{"id":15198,"date":"2024-09-28T22:50:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-29T05:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/?p=15198"},"modified":"2024-10-01T14:43:55","modified_gmt":"2024-10-01T21:43:55","slug":"should-i-move-to-houston","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/should-i-move-to-houston\/","title":{"rendered":"Should I Move to Houston? 14 Things You Should Know"},"content":{"rendered":"<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Moving to Houston, Texas, can be a great decision for you and your family, but it can also be a stressful one. <em>How do you know if it&rsquo;s actually the best place to move?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before you start the search for your new home, you&rsquo;ll need to consider a list of things, including (but not limited to) the cost of living, taxes, crime rates, and even extreme weather.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With some insight into Houston&rsquo;s job market, safety, climate, and various other aspects, you&rsquo;ll be able to make your final <a href=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/best-place-to-live-in-usa-for-families\/\">moving decision<\/a> with 100% confidence.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"pros-and-cons-of-moving-to-houston\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pros and Cons of Moving to Houston<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Living in Houston, TX can have its perks and downsides just as any other area does. Here is a breakdown of some <em>pros and cons<\/em> you need to think about before moving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Pros<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Cons<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Affordable housing<\/td><td>Pests are common&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Low cost of living<\/td><td>Extreme weather like hurricanes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>No state income tax<\/td><td>High property taxes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Culturally diverse<\/td><td>High crime rates<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Great food scene<\/td><td>Not a walkable city<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Strong housing market<\/td><td>Lack of zoning laws<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ultimately, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/how-to-move-to-a-new-state\/\">moving to Houston<\/a> depends on your personal priorities and lifestyle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"14-things-you-should-know-before-moving-to-houston\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">14 Things You Should Know Before Moving to Houston<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are some specific things you need to be aware of before living in Houston.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"1-the-cost-of-living-in-houston-is-affordable\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. The Cost of Living in Houston is Affordable<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the biggest concerns you may have when moving is how expensive things may be. At the moment, you may be thinking about <strong>rent or home costs, taxes, and utilities<\/strong>. The good news is that Houston is a <strong>very affordable <\/strong>city!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to the Greater Houston Partnership, Houston&rsquo;s cost of living is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.houston.org\/houston-data\/cost-living-comparison\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>5.9% lower<\/strong><\/a> than the national average. Its living costs are the <strong>third lowest compared to other metro areas<\/strong> in the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"average-rent-and-home-cost\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Average Rent and Home Cost<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rent often costs people thousands of dollars, leaving them with little to no money for groceries and other expenses. However, Houston&rsquo;s average rent (across the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/houston-neighborhoods-guide\/\">city&rsquo;s top neighborhoods<\/a>) hovers around <strong>$1,500 per month<\/strong> for a 2-bedroom apartment, <em>which is relatively affordable, especially if you&rsquo;re sharing the cost with others.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The average home cost for Houston residents is <strong>about $330,000 to $340,000, which is 17.8% lower than the national average.<\/strong> Houston&rsquo;s housing costs are also the <strong>second lowest in the country<\/strong> compared to other metro areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img  decoding=\"async\"  src=\"data:image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABAQMAAAAl21bKAAAAA1BMVEUAAP+KeNJXAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAApJREFUCNdjYAAAAAIAAeIhvDMAAAAASUVORK5CYII=\"  alt=\"\"  class=\" pk-lazyload\"  data-pk-sizes=\"auto\"  data-pk-src=\"https:\/\/lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com\/docsz\/AD_4nXd1G_cOuPoVyAVHsJHqZARwXDlsXcvrxTGJZf6ZJiPWazWEblK38Qh4qrCZV4An6XB0pzqRrAfAQ3W8RoiIdDqN2n-4LtFNu9DwoGVEux3OlcHWPzzvM_NdQ125SpyJ2g-ipl4HdjsPmy0Q6C0AqIjjgcv9?key=S2N1BBEXC8Hzt45KCZ-ZiQ\" ><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><em>Courtesy of avMachine713 on Pixabay<\/em><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"average-salary-and-hourly-rate-in-houston\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Average Salary and Hourly Rate in Houston<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you&rsquo;re wondering how much Houston residents make, the typical salary range is around <strong>$57,000 to $64,000<\/strong>. Houston&rsquo;s minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, but the average hourly wage is <strong>$23 to $27 per hour<\/strong>. <em>And there&rsquo;s <\/em><strong><em>no state income tax<\/em><\/strong><em>!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"the-most-affordable-and-upscale-neighborhoods\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Most Affordable and Upscale Neighborhoods<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you&rsquo;re looking for the most affordable neighborhood, there are quite a few. Greater Eastwood seems to be one of the best options for renting, with rent prices being in the <strong>$700 to $850 range<\/strong>. Another option is the Mahatma Gandhi District, as rent prices start <strong>as low as $589<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you&rsquo;re looking to buy a house, Southeast Houston is your best bet. Houses are <strong>$100,000 to $200,000<\/strong> here, which is much lower than Houston&rsquo;s median.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">River Oaks is by far one of the most upscale neighborhoods in Houston. Rent prices range from <strong>$2,000 to $3,500 per month<\/strong> and house prices are typically <strong>$2 million and up<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"2-houston-has-a-strong-job-market\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Houston Has a Strong Job Market&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Houston&rsquo;s job market is among the strongest in the country, making it appealing for job seekers and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/best-cities-for-young-professionals\/\">young professionals<\/a>. As of July 2024, the city&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/ycharts.com\/indicators\/houston_tx_unemployment_rate#:~:text=Houston%2C%20TX%20Unemployment%20Rate%20(I%3AHTXUR)&amp;text=Houston%2C%20TX%20Unemployment%20Rate%20is,long%20term%20average%20of%206.17%25.\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>unemployment rate was 4.9%<\/strong><\/a>. This is slightly higher than the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/charts\/employment-situation\/civilian-unemployment-rate.htm\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>national average of 4.2%<\/strong><\/a>, but still very good in the grand scheme of things.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Several key industries drive Houston&rsquo;s job market, including <em>oil and gas, medical research, aerospace, technology, and healthcare<\/em>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<html><body><div id=\"in_post\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/search\" onclick=\"rudderanalytics.track('press editorial cta button', {location: 'first in post', version: '2.0'}, () =&gt; { console.log('track call'); });\">\r\n  <div class=\"first-in-post-cta\">\r\n    <header>\r\n      <h2 id=\"how-neighbor-is-changing-storage\">How Neighbor is changing storage<\/h2>\r\n    <\/header>\r\n    <section>\r\n      <div class=\"service-option\">\r\n        <div class=\"service-option-icon\">\r\n          <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"60\" height=\"60\" viewbox=\"0 0 60 60\" fill=\"none\">\r\n            <path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M13.125 9.375C11.0539 9.375 9.375 11.0539 9.375 13.125V46.875C9.375 48.9461 11.0539 50.625 13.125 50.625H46.875C48.9461 50.625 50.625 48.9461 50.625 46.875V13.125C50.625 11.0539 48.9461 9.375 46.875 9.375H13.125ZM28.125 16.875C28.125 15.8395 28.9645 15 30 15C31.0355 15 31.875 15.8395 31.875 16.875V20.625H35.625C36.6605 20.625 37.5 21.4645 37.5 22.5C37.5 23.5355 36.6605 24.375 35.625 24.375H26.25C25.2145 24.375 24.375 25.2145 24.375 26.25C24.375 27.2855 25.2145 28.125 26.25 28.125H33.75C36.8566 28.125 39.375 30.6434 39.375 33.75C39.375 36.8566 36.8566 39.375 33.75 39.375H31.875V43.125C31.875 44.1605 31.0355 45 30 45C28.9645 45 28.125 44.1605 28.125 43.125V39.375H22.5C21.4645 39.375 20.625 38.5355 20.625 37.5C20.625 36.4645 21.4645 35.625 22.5 35.625H33.75C34.7855 35.625 35.625 34.7855 35.625 33.75C35.625 32.7145 34.7855 31.875 33.75 31.875H26.25C23.1434 31.875 20.625 29.3566 20.625 26.25C20.625 23.1434 23.1434 20.625 26.25 20.625H28.125V16.875Z\" fill=\"#005EB8\"><\/path>\r\n          <\/svg>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n        <h3 id=\"transparent-monthly-savings\">Transparent monthly savings<\/h3>\r\n        <p>Renters save 30-50% on self storage, on average. No rate hikes.