural environments and if you move to the rural parts of Texas, you will also be able to live in line with natural forces similar to our ancestors and may also learn quite a lot from those experiences while you may also be able to preserve some noble traditions and ancient knowledge.

You may be able to live in a self-sufficient manner in Texas

Many people moving to Texas also aspire to a self-sufficient lifestyle.

In fact, since land prices are rather low, you can buy a lot of land at a rather affordable price and can grow plenty of veggies and fruits which may grow pretty well thanks to solid climatic conditions and you may no longer have to rely on conventional stores to get many things you need in life in the long run.

Moving to Texas may let you slow down your life

While you will get lots of action in the big cities of Texas, you should also know that moving to the rural parts of Texas may greatly help you slow down your life since there are many quiet spaces in nature where you can just be on your own and in case you currently feel stressed in the busy city you live in, you may just want to move to one of those quiet places in Texas so you may be better able to enjoy your life and may also be able to lower your stress level in general.

You may be able to live a pretty original life in Texas

Since Texas offers lots of beautiful nature and you can forage for food and do many other great things in those natural environments, moving to Texas may also enable you to go back to the roots and you may just become much happier in general in the long run by living this kind of natural lifestyle.

You may realize what really matters by moving to Texas

Since you can make many nice and unique experiences in Texas and can also slow down your life quite a lot, you may also be able to sit down in a quiet atmosphere and really ask yourself what matters to you in life and what you want to achieve so you can work on your goals in an efficient manner and may also be able to really grow in character.

Moving to Texas lets you focus on yourself

Since there are many quiet spaces in the rural parts of Texas, you may also be able to hang out in public without getting distracted by annoying people and this may help you focus on yourself and your goals in life so you may be better able to achieve what you have always dreamed of.

Many recreational spaces in Texas

While there is lots of beautiful nature outside of the big cities, you will also find many nice parks and other green spaces within city borders and this may help you relax and reload your batteries during lunch break or after work so you may be able to perform well at your professional and private life in the long run.

Many major cities in Texas

Another advantage of living in Texas is that you will also find many really big metropolitan regions.

In fact, some of the biggest cities in the US are located in Texas and you will therefore be able to enjoy big city life and the many nice and convenient things that come along with it.

Good mix of big city life and nature activities

Since you will find many big cities and also many natural environments, you will be able to enjoy big city life while you will also find more than enough opportunities to relax so you may be able to work on your career in a professional manner while you may also be able to stay emotionally balanced at the same time.

Many great shopping opportunities in the major cities of Texas

You will also find many decent boutiques and fancy shopping malls in the big cities of Texas and will therefore never run out of ideas when it comes to following latest fashion trends and to look good in general.

Many great sports teams in Texas

Since there are more than enough great sports teams in the major cities of Texas, you will also be able to watch many games at the highest level live in person and this can really make your life better and may add additional entertainment options to the other many nice things you can do in this state.

Decent nightlife in the big cities of Texas

Another upside to living in Texas is that you will also find more than enough decent bars and clubs in the major metropolitan regions and will not only be able to meet many great people during your nights out but will also be able to really explore yourself while you are still young so you may have no regrets later on.

You can experience high levels of cultural diversity in the major cities of Texas

You should also know that the big cities of Texas are melting pots of different cultures and you will be able to meet more than enough interesting people from all over the US and even the world and can spend your time with many really great characters.

Decent art scenes in the big cities of Texas

You will also find many great artists in the major cities of Texas and can therefore also hang out with other like-minded people in case you are interested in art or an artist yourself and really want to develop your skills further.

Texas has a broad coastline

Since Texas has a broad coastline, you will also be able to go swimming, surfing or relax at the beach on a regular basis if you move to the eastern parts of Texas while many other people moving to Colorado or other non-coastal regions will just not have this luxury and may secretly envy you in this regard.

You can enjoy sunny summers in Texas

You should also know that Texas is a state where you can enjoy hot and sunny summers and if you love the heat, Texas should definitely be on your bucket list since there are not many other places where you can enjoy the same great summers.

Mild winters are attractive to many people living in Texas

Not only summers in Texas are great but also winters are pretty mild and if you are the kind of person who doesn’t like cold weather at all, you may be far better off moving to Texas instead of moving to Montana or other much colder regions.

