Living in Texas is something that those native to the state take deep pride in.
When you are new, it can feel a bit overwhelming.
From experiencing heat exhaustion to watching a cattle drive through downtown, there is plenty to discover.
If you are from up north, this might be a bit of a culture shock.
After going through this list, you will know so much that people will just assume you are from there.
Grab your cowboy boots and hat.
Let’s get to steppin’!
Contents
Pros of Living in Texas
1. BBQ
Coming from a state that is known for cowboys, it makes sense that one of the best things about living here comes from cattle.
The brisket is smoked and has a flavor of its own.
In fact, if you are from Kansas City, you might have to rethink what you believe to be BBQ.
There are plenty of places to try and there is always one place that will become your favorite.
A delicious way to get to know Texas.
2. Cost of Living
In comparison to other popular states, Texas can be more affordable.
So affordable, in fact, that many from California are moving in.
More on that later.
You also have the benefit of some serious wide open spaces.
Remember, Texas is the largest in the continental United States, so there is enough room to roam around and buy a couple of acres.
Or a hundred.
The further out from the cities, the cheaper it will be.
3. NASA
Houston, we have a problem!
Not enough people know about the fact you can have lunch with an astronaut.
That is in addition to touring the space center as well as being up close and personal with space rocks.
Let’s not forget actual space shuttles!
There is so much history and what a learning experience it is to go to NASA.
Also, Houston is close enough to the coast that you can make a trip out of it.
4. Job Opportunities
With the influx of people, there is an influx of jobs.
Everything from the service industry to corporations, there is a little something here for every kind of talent.
There is also a wide array of things to do here, career-wise.
There are a multitude of professional sports teams, oil, cattle, universities, and, of course, big business.
5. No State Income Tax
Filing taxes is enough of a hassle.
Texas makes it easier by cutting out the second half about the state.
To be fair, sales tax is slightly higher.
However, that will leave more money in each paycheck to spend on necessities.
Or you could always live in a border town next to a state with a lower sales tax percentage and get your groceries over there. Food for thought.
6. Big Cities
Because everything is bigger in Texas, so are the cities.
While many states may have one or two major cities, Texas has several.
These are not just big downtown areas, either.
Cities here extend well out into the suburbs.
For example, Dallas and Fort Worth are big cities that are so close together that their names are combined and the area around them is called the metroplex.
Even the airport is called DFW.
Each city has a different feel to it as well.
Don’t like one?
There are equally good opportunities in the next city without having to leave the state.
7. Professional Sports
With big cities comes big sports.
When you are in Texas, it is hard to imagine that there are states without any professional teams.
Here, they have them all!
The major cities are spread out enough that there is not really a fan overlap.
There is nothing like building a bond with your neighbor when it comes to catching the game.
They do not call the Dallas Cowboys America’s team for nothing.
8. Bullet Train
It takes about four hours to drive from Dallas to Houston.
These two cities are so big though, it would be nice to be able to get to both easily.
That is why there is a bullet train in the works.
How about getting from one city to the next in 90 minutes?
It would be easy to take a day trip and be back home to bed.
Tourism would get a boost, as would business.
Cons of Living in Texas
1. Summer
The heat produced between April and October is enough to send someone packing.
Having to deal with the equivalent of opening an in-use oven door every time you go outside is unfair.
It is not just a slight against nature, but humanity.
Forget going outside at all as you edge towards July.
The heat is so exhausting that you will not see people out for a leisurely afternoon jog because it might put them in the hospital.
2. Endless Texas
If you get in the car and drive from north to south or east to west in Texas, you might be very surprised by how long you’re still in the state.
For 12 hours in either direction, you would still be in Texas.
If you were to get in the car in Atlanta and drive 12 hours west, you would end up in Dallas, TX after having driven through four states.
Start in Caddo Lake and drive west to El Paso and you are still in Texas.
It might feel like an episode from the Twilight Zone, but it is very real.
3. Californian Invasion
The general consensus behind going to the state capital is thanks for dropping by, but you can go home now.