<\/p>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"service-option\">\r\n        <div class=\"service-option-icon\">\r\n          <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"60\" height=\"61\" viewbox=\"0 0 60 61\" fill=\"none\">\r\n            <path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M31.2776 52.4974L31.7666 52.0417C32.0789 51.7503 32.527 51.3317 33.0706 50.8224C34.1576 49.8041 35.6276 48.4224 37.158 46.9698C40.1682 44.1127 43.5576 40.8461 44.596 39.6282C46.7163 37.1414 48.1719 34.1468 48.8127 30.9251C49.5529 27.204 49.173 23.347 47.7211 19.8418C46.2692 16.3366 43.8105 13.3407 40.6559 11.2329C37.5015 9.12514 33.7942 8 30.0001 8C26.2061 8 22.4973 9.12504 19.3428 11.2329C16.1882 13.3407 13.7295 16.3366 12.2776 19.8418C10.8257 23.347 10.4458 27.204 11.186 30.9251C11.8268 34.1468 13.2824 37.1414 15.4027 39.6282C16.4411 40.8462 19.831 44.1128 22.8415 46.9698C24.3721 48.4224 25.8422 49.8042 26.9294 50.8225C27.4731 51.3318 27.9212 51.7504 28.2336 52.0418L28.723 52.4979C29.4428 53.1672 30.5579 53.1668 31.2776 52.4974ZM28.723 52.4979C28.723 52.4979 28.7232 52.498 30.0001 51.125L28.723 52.4979ZM30.0001 51.125L31.2776 52.4974C31.2776 52.4974 31.2771 52.4979 30.0001 51.125ZM30 33.3125C33.6243 33.3125 36.5625 30.3744 36.5625 26.75C36.5625 23.1256 33.6243 20.1875 30 20.1875C26.3756 20.1875 23.4375 23.1256 23.4375 26.75C23.4375 30.3744 26.3756 33.3125 30 33.3125Z\" fill=\"#005EB8\"><\/path>\r\n          <\/svg>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n        <h3 id=\"keep-your-items-nearby\">Keep your items nearby<\/h3>\r\n        <p>Hosts in your neighborhood means that your things are always close by.<\/p>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"service-option\">\r\n        <div class=\"service-option-icon\">\r\n          <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"60\" height=\"60\" viewbox=\"0 0 60 60\" fill=\"none\">\r\n            <path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M30 7.5C25.5499 7.5 21.1998 8.8196 17.4997 11.2919C13.7996 13.7643 10.9157 17.2783 9.21272 21.3896C7.50975 25.501 7.06417 30.025 7.93234 34.3895C8.80051 38.7541 10.9434 42.7632 14.0901 45.9099C17.2368 49.0566 21.2459 51.1995 25.6105 52.0677C29.975 52.9358 34.4991 52.4903 38.6104 50.7873C42.7217 49.0843 46.2357 46.2004 48.7081 42.5003C51.1804 38.8002 52.5 34.4501 52.5 30C52.5 24.0326 50.1295 18.3097 45.9099 14.0901C41.6903 9.87053 35.9674 7.5 30 7.5ZM41.5295 26.7545C42.7193 25.5646 42.7193 23.6354 41.5295 22.4455C40.3396 21.2556 38.4104 21.2556 37.2205 22.4455L26.7061 32.96L22.7795 29.0334C21.5896 27.8435 19.6604 27.8435 18.4705 29.0334C17.2807 30.2232 17.2807 32.1524 18.4705 33.3423L24.5516 39.4234C25.123 39.9948 25.898 40.3158 26.7061 40.3158C27.5142 40.3158 28.2891 39.9948 28.8605 39.4234L41.5295 26.7545Z\" fill=\"#005EB8\"><\/path>\r\n          <\/svg>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n        <h3 id=\"storage-made-simple\">Storage made simple<\/h3>\r\n        <p>Don't settle for stone age tech and long contracts. Neighbor makes it easy.<\/p>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/section>\r\n    <footer>\r\n      <button>Search nearby options <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"25\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 25 24\" fill=\"none\">\r\n          <path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M11 2.90625C9.4981 2.90625 8.02993 3.35162 6.78114 4.18603C5.53236 5.02044 4.55905 6.20642 3.98429 7.594C3.40954 8.98157 3.25916 10.5084 3.55217 11.9815C3.84517 13.4545 4.56841 14.8076 5.63041 15.8696C6.69242 16.9316 8.04549 17.6548 9.51854 17.9478C10.9916 18.2408 12.5184 18.0905 13.906 17.5157C14.4508 17.29 14.9646 17.0029 15.4382 16.6618L19.5132 20.7368C19.9892 21.2127 20.7608 21.2127 21.2368 20.7368C21.7127 20.2608 21.7127 19.4892 21.2368 19.0132L17.1618 14.9382C17.2137 14.8661 17.2645 14.793 17.314 14.7189C18.1484 13.4701 18.5938 12.0019 18.5938 10.5C18.5938 8.48601 17.7937 6.55451 16.3696 5.13041C14.9455 3.7063 13.014 2.90625 11 2.90625ZM14.7493 14.0398C14.9463 13.8311 15.1264 13.6054 15.2873 13.3647C15.8538 12.5167 16.1562 11.5198 16.1562 10.5C16.1562 9.13248 15.613 7.82096 14.646 6.85398C13.679 5.887 12.3675 5.34375 11 5.34375C9.98019 5.34375 8.98328 5.64616 8.13534 6.21273C7.2874 6.77931 6.62651 7.58461 6.23625 8.52679C5.84599 9.46897 5.74387 10.5057 5.94283 11.5059C6.14178 12.5061 6.63287 13.4249 7.35398 14.146C8.0751 14.8671 8.99385 15.3582 9.99407 15.5572C10.9943 15.7561 12.031 15.654 12.9732 15.2638C13.5557 15.0225 14.086 14.6777 14.5398 14.2493C14.5699 14.2108 14.6028 14.1737 14.6382 14.1382C14.6737 14.1028 14.7108 14.0699 14.7493 14.0398Z\" fill=\"#EFF5F8\"><\/path>\r\n        <\/svg>\r\n      <\/button>\r\n    <\/footer>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/a>\n  <\/div><\/body><\/html><h3 id=\"3-housing-options-and-neighborhoods-are-abundant\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Housing Options and Neighborhoods Are Abundant&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether you&rsquo;re looking for luxurious residences, budget-friendly apartments, or family-oriented communities, Houston has something for everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"inside-vs-outside-the-loop\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Inside vs. Outside the Loop<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Interstate 610 loop in Houston divides the area&rsquo;s urban and suburban neighborhoods. If you live inside the loop, you&rsquo;ll have easy access to restaurants, nightlife, and cultural venues. Overall, it&rsquo;s a populous city and bustling area.