Texas is big, and there are lots of places to visit. However, there’s just something about the city of Houston that keeps drawing people in. Houston isn’t just a great place to visit, it’s also a great place to live. If you’re thinking of relocating to the area, there are lots of reasons why Houston could be the perfect place to call home.
Cost of Living
Cost of living is always one of the most important things to consider when moving to a new place. The good news is that the cost of living in Houston, Texas is very affordable compared to other major cities. According to Texas Monthly, “Houston didn’t experience a housing bubble burst the way the rest of the country did, and one of the city’s main draws is its affordable housing, both for renters and potential buyers. The median home price in Houston is currently just over $300,000, a far cry from San Francisco’s median home price of $1,146,800.”
Work, Work, Work
After New York, Houston is home to more Fortune 500 companies than anywhere else in the country, many of them oil and gas companies which account for 3-4% of the city’s employment opportunities. It’s also a city full of jobs in technology and business services – including aerospace of course – and its massive shipping port ensures huge trade opportunities with the rest of the world.
Houston also has low unemployment (3.7% at the time of writing) and offered up more new jobs in recent years (309% more) than any other city in the States.
Diversity
Forbes magazine named Houston the coolest city in the USA in 2012 and is still in the top five this year. It’s got tons of green spaces and a truly international food scene with something to please every palate.
The city is now more racially and ethnically dynamic than New York; 46% of the population speaks a language other than English at home, with 38% speaking Spanish. That comes as little surprise since 71% of the city’s foreign-born population is from Latin America; 19% are from Asia.
Healthcare
The city is home to the largest concentration of healthcare organizations in the world, including the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, which is aiming to cure five types of cancer. The Texas Medical Center, also in Houston, is larger than the city of Dallas.
Outdoor Space
If you’re the type who likes to get outside and enjoy a beautiful day, you’ll be happy to know that Houston is full of parks and outdoor spaces you can enjoy. There are more than 130 parks throughout Houston with many of them offering things like fishing areas and hiking trails.
