Table of Contents
Houston is the largest city in Texas and the fourth-largest in the US. One of the largest financial centres in the country, Houston may call you up there. When you become serious about moving to Houston, you may likely have all sorts of questions. What’s the weather like, is it affordable, or how is the food scene there? You may even be curious to know about the safe neighborhoods and crime rates.
To help you, we have come up with a Houston moving guide where every information about the city is put in. When you are finished, you would be ready to decide whether Houston is for you.
Quick facts about Houston
- Houston got the name the ‘Bayou City’ for the bayous flowing through the city.
- Houston is highly diverse.
- Houston is famous for extreme weather.
- Hurricanes and tornadoes hit the city annually.
- There are plenty of affordable houses.
- There’s no income tax in Houston.
- The job market is thriving.
- There are no zoning laws in Houston.
- Residents speak over 90 languages here.
- The city’s nicknames are Bayou City, Space City, and Clutch City.
What is the population of Houston, TX?
Houston is the fourth most populous city in the US and sixth in North America with about 2.3 million residents. If the population is a major factor in determining whether you should move to Houston, here are a few more facts about the city’s population.
- The city is home for 2.3 million people and it is still growing.
- The density in the city is 3,598.43/sq mi and the metro is 7,122,240/sq mi.
- It is estimated that more than 250 people move to the Houston Metro Area each day.
- The median age of Houston residents is 33.
- 56% of Houston residents are single.
- 45% of the population are Hispanic or Latino, 22.6% are African American, 24.4% are Non-Hispanic Whites, and 6.8% are Asians.
How is the weather in Houston, TX?
Houston has a humid subtropical climate and in the summer, temperatures reach or exceed 90 °F for an average 106.5 days a year. Summers are hot and oppressive and it often reaches or exceeds 100 °F for about 4 days a year.
Houston has mild winters, with occasional cold spells. It hardly snows in Houston. Rain falls throughout the year. The month with the most rain is June, with an average rainfall of 4.5 inches.
How fast can you commute in Houston, TX?
The commuting time in Houston has been getting longer since 2010. The growing population and the increase in traffic are the major reasons. The average one-way commute in Houston takes 27.0 minutes. That’s longer than the US average of 26.4 minutes.
Tip: When you’ve got a home to move in Florida, getting the best moving quote will be your goal. Request moving company quotes to save on moving cost.
How people in Houston get to work:
- About 76.6% of residents drive their own car alone.
- About 11.3% of the Houston residents carpool with others.
- About 3.6% of residents work from home.
- Up to 3.9% of city residents take mass transit.
Top 10 reasons to move to Houston
The Bayou City has got unlimited reasons to claim to be one of the most sought-after cities in the US. Though it is almost impossible to list down every reason, we have succeeded in jotting down 10 reasons why Houston is appealing.
- Houston has high-quality healthcare
- There’s no income tax
- Abundant outdoor space
- Warm weather
- Incredible food
- Houston Theater District
- Tons of attractions
- Unlimited shopping options
- Vibrant art scene
- Incredible Texan culture
Pros and cons of living in Houston
Before making up your mind about moving to Houston, it is crucial to gauge both the pluses and minuses of Bayou City. We’ve got both pros and cons of living in Houston to decide whether the city is for you.
Here are the pros and cons of living in Houston to make up your mind on whether you need to move there.
| Pros of living in Houston | Cons of living in Houston |
| Thriving economy | Traffic is disastrous |
| More sunny days | Summer extremely hot |
| Highly diverse culture | Mosquitoes are too horrible |
| Amazing food scene | Higher sales tax |
| No income tax | Electricity is costly |
| Unlimited green space | Healthcare is expensive |
| Plenty of schools to choose from | Private education is expensive |
Housing in Houston, TX
While you are mulling over moving to Houston, it is important to know about the housing costs there. And the good news is Houston’s home costs are cheaper than most big cities in the US. The median home price in Houston is $220,000, much lower than the US national average.
And if you are not serious about buying a home but are not keen to rent one, here are a few facts about home rental in Houston.
- Average cost of a studio apartment in Houston is $894.
- Average cost of a 1-bedroom apartment in Houston is $960.
- Average cost of a 2-bedroom home or apartment in Houston is $1,144.
- Average cost of a 3-bedroom home or apartment in Houston is $1,518.
- Average cost of a 4-bedroom home or apartment in Houston is $1,949.
What is the cost of living in Houston, TX?
When you are serious about living in Houston, you will be curious to know the expenses there. Luckily, Houston is highly affordable in overall expenses. The cost of living in Houston is 96.5. Housing, healthcare, grocery, and utilities are cheaper in Houston than the national average.
To help you know more, here is the breakdown of the cost of living in Houston.
| Cost of living | Houston | Texas | USA |
| Overall | 96.5 | 93.9 | 100 |
| Grocery | 98.1 | 93.7 | 100 |
| Health | 92.4 | 95.4 | 100 |
| Housing | 80.2 | 84.3 | 100 |
| Median home cost | $220,000 | $243,600 | $291,700 |
| Utilities | 96.5 | 99.2 | 100 |
| Transportation | 119 | 103.3 | 100 |
| Miscellaneous | 100.4 | 96.4 | 100 |
Job market in Houston, TX
When you think about Houston’s economy, oil and gas are two industries that come to mind. And that’s true. Houston’s economy is greatly driven by the petroleum industry. Healthcare is also a major industry in Houston along with science and technology.
Here are a few facts about the job market in Houston.
- Houston is the number 1 state in the US in job creation.
- The unemployment rate is 3.6%. The national average is 3.5%.
- The minimum hourly wage in Houston is $7.25.
- The average hourly wage in Houston is $20.
Here is a list of some of the Fortune 500 companies based in Houston.
- Phillips 66
- Sysco
- Enterprise Products Partners
- Hewlett Packard Enterprise
- Plains GP Holdings
- Baker Hughes
- ConocoPhillips
- Occidental Petroleum
- Halliburton
- Kinder Morgan
When you think about the job market in Houston, you’ll also be curious to know the best-paid jobs.
Here is a table of the 10 best-paid jobs in the Houston area.
| Rank | Job title | Average salary | Entry level salary |
| 1 | Chief Executives | $260,450 | $144,390 |
| 2 | Anesthesiologists | $247,530 | $61,860 |
| 3 | Surgeons, Except Ophthalmologists | $227,890 | $58,420 |
| 4 | Family Medicine Physicians | $220,400 | $70,080 |
| 5 | Obstetricians and Gynecologists | $210,920 | $60,400 |
| 6 | General Internal Medicine Physicians | $207,040 | $68,680 |
| 7 | Podiatrists | $203,660 | $81,830 |
| 8 | Physicians, All Other; and Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric | $202,060 | $52,630 |
| 9 | Architectural and Engineering Managers | $194,630 | $109,550 |
| 10 | Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $188,400 | $88,000 |
Best neighborhoods in Houston,TX
Everything is big and better in Houston and when you want to live in the city, it is important that you pick the best neighborhood.
To help you, we’ve compiled the list of best neighborhoods in Houston.
| Rank | Neighborhood | Population | Median home value | Median income |
| 1 | West University | 34,360 | $759,119 | $165,516 |
| 2 | Greater Memorial | 35,799 | $850,504 | $143,470 |
| 3 | Rice | 16,664 | $600,800 | $131,929 |
| 4 | Downtown | 10,089 | $63,900 | $114,810 |
| 5 | Rice Military | 23,452 | $382,779 | $118,360 |
| 6 | Galleria-Uptown | 67,996 | $406,118 | $90,760 |
| 7 | Midtown | 6,409 | $230,220 | $80,524 |
| 8 | River Oaks | 31,337 | $623,948 | $130,337 |
| 9 | Montrose | $130,337 | $378,377 | $85,791 |
| 10 | Greater Heights | 57,943 | $362,028 | $95,610 |
Best things to do in Houston, TX
There is no shortage of activities in Houston. After you move to Space City, you’ll realize how packed the city is with attractions. The tons of attractions in Houston will keep you busy.
Here are the best things to do in the city, since you’re moving to Houston:
- Visit Space Center Houston
- Explore Houston’s Museum District
- Walk, bike, or paddle in Buffalo Bayou Park
- Visit the Houston Zoo
- Take the kids to the Houston Children’s Museum
- Discover Houston’s Street Art
- Shop the vintage stores on 19th Street in The Heights
- Day trip to Galveston
- Attend the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
- See a sports game
- Discover unique dining experiences in Houston
- Walk through Rice University Campus
- Experience the Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park
- Visit the National Museum of Funeral History
- Explore San Jacinto Monument and museum
- Photograph at the Gerald D. Hines Waterwall
- Hit a fall festival
How safe is Houston, TX?
Safety is a major concern when you think about moving. As you are serious about moving to Houston, we thought of apprising you about the crime rate in Houston.
Crime is a serious concern in Houston as the city’s crime rate is 117% higher than the US average.
Here are a few crime-related facts to consider which you think about moving to Houston.
- The crime rate in Houston is 117% higher than the national average.
- The violent crime rate in Houston is 50.4. The national average is 22.7.
- The property crime rate is 63.2. The US average is 35.4.
- In Houston, you have a 1 in 19 chance of becoming a victim of crime.
- Houston is safer than 2% of the cities in the United States.
- Year over year, crime in Houston has increased by 7%.
Which are the top schools in Houston, TX?
The Houston Independent School District is the largest district in Texas and the seventh-largest in the United States. The district is best known for a handful of specialized vocational high schools, which rank high in national polls.
Here are the top 5 colleges and schools in Houston as ranked by Great Schools from elementary to universities and colleges.
Top 5 Middle Schools in Houston, TX
- Project Chrysalis Middle Leeland Street, Public, 6-8 | 279 students
- Mandarin Immersion Magnet School West Alabama Street, Public, PK-8 | 748 students
- Spring Branch Academic Institute Westview Drive, Public, K-9 | 111 students
- Challenge Early College High School West Loop South, Public, 9-12 | 463 students
- East Early College High School North Milby Street, Public, 9-12 | 476 students
Top 5 Public Elementary Schools, Houston, TX
- KIPP Shine PrepKipp Way Street, Public, PK-4 | 863 students
- KIPP Sharp Prep Westglen Drive, Public, PK-4 | 898 students
- West University Elementary School University Boulevard, Public, PK-5 | 1,283 students
- Project Chrysalis MiddleLeeland Street, Public, 6-8 | 279 students
- Frostwood Elementary School Memorial Drive, Public, PK-5 | 713 students
Best Public High Schools in Houston, TX
- Challenge Early College High School West Loop South, Public, 9-12 | 463 students
- East Early College High School North Milby Street, Public, 9-12 |476 students
- Clear Horizons Early College High School Beamer Road, Public, 9-12 | 443 students
- Debakey High School for Health Prof Pressler Street, Public, 9-12 | 891 students
- Eastwood Academy Dumble Street, Public, 9-12 | 432 students
Top Colleges and Universities in Houston, TX
- University of Houston
- Houston Baptist University
- Rice University
- University of St. Thomas
- Texas Southern University
