Guide to Moving to Texas: 8 Things to Expect
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- Guide to Moving to Texas: 8 Things to Expect
People are moving to Texas in large numbers. It鈥檚 one of the . A fast-growing economy, good infrastructure and affordable housing with a lower cost of living are just some of the attractions. If your family is one that is asking the question, should I move to Texas, it鈥檚 a good idea to do a little research. Here are the key things to know before moving to Texas.
1. Expect Warmer Weather
Compared to northern states, Texas weather is warmer. In fact, in many areas, it gets downright hot. Warm weather, for some people, is the reason why they move to Texas in the first place. It is a large state with many microclimates and there are seasonal differences. Relocating to Texas, you can expect mostly mild winters. The summer high is around ,聽with winter lows around . But be prepared 聽for some extreme weather. It鈥檚 worthwhile to brush up on some hurricane safety tips and to be ready for tornadoes.
2. Taxes are Lower than You Would Expect
Texas is one of the few states without a state income tax, and state sales taxes are also relatively low. The lists 60 fees, assessments, and other kinds of taxes, like local sales taxes collected for counties, cities, and towns. All in all, however, low taxes are one of the reasons for moving to Texas.
3. Cost of Living in Texas Can Be Affordable
Why move to Texas? Potentially saving money on taxes is only the start. The cost of living may be significantly lower than other areas of the country. You 聽could pay less for housing, food, healthcare, services and energy.
- Harker Heights. The cost of living here is about than the national average, driven by particularly affordable housing.
- Pearland. This suburb of Houston sits on the south side of the city. Despite its proximity to an urban center, it鈥檚 still about to live here than the national average.
- Little Elm. The cost of living is only than the national average, but given its proximity to Dallas, that鈥檚 expected. It can be approximately to live here compared to New York City, and nearly than San Francisco.
- Austin. You鈥檒l find the cost of living in Austin just than the national average. It鈥檚 the state capital and home to the University of Texas, so it has attractions beyond a low cost of living.
- Dallas. As one of the 10 largest cities in the U.S., the Big D is one of the more affordable, at than average.
- San Antonio. This city is larger than the Big D, and it beats it out when it comes to affordability. The cost of living is lower than the national average by about .
4. You May Pay Less for Electricity
The cost of energy can be a big line item for households. A good thing to know before moving to Texas is that you could potentiallypay less for gas, oil and electricity. Texas is a state with energy deregulation. You鈥檒l discover in moving to Texas that you can choose an energy supplier in most parts of the state. Energy choice starts with selecting a company and then choosing from their 聽energy plans in Texas. It can be helpful to learn about electricity in Texas.
5. Texas Holds a Booming Job Market
The state has long been associated with jobs in oil and energy. These kinds of companies continue to be major employers in the state鈥搘ith the inclusion of green energy jobs in wind and solar. Education, healthcare and technology are also booming sectors.
6. Texas is Diverse
Texas has always been a racially and ethnically diverse state. English and Spanish are commonly spoken. Whites and Hispanics are the largest ethnic groups, followed by Blacks and Asians.
7. Texas has Heavy Traffic
They say everything is bigger in Texas, and that can be especially true for traffic jams. The spread-out nature of the state and lack of public transportation options means that many Texans drive a car. Sometimes it seems like everyone is trying to cram onto the same freeways at the same time. If you have a long commute to work, expect to spend time in traffic.
8. Texas is Great for Food Lovers
Texas is a food lover鈥檚 paradise. If you enjoy steak, BBQ or Tex-Mex and wonder, should I move to Texas, the answer is yes, yes, yes. The multi-ethnic nature of the state means you don鈥檛 have to limit yourself to a few cuisine choices. You can find just about any kind of ethnic and fusion food, particularly in the bigger cities.
Additional resources for moving to Texas
Of course, some of the most important things to know before moving to Texas are things related to how to move to Texas. You鈥檝e got a few bureaucratic details to chase down.
- Register your vehicle through the .
- You will also need car insurance.
- Change your address with the .
- Update your driver鈥檚 license through the .
- Register to vote with the .
- If you plan to drive on limited access freeways, you鈥檒l want a .
- If you have kids, .
- Schedule a home inspection for your new property.