We know Houston Texas is the most famous place to live in the USA. The question arises- Is Houston a good place to live? If you want to know, here are a few things to look at before living in Houston.
Let’s find out!
1. Is Houston a Good Place to Live?
Houston resides in Texas also known as the Lone Star state, in the US. It has a land area of 640.4 square miles. It is also the ninth most expansive city in the US.
You can call it “Space City,” the “Bayou City,” or Choose from a bunch of other nicknames. The Bayou city has a lot of superlatives. But what exactly is Bayou city?
Houston is also known as The Bayou city as there are ten winding waterways across the Houston area. Buffalo Bayou is the main one as it was the founding reason for Houston, Texas. The final battle for independence also took place at Buffalo Bayou. There are other nicknames such as H town and Hustle town.
Houston is also called H town due to H-Town Blues Festival which is a music festival and Hustle town due to its international commerce and business. Both these names are common across the world.
The answer to all your doubts is given below. Read more to find out whether Houston is a good place to live and whether will it help you in your retirement age.
2. 10 Honest Pros & Cons of Living in Houston, Texas
Houston is one of the most populated cities in Texas. It is known as an energy industry because it is a populous city. It resides in Texas, a league city in the US. You need to know a few pros and cons before deciding to live in Houston.
2.1. Pros of Living in the Houston Area
There are tons of advantages to living in the fourth-largest city. Here are the top ten reasons you need to prefer staying in Houston.
2.1.1. Affordable Housing Market
The houses available in Houston are cheap and affordable to people with average incomes. The average rate of a place is 4 million while in Houston it is 2 million, which is way below it. It is even known as 90% less than the usual rate in the country. It is easier for younger couples to start their journey in the Houston suburbs.
2.1.2. Quality Healthcare with the Medical Industry
The quality of healthcare is exceptional in Houston. The Texas residents move to the hospitals in Houston such as the Houston Methodist Hospital for advanced treatment. Houston is a popular place for treatment for heart and also for vascular diseases. Cancer treatments and organ transplantations are also given in Houston. MD Anderson Cancer Center, which is the world’s largest medical center, is present in Houston.
2.1.3. No State Income Tax in Texas
There is no state income tax present in Texas. The residents of Texas have no state income tax as it is an incentive to let more for living in Houston. The people take it as an extra advantage in moving to Houston. There are still other taxes such as federal and property taxes instead of state income taxes
2.1.4. The Houston Dining Scene Is a Foodie’s Paradise
Moving to Houston has one of the best perks when it comes to food. The restaurants serve foods present from all around the world. The Houston food scene is known for its legendary types of course in food. The meat is a high-quality product with BBQ being a world-famous item from Houston.
2.1.5. Climate
The climate in Houston is full of sunlight. The city has a warm and sunny climate most days. It does not get snow and during winters the climate is a little less warm. The summer season is humid but other than that, Houston is a place for retiring even though it has a few months of hot and humid summers.
2.1.6. Diverse City
Houston is a famous place for its diverse city. The city boasts various ethnic groups living happily together. The children living in Houston experience various cultures and have an open-minded perspective.
2.1.7. Sports Groups Such as Houston Astros
Houston is known for its talented football, baseball, and basketball players. The people in Houston are proud and dedicated to their team as it is even recognized nationally. The fourth largest city is also known for its hard-working efficient sports which are also a part of everyday life. College sports are also a huge thing in Houston. Houston Astros is one such team.
2.1.8. How Much Does It Cost to Live in Houston?
The cost of living in Houston is very less compared to other Texas cities. The housing costs and the average rent in Houston are all part of this low cost of living in Houston.
Even though Houston is a populated city, the rate of groceries and other items are low cost compared to other places. The Houston Texans live better due to such advantages.
2.1.9. Friendly Localities
What are the people and culture like? The general talk about Houston is that people over there are chill and very friendly. They are a laid-back lot with no issues or beef with each other. People usually bring out a welcoming atmosphere to their fellow new arrivals. This brings out a level of peace in others.
2.1.10. Art Museums
Art is always appreciated by the world. Houston, TX is a good place for art lovers. The low-cost city provides galleries, art-themed museums, and many city parks. Memorial Park Conservancy is a full green space area where people can do their exercises. Downtown Houston contains Discovery Green which makes Houston into a museum district with many parks and art.
2.2. Cons of Living in the Houston Area
The cons of living in Houston are fewer compared to its advantages. Let us take a walk through its major setbacks.
2.2.1. Pest Control
The humid climate creates an outer for insects in Houston. The pests are increasing and the city is known for its worst pest-controlling situation. You need to keep bug control such as candles and sprays to remove the constant insects. The h town is notorious for cockroaches due to its year-long sunny season.
2.2.2. Hot and Humid Summers
The Houston residents are aware of the drastic summers that affect their lifestyle. The town is near the equator causing it to be one of the most humid places in the world. People stay inside with their air conditioners during the heat. It is estimated that even 100 degrees Fahrenheit is a normal temperature during summer seasons. Therefore, for some people living in Houston, it might not be likable.
2.2.3. Heavy traffic
As Houston, tx is increasing its population considerably, the traffic is also a major hectic part of everyday lives in their neighborhood. The traffic is deemed as one of the worst ones in the US.
The rush hour can create traffic that can go on for many hours. People get more frustrated due to this. So it is important to leave early and to find a way out of such situations.
2.2.4. You Need a Car to Travel
Navigation in Texas city requires a car most of the time. Public transport is not reliable to every place. The cost of living should be looked at as the transportation costs are also a part to be considered.
2.2.5. Expensive Healthcare
Healthcare is expensive even though the best ones are given. The Texas medical center attracts people for various factors. But the expense is not affordable for everyone.
2.2.6. Recycling Waste
The wastes are usually dumped in a site which is later on recycled. It is not convenient as people have to travel to various sites to leave their waste. Waste management in such a largely populated city is not maintainable for society.
2.2.7. Expensive Education
There are plenty of schools in the locality. But the expense is also increasing considerably. The private schools take huge fees including the dress and other facilities for the students. Such tuition fees take a toll on people.
2.2.8. Hurricanes
The Houston neighborhoods always encounter hurricanes due to the harsh weather. Floods and hurricanes are part of living in Houston. In past years, Hurricane Harvey struck the place leading to heavy issues. Therefore you should take countermeasures to live in Houston during the hurricane season.
2.2.9. Poverty
The rate of poverty in Houston is increasing a bit and from the latest information, we get to see that the percentage is higher than the national average. 19.5% of people are in poverty. It is mainly due to the cost of living in Houston even though there are a lot of leniencies.
2.2.10. Property Crimes
The crime rate has decreased from 9% to 8% since last year. But property crime has increased to 11%. The residents have to be cautious of such encounters and keep their vehicles and other properties intact.
3. Best Places to Live in Houston
Once you decide to stay in Houston, the next step is to find the right place for living in Houston. Here are the tried and tested ways to figure out the best Houston area. These are the places to check before the final decision.
- Downtown Houston
- Midtown
- Second Ward
- Montrose
- West University Area
While figuring out whether Houston is a good place to live, let’s research the places in Houston:
3.1. Downtown Houston
Downtown Houston is one of the main places where the best city parks and green areas are found. It is home to Discovery Green and Xochi, a food outlet. People who work in downtown Houston prefer to stay there. It has one of the calmest places because of the parks.
People moving to Houston should check downtown for living in Houston. River oaks are situated between downtown and uptown and are known as the model community for people. It is one of the most expensive but also contains many historical buildings.
3.2. Midtown
Midtown is famous for its commutability. People can easily find their needs by just walking around. The place is amazing for its affordable housing and cost of living. The place also boasts theatre such as The Ensemble Theatre where they encourage various diverse cultures to perform. Midtown also has food spots such as The Gypsy Poet where the pizza and open music is the main attraction point.
3.3. Second Ward
Young professionals usually live in the second ward due to its accessibility. It can be easily worked through MetroRail. MetroRail is a light rail system that makes moving around easier. The Buffalo Bayou Park is present here where there are acres of space to work on outdoor activities. The Second ward also contains East End Farmers Market where fresh food along with live music is presented.
3.4. Montrose
Montrose has situated in midtown with lots of attractive coffee shops and nightlife. The place is affordable in terms of the Houston area. If you stay at Montrose, you should look at Agrosa, a beautiful place for beers and caffeinated items. The place has exquisite taste in pints and is famous for breweries.
3.5. West University
West University is one of the best Houston neighborhoods as it is also kid friendly. The fourth most populated city is West University, where you can find many peaceful parks and places to take your kids. If you want to take your kids for some fun, Little Matts is an easy choice. The place is filled with fun kinds of stuff for kids and families to enjoy.
4. Houston Texas: A Home To Top Educational Universities
Houston Texas is home to dozens of educational colleges that bring out the best in students. Rice University is ranked as the top college. Rice University is known for its research in artificial hearts and workings in applied science. The Rice University is near the Texas Medical Center.
The Texas Medical Center is also a non-profit organization that works for research and healthcare. They focus on the well-being of the community and work on the education of their fellow students.
There are separate state universities for education in Houston. the University of Houston is the third-largest university in Texas. It gets several students annually for the purpose of education and research.
Apart from these Universities, there are other popular Universities such as Texas Southern University, where over 100 academic programs are provided. It is an important cultural center in Third Ward, where it is located.