Many nice day trips you can make in Texas

Since there are many major cities and also many nice places you can visit in nature, you can also do more than enough day trips with your family and even in case you get bored at home, you will still find many other nice locations where you can hang out and have a great time.

The big cities of Texas are well-connected to the world

You should also know that there are many big airports near the big cities of Texas and you will therefore have a pretty easy time traveling the world and your loved ones from other states will also have a rather easy time visiting you so you may have more than enough guests and may never feel lonely.

You can experience many different lifestyles in Texas

Since the big cities of Texas are a melting pot of different cultures, you will also be able to experience many different lifestyles and can also meet many interesting people and by talking to those folks, you may learn quite a lot about how life works and may also be able to become a more mature and tolerant person in the long run.

Texas is a pretty interesting state

Since there are so many different things to do in Texas, it is also a pretty interesting state and most people moving to the big cities never get bored with their lives in Texas and may not even have enough time to explore all the nice things their region has to offer.

Many big corporations to work for in Texas

You will also find many really big corporations to work for in the urban parts of Texas and may be able to start a fancy career in those regions so you may be able to climb the career ladder rather quickly.

Easy to build a strong business network in the major cities of Texas

Since there are many big corporations to work for, you may also be able to get in touch with many influential people in the long run and this may also help you grow a strong business network which may make it easier for you to succeed in the corporate world.

Texas may be an interesting place to retire

Also in case you are already rather old and don’t know where to spend the last chapter of your life, Texas may be a great option in this regard since housing and living costs are still affordable and there are also many great free things you can do in nature so you can have a great time even at a pretty old age.

Many interesting student cities in Texas

The big cities of Texas may also be great student destinations.

In fact, studying in Houston or other big metropolitan regions can be great since you will find decent education while housing and living costs are still far lower than in many other states and you may therefore be able to experience decent student life and get a fancy degree at a rather affordable price tag.

Easy to socialize in the big metropolitan regions

Another benefit of living in Texas is that you will also have a pretty easy time socializing since you will have more than enough locations where you can hang out with many interesting people and will therefore find many like-minded people rather quickly.

You can meet many friendly people in Texas

You should also know that many people in Texas are pretty friendly and will often have a smile on their faces which may get you into a pretty good mood and may also encourage you to get in touch with them.

Many people in Texas are pretty helpful

You will also be able to meet many helpful people in Texas and this can be great, especially during your first days or weeks in this region when you might not be familiar with the customs and traditions in your region yet and may need some support to become a valued member of society.

People in Texas may not be in the same rush as people in many other states

Since it is not all about money and careers, people in many parts of Texas may also not be in the same rush compared to people in many other states and may take more time to help you out and to get in touch with you in general.

Decent internet connection in the urban parts of Texas

Since most regions of Texas have pretty decent internet connection, you may also be able to work from home and can also stay connected to the world since you will get the latest news in almost real-time and may also be able to make video calls with your loved ones from other states so you can stay emotionally connected to them even if you don’t see them live in person.

Decent supply of material goods

You also don’t have to worry about running out of important material goods anytime soon in most regions of Texas since overall public infrastructure is pretty decent and you will find most things you need pretty close to your home in the big cities of the state.

Texas becomes increasingly popular by people from all over the US

While Texas may still not be the most popular state, it has increased in popularity quite a lot over the past decades and many people from other states consider moving to Texas which may make life in Texas even more interesting in the long run.

Texas may still be an underrated state

While Texas has become increasingly popular, living and housing costs are still rather low and since Texas has many nice things to offer, it may still be considered an underrated state where you may be able to enjoy decent quality of life at a rather low price level.

As you can see, there are many reasons for living in Texas.

Yet, there are also some drawbacks of moving to Texas that I want to discuss for you in the following so you will be better able to decide whether you still want to move to Texas or rather want to move to Idaho or other interesting regions instead.