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In contrast, living outside the loop offers a calmer and quieter suburban atmosphere. It&rsquo;s usually more appealing to families, as it provides more spacious living environments (and less traffic).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td colspan=\"5\"><strong>5 Top-Rated Houston Neighborhoods<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Neighborhood<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Average Rent<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Average Home Price<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Safety Score<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Walkability Score<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Midtown<\/td><td>$2,000<\/td><td>$390,000<\/td><td>A<\/td><td>8\/10<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Greater Uptown<\/td><td>$1,500<\/td><td>$360,000<\/td><td>B+<\/td><td>6\/10<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>River Oaks<\/td><td>$2,000<\/td><td>$2.5 million<\/td><td>B<\/td><td>6\/10<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Memorial<\/td><td>$1,700<\/td><td>$650,000<\/td><td>C<\/td><td>5\/10<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Greater Heights<\/td><td>$1,800<\/td><td>$650,000<\/td><td>C<\/td><td>7\/10<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"4-extreme-weather-is-possible\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Extreme Weather is Possible<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Houston&rsquo;s climate features <strong>hot and humid summers<\/strong> with temperatures ranging from the 80s to the lower 90s, which allows insects to thrive. The <strong>winters are much milder<\/strong>, with temperatures typically hovering in the 60s.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the biggest challenges of living in Houston is the high probability of hurricanes and tropical storms. These types of big storms can lead to <em>significant flooding, property damage, injuries, and even deaths<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Outside of hurricanes and tropical storms, Houston gets about <strong>50 inches of rainfall per year<\/strong>, which can also lead to flooding. <em>This is why <\/em><strong><em>flood insurance is vital!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"5-houston-has-a-high-crime-rate\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Houston Has a High Crime Rate<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Safety is a critical consideration when <a href=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/moving-new-city\/\">moving to a new city<\/a> and unfortunately, Houston has a relatively higher crime rate. In 2022, the violent crime rate was <a href=\"https:\/\/realestate.usnews.com\/places\/texas\/houston\/crime\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>1148.2 per 100,000 residents<\/strong><\/a>, which was significantly above the national average of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.statista.com\/statistics\/202703\/crime-rate-in-the-usa-by-type-of-crime\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>380.7 per 100,000 resident<\/strong>s<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite these statistics, many neighborhoods in Houston are considered safe and family-friendly. Areas such as <strong>The Woodlands<\/strong> and <strong>Sugar Land<\/strong> are known for their safety and strong community feel, making them good options for families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"6-education-has-a-good-reputation\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Education Has a Good Reputation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If education is a top priority for your family, Houston will not disappoint. The Houston Independent School District (HISD) is the largest in Texas. It has a strong reputation, a <strong>graduation rate range of 75% to 90%<\/strong>, and a wealth of resources for students.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Houston is home to a mix of over <strong>400 public and private schools and over 40 colleges and universities <\/strong>(including Texas Southern University and Rice University). While the public school system is free, private education in Houston can sometimes cost <strong>over $20,000 per year<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"7-transportation-and-commuting-is-difficult\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. Transportation and Commuting is Difficult<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Living in Houston means you&rsquo;ll need a car, as the area is huge and <strong>not very walkable.<\/strong> But if a car is out of the budget, there are some public transportation options.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Choosing to use public transportation can help you <em>reduce your carbon footprint, save money on gas, and reduce your commute time<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"8-there-is-plenty-of-cultural-diversity\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">8. There is Plenty of Cultural Diversity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Houston&rsquo;s population is home to a number of Hispanic, Asian, and Middle Eastern communities. The city&rsquo;s diversity shines through with cultural festivals like the <strong>Bayou City Art Festival<\/strong> and the <strong>Houston International Festival<\/strong>, which showcase global music, art, dance, and food, and local events like the <strong>Houston Livestock Show<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"9-houston-has-high-property-taxes\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">9. Houston Has High Property Taxes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another financial aspect that you need to be aware of is Houston&rsquo;s <strong>high property tax rates<\/strong>. They are actually some of the highest in the country and average <strong>around $0.50 per $100 of value<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Do note that property taxes range throughout the city depending on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/best-place-to-live-in-usa-for-families\/\">where you live<\/a>, but they all hover around this amount.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"10-houston-has-excellent-healthcare\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">10. Houston Has Excellent Healthcare<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Houston is renowned as a <strong>leading healthcare destination<\/strong>. <strong>Its hospitals often rank among some of the best in the United States.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It&rsquo;s even home to the <strong>Texas Medical Center<\/strong>, the biggest medical complex globally. Plus, the area&rsquo;s reputable hospitals and institutions continually emphasize <em>patient care and medical research.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img  decoding=\"async\"  src=\"data:image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABAQMAAAAl21bKAAAAA1BMVEUAAP+KeNJXAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAApJREFUCNdjYAAAAAIAAeIhvDMAAAAASUVORK5CYII=\"  alt=\"\"  class=\" pk-lazyload\"  data-pk-sizes=\"auto\"  data-pk-src=\"https:\/\/lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com\/docsz\/AD_4nXeJRyyMFtocwPU08YLijTTw1KoVUhRvoySAOIi83LrBcEnV0U1r8EFN-Z2XWU1LltIhrAQrL_2XBon7CEIvfK13Mj4YAPtf1W8vBnOWZf3elnMQoAKIai41a_z57jbFY8yeYJ_KBrKAewSaPfpiRvKGJWga?key=S2N1BBEXC8Hzt45KCZ-ZiQ\" ><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><em>Courtesy of Houston Methodist<\/em><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Houston Methodist Hospital<\/strong> is another top-rated medical center that&rsquo;s particularly known for <em>heart and vascular treatments, cancer treatments, neurology, and organ transplantations<\/em>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All in all, Houston residents can feel at ease knowing they&rsquo;re getting top-tier medical care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"11-there-are-many-recreation-options-and-green-spaces\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">11. There Are Many Recreation Options and Green Spaces<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Houston is a nature lover&rsquo;s and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/houston-outdoor-activities-2\/\">outdoor enthusiast&rsquo;s paradise<\/a> with <strong>over 50,000 acres of park space<\/strong>. <strong>Memorial Park<\/strong> is a fan-favorite that offers extensive <a href=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/best-bike-trails-in-houston\/\">biking trails<\/a> (and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/top-houston-hiking-trails\/\">hiking trails<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"12-houston-has-a-diverse-dining-and-food-scene\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">12. Houston Has a Diverse Dining and Food Scene<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Houston&rsquo;s food scene is as diverse as its population, featuring <strong>over 10,000 restaurants<\/strong> ranging from chicken fried steak to international cuisines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Top 5 Rated Restaurants:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/torchystacos.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Torchy&rsquo;s Tacos<\/a> <strong><em>(Best Budget-Friendly Option)&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tasteoftexas.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Taste of Texas<\/a> <strong><em>(Best Fine Dining Option)&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pinkertonsbarbecue.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Pinkerton&rsquo;s Barbecue<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/huynhrestauranthouston.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Huynh Restaurant<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/nikonikos.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Niko Niko&rsquo;s<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"13-there-is-a-great-sports-and-entertainment-scene\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">13. There is a Great Sports and Entertainment Scene<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sports lovers have plenty to cheer about in Houston. It&rsquo;s home to multiple professional teams, including the <strong>MLB Astros, NBA Rockets, NFL Texans, and MLS Dynamo<\/strong>. Houston&rsquo;s venues and stadiums, like NRG Stadium and Minute Maid Park, host major sporting events and exciting concerts throughout the year.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"14-there-are-no-zoning-regulations\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">14. There Are No Zoning Regulations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is a <strong>lack of zoning laws<\/strong> in Houston, which means there are no laws governing how land can be used. The city can govern the division of property, but land use is not governed. This means landowners can <strong>build whatever they want<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"final-thoughts\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Considering all aspects of Houston is vital in your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/moving-out-checklist\/\">moving decision<\/a>. Comparing the positives and negatives can help you make the best decision for you and your family.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you do decide that Houston is for you, it&rsquo;s a good idea to think about storage options during the moving process. <strong>Neighbor<\/strong>, <em>a peer-to-peer storage marketplace<\/em>, offers <a href=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/self-storage-near-me\"><strong>affordable self-storage options<\/strong><\/a> for you to utilize in all 50 states. And you&rsquo;ll be able to <strong>save up to 50%<\/strong> compared to traditional options.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Becoming a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/host\">Neighbor host<\/a> after you&rsquo;re settled can also help you make a passive income of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/breaking-records-in-passive-income-neighbor-hosts-earn-294-per-hour-of-work\/\">$294 per hour worked<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"frequently-asked-questions\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"what-is-so-great-about-houston-and-why-is-houston-a-good-place-to-live\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Is So Great About Houston, and Why Is Houston a Good Place to Live?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Houston is an excellent place to live due to the <strong>affordable cost of living<\/strong> and its <strong>high bar for healthcare<\/strong> (among other pros).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"why-are-people-leaving-houston\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Are People Leaving Houston?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The climate is a big reason why people leave Houston, as it can get quite hot and humid. But if you can handle the heat, it&rsquo;s a perfect place to live!<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Moving to Houston, Texas, can be a great decision for you and your family, but it can also&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":30,"featured_media":14068,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"csco_singular_sidebar":"","csco_page_header_type":"","csco_appearance_grid":"","csco_page_load_nextpost":"","csco_post_video_location":[],"csco_post_video_location_hash":"","csco_post_video_url":"","csco_post_video_bg_start_time":0,"csco_post_video_bg_end_time":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15198","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-moving","cs-entry","cs-video-wrap"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Should I Move to Houston? 14 Things You Should Know - Neighbor Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Wondering &#039;should I move to Houston?&#039; Discover 14 key things you need to know about living in Houston, from the cost of living to many more.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/should-i-move-to-houston\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Should I Move to Houston? 14 Things You Should Know - Neighbor Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Wondering &#039;should I move to Houston?&#039; Discover 14 key things you need to know about living in Houston, from the cost of living to many more.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/should-i-move-to-houston\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Neighbor Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-09-29T05:50:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-10-01T21:43:55+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Jacksonville-Florida.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"750\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Kiana Opre\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Kiana Opre\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/should-i-move-to-houston\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/should-i-move-to-houston\/\",\"name\":\"Should I Move to Houston? 14 Things You Should Know - Neighbor Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2024-09-29T05:50:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-10-01T21:43:55+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/#\/schema\/person\/713fbafb90ae514756dbb6b7322b5538\"},\"description\":\"Wondering 'should I move to Houston?' 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