Texas Education Agency looks after the administration of public schools in Texas. They manage the board and assign activities to each management. They are involved with charter schools and 1000 different public schools in Texas. Charter schools are those which are funded by the government but work independently. They work privately but are still accountable to the state.
There are religion-based private schools in Houston. They have different management and work independently. More than 300 schools are being distinct with their value system. Some of the schools are very well known around the world. They should get a permit from Texas Private School Accreditation Commission (TEPSAC).
Before moving to Houston, you need to balance the requirements of a school/college and also the best Houston suburbs that you need to stay.
5. The Population in Houston is Booming Thanks to the Job Market
Houston is the 64th city in 121 metros that provides employment. Due to the booming job market which in turn arises out of the population, Houston is a place for young professionals.
With the increase in opportunities, people are rushing to Houston for adequate jobs. The Houstons’ job market has risen as it is 24% for employment opportunities compared to the national average.
Employers are coming up with opportunities as there are many pathways to finding the right job. The Houston metro area and other places require people to work. Even though Houston’s job market is low, it is high compared to the nation.
6. Aerospace Industry
The space center Houston is also known as the space city due to its work in aerospace. The Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (JSC) is NASA’s center for spaceflight in humans. It is situated in Houston Texas.
It is a NASA space center that has participated in Apollo programs. Once you start living in Houston Texas, you get to do space exploration. For such space exploration, Houston provides NASA Johnson Space Center Houston which has artifacts on space.
7. How is the Houston Real Estate Market? Hot Segments and Median Prices
The Houston home is famous for its affordability as well as design. Houston Texas has declined in terms of real estate due to the pandemic but it is slowly rising its pace.
However, you can find great deals in the real estate market as people are flowing in. So the place has demand and once you start your business, things can take off quickly.
8. There are Thousands of Things to Do in Houston
Moving to Houston has its many advantages. You can visit so many places, for example-
8.1. Shopping Mall Galleria
The largest shopping mall called Galleria in Houston is the largest mall in Texas. It is a 3 million square feet area with separate health clubs and hotels. The main attractions include famous stores such as Macy’s and also polar ice which is a place used to skate around.
8.2. River Oaks
River Oaks is also a community with 1000s of people. It is a very public example of a model community for the whole nation to see. River oaks contain historic monuments such as Birdsall Briscoe where the architectural works are showcased which includes looking forward to including Houston zoo.
8.3. Houston Zoo
The Houston zoo is home to 6000 animals and more than 600 different species. It is the second most visited area in the United States. People watch places such as Allen H. and Ethel G. Carruth’s Natural Encounters. The various different settings such as canopy, coral reefs, etc. are shown throughout the zoo.
8.4. Sam Houston National Forest
Sam Houston National Forest is a beautiful place where recreation is allowed. People go hiking in the forest during the seasons. There are camping, fishing, and boating at various locations inside the forest.
8.5. Museum District
Museum District is a place collectively filled with museums, art galleries, and cultural scientific areas. You can use a bike or can walk through the place to visit this entire beautiful place. It has at least 8 million people visit the museum per year.
8.6. Hermann Park
Hermann park is an old park near the Texas Medical. It has cultural areas with a Japanese Garden and a Chinese Pagoda. At night the Mecom Fountain is a sight to be seen. Hermann park allows jogging and is one of the best places to relax.
8.7. Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is the world’s largest livestock and horse show. It presents at least 34000 livestock and horses exhibited. You can compete or watch this adrenaline-rushing show. It lasts for 20 days every year. It is famous worldwide and people come to just watch the show.
8.8. NASA’s Johnson Space Center
NASA’s Johnson Space Center is an incredible place for space lovers to visit. It is the main attraction in Houston Texas. The space is explained and various objects are showcased in this museum.
These are all just a few compared to the humongous opportunities in Houston Texas. Once you start living in Houston, there is always something to watch and somewhere to enjoy.
9. Is Houston a Good Place to Retire?
Yes. Houston’s number of senior citizens is increasing. The Harris County Area Agency on Aging is an agency that helps senior citizens and responds to their issues.
The warm climate and the comparatively low cost of living are the major reasons for the increase in senior citizens. The retirement age is a delicate time and Houston Texas provides better facilities in this big city.
Moving to Houston is convenient for senior citizens. even single-family homes prefer Houston as their ultimate place of residence. Such a big city provides adequate measures to live sufficiently during retirement.
10. Self-Care is a Significant Part of Houston’s Culture
Self-care is an important part of Houston culture. With the increase in climate temperature and sports games, it is very necessary to look after their skin and overall health. For such reasons, people use skincare as well as other exercises to look after their well-being.
Is Houston a good place to live? Yes, it is a better place to live than many other cities in Texas. It is important to know the features given in this article to understand why Houston is such an amazing place to stay.