Disadvantages of Living in Texas

  1. Lack of real seasons may become annoying for many people living in Texas
  2. Unemployment is a serious problem in many parts of Texas
  3. Low-qualified people often have a hard time finding decent jobs
  4. Many social problems in the big cities of Texas
  5. Some people in Texas are still pretty conservative
  6. You may miss cultural diversity in the rural parts of Texas
  7. Texas may not be the safest state
  8. Many dodgy districts in the major cities of Texas
  9. Education may not be great in the rural parts of Texas
  10. Distances outside of the big cities can be pretty long
  11. You may miss great bars and clubs in the rural regions of Texas
  12. Public transport is not great in most parts of Texas
  13. You may urgently need a car to get around
  14. Water scarcity may become a serious problem in Texas
  15. Climate change makes natural disasters in Texas more common
  16. Costs of homeowners insurance are about to increase significantly
  17. Low income level in Texas
  18. You may get bored with village life in Texas in the long run
  19. Not many great museums outside of the big cities of Texas
  20. Hard to find really good doctors outside the major cities
  21. Some remote regions are hard to reach
  22. You may have to spend lots of time in your car
  23. Traffic can be a serious problem in the major cities of Texas
  24. It may take you a long time finding a parking lot
  25. Housing may become increasingly expensive in the future
  26. Rather unclear future outlook for Texas

Lack of real seasons may become annoying for many people living in Texas

One downside to living in Texas is that it will be pretty warm and humid all year long and if you want to experience real seasons, you may get fed up with warm weather in Texas and may be better off moving to Massachusetts or other colder regions instead.

Unemployment is a serious problem in many parts of Texas

You should also not forget that unemployment rates are pretty high in many parts of Texas and you may therefore often have to worry about losing your job and not finding a new one within a reasonable period of time.

Low-qualified people often have a hard time finding decent jobs

Especially in case you don’t have proper education, you may also really struggle to make a decent living from what you are doing in Texas and may need multiple jobs just to survive which can be pretty exhausting and frustrating in the long run.

Many social problems in the big cities of Texas

Due to high unemployment rates and increasing levels of inequality, many big cities in Texas have to deal with serious social problems and overall quality of life may just drop in the future in case those problems become overwhelming.

Some people in Texas are still pretty conservative

While you may be able to experience many different lifestyles in the big cities of Texas, you will still find many regions where people are rather conservative and may not appreciate alternative ways of life as much as you may have hoped for.

You may miss cultural diversity in the rural parts of Texas

You should also not expect to find high levels of cultural diversity in the rural parts of Texas and may therefore not be able to meet as many interesting people and may not be able to try as many delicious foods from all over the world as you may have wished.

Texas may not be the safest state

Another problem with living in Texas is that it is also not the safest state and crime rates are pretty high in many major cities so you may not feel safe when leaving your home during nighttime which may greatly lower your overall quality of life.

Many dodgy districts in the major cities of Texas

You should also know that there are many rather dodgy neighborhoods in the major cities and if you are not careful, you may just end up in one of those districts and may just meet the wrong people at the wrong time which may get you into a lot of trouble.

Education may not be great in the rural parts of Texas

While you may find pretty good schools and colleges in the major cities, you should still know that education is often not great in many rural regions and if you want to move to one of those regions outside of the big cities, you may have to drive your kids long distances to school and back.

Distances outside of the big cities can be pretty long

In general, distances in the rural parts of Texas can be pretty long and if you want to move to a rather remote region of Texas, it may take you quite a long time to get everything you need for daily life since public infrastructure gets significantly worse outside of the big metropolitan regions.

You may miss great bars and clubs in the rural regions of Texas

Another disadvantage of living in Texas is that while you may find great bars and clubs in the biggest cities, nightlife is still not great in many rural regions and if you are still young, you may just not get happy with your life in the rural parts of Texas since nightlife may not have enough to offer to you.

Public transport is not great in most parts of Texas

You should also be aware of the fact that public transport is often not really great outside of the major cities and you may therefore not be able to get around by train or bus in an efficient and reliable manner.

You may urgently need a car to get around

Due to rather poor public transport, you may need a car to get around in an efficient manner and in case you are no longer able to drive, you may just get stuck at home in many rural regions of Texas which may greatly hurt your overall quality of life in the long run.

Water scarcity may become a serious problem in Texas

Due to global warming, also water scarcity may become a serious problem sooner or later and once certain regions run out of water, many people may have to leave those regions and overall quality of life may drop quite a lot in general.

Climate change makes natural disasters in Texas more common

Not only water scarcity will be a significant problem in the future, but climate change will also increase the risk of natural disasters in Texas in general and you may just lose your home or even your life to extreme storms or other serious extreme natural events sooner or later.

Costs of homeowners insurance are about to increase significantly

Since natural disasters will become more common, also the costs of homeowners insurance will be on the rise for many years to come which will make living in Texas more expensive in general.

Low income level in Texas

Another problem with moving to Texas is that income levels are pretty low and if you currently live in Maryland or other high-income states, you may be disappointed with your salary in Texas in most cases.

You may get bored with village life in Texas in the long run

While there are more than enough entertainment options in the big cities of Texas, you may still get bored with your life in the rural parts of Texas, especially if you don’t like nature and rather want to spend your life in a more vibrant atmosphere.

Not many great museums outside of the big cities of Texas

You should also not expect to find many great museums outside of the major cities of Texas and may get disappointed with your opportunities in this regard rather quickly.

Hard to find really good doctors outside the major cities

While you will find decent doctors and hospitals in the major metropolitan regions of Texas, you may still have a hard time finding really good medical treatment in many rural regions and may have to drive long distances to find a true expert who will be able to treat rather exotic health conditions in a proper manner.

Some remote regions are hard to reach

Another downside to moving to Texas is that you will have some rural places that are just pretty hard to reach and road conditions can be pretty poor as well so you may have a hard time visiting people in other parts of the state.

You may have to spend lots of time in your car

Since distances can be pretty long, you may also have to spend lots of time in your car and this may not only cost you lots of money you have to spend on fuel but also lots of precious lifetime in the long run.

Traffic can be a serious problem in the major cities of Texas

You should also not forget that the big cities of Texas are pretty crowded and people therefore have to deal with serious traffic jams quite often while people moving to Arizona and other less crowded regions have to worry far less in this regard and may be able to get around by car in a much more efficient manner.

It may take you a long time finding a parking lot

Since traffic can be a serious problem in the urban parts of Texas, you may also have a hard time finding a parking lot and may have to spend lots of time and money on it in the long run.

Housing may become increasingly expensive in the future

Another disadvantage of moving to Texas is while property prices and rents are still reasonably low, this may change in the near future since Texas may become increasingly popular and overall demand for housing may increase significantly in the future.

Rather unclear future outlook for Texas

Due to high unemployment and crime rates and the many social issues many regions of Texas have to deal with, also overall future outlook is rather unclear and overall quality of life may drop quite a lot in the long run.

Top 10 Moving To Texas Pros & Cons – Summary List

Living in Texas ProsLiving in Texas Cons
Warm winters are attractive to many people living in TexasHigh unemployment rate in Texas
Texas offers lots of beautiful natureTexas may be too hot and humid for you
Texas has a broad coastlineRather low income level in Texas
Low living costs in TexasTexas may not be the safest state
Rents and property prices are still affordable in many regionsMany dodgy districts in the big cities of Texas
Texas is a pretty interesting stateSocial problems are about to get worse
Decent quality of education in the big cities of TexasNatural disasters may become more common in Texas
Many nice bars and clubs in the major citiesWater scarcity may become a serious problem
Texas may still be underratedCosts of homeowners insurance are on the rise
Texas may be a great place for the young and the oldRather unclear future outlook for Texas
Advantages & Disadvantages of Living in Texas

Is Texas A Good Place To Live?

While Texas can be a great place to live since you can enjoy lots of time in beautiful nature and on the beach while living and housing costs are fairly low and you can also enjoy big city life, you should still know that Texas also has to deal with high unemployment and crime rates and natural disasters will become more common in the future.

In the end, it is on you to have a close look at the advantages and disadvantages of moving to Texas on your own so you can make the best possible decision according to your individual preferences.

Most Popular Cities To Live In Texas – Comparison

Living CostsProperty PricesIncome LevelInfrastructure
Houstonmoderatemoderatemoderatedecent
San Antoniomoderatemoderatemoderatedecent
Dallasmoderatelowlowpoor
Austinlowlowlowpoor
Fort Worthlowlowlowpoor

Alternative States To Live

If you no longer want to move to Texas, you may also want to have a look at the following articles:

Advantages and disadvantages of living in South Carolina

Advantages and disadvantages of living in Tennessee

Advantages and disadvantages of living in Pennsylvania

Sources

https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/TX

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.

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