The most liberal part of Texas has a great, small-town vibe despite being a full-on city.
There are so many local restaurants and small businesses that are part of the fabric that makes Austin.
That feeling in general is why so many people are moving there, despite local disapproval.
4. Being Priced Out
The same thing happening in Austin is happening across the state, especially in the DFW area where companies such as Toyota have moved headquarters.
That severely drives up the prices of homes.
People from California are used to much higher prices and frequently outbid entire neighborhoods.
Not being able to compete on such an extremely high budget is causing Texan-born homeowners to be pushed further and further out.
5. Political Climate
The Californian invasion is actually kind of surprising when you consider the political climate of Texas.
California is more liberal-leaning, whereas Texas is historically conservative.
It is either those moving are just so eager to save money or it is a wider conspiracy to influence local politics.
While the latter is more of a conspiracy theory, it could potentially end up having more sway than most would realize.
If you are uncomfortable with guns, this could also be a hot-button issue if you are considering the move.
6. Property Tax
While having no income tax is definitely appealing, Texas may make up for it by hiking up the rates on property tax.
It’s about 60% higher here than in other places around the country.
If you purchase land in a big enough city, you might be able to make it worth your while.
Otherwise, if you do not plan to stay permanently, you may be more inclined to rent.
7. Severe Storms
The weather can be so outrageous it deserves two spots in the cons column.
Hurricanes are so frequent here that only Florida has had more experience with them.
Think Texas is too far south to be hit by a barrage of tornados coming from Kansas and Oklahoma?
Think again!
Texas is part of Tornado Alley.
Texas also holds the honor of having the most extreme weather events.
8. Over the Top State Pride
It might be confusing that this is a con, but it has a lot to do with how native Texans treat outsiders.
You would be hard-pressed to find another state that talks about their state as much as people who grew up here do.
It borderlines on obsession.
When you are from out of town, people will instruct you to let inquiring minds know that you are not from here but you got here as fast as you could.
Clearly, no other state is good enough to send its citizens here.
They think they are southern but they really are not.
It is the Midwest and there is a true lack of southern hospitality.
Pros and Cons of Living in Texas – Summary Table
| Pros of Living in Texas | Cons of Living in Texas |
|---|---|
| 1. BBQ | 1. Summer |
| 2. Cost of Living | 2. Endless Texas |
| 3. NASA | 3. Californian Invasion |
| 4. Job Opportunities | 4. Being Priced Out |
| 5. No State Income Tax | 5. Political Climate |
| 6. Big Cities | 6. Property Tax |
| 7. Professional Sports | 7. Severe Storms |
| 8. Bullet Train | 8. Over the Top State Pride |
Texas Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Texas Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Texas mainly a desert?
West Texas is probably what you are thinking of.
It is drier and places like Big Bend National Park are reminiscent of old Hollywood westerns.
However, due to the extreme size, you have a variety of climates.
You can expect colder weather and snow in the panhandle, tropical temperatures off the coast in South Padre Island, and lush green land on the border with Louisiana.
Are there cities like Chicago and New York City in Texas?
Dallas and Houston probably have the tallest buildings and happening downtown areas.
However, they are not really comparable to the concrete jungles of those major cities.
In Chicago, as you turn around, you are lost in a sea of skyscrapers.
Texas has the ability to spread out more, so not everything is so condensed.
Do people ride horses down the road?
When they are doing a cattle drive, sure.
You can also see real cowboys driving cattle in the Fort Worth Stockyards, just outside of downtown.
However, you will not be seeing a horse with a turning signal any time soon.
What is the best BBQ location in Texas?
As with any preference, it is debatable.
There are still opinions, though!
Snow’s BBQ outside of Austin was voted the best.
Snow’s is only open for a few hours on Saturdays.
It is not a restaurant exactly, but you can sit outside at the available picnic tables.
Riscky’s BBQ is also a contender for the top spot.
Is there a lot to do in Texas?
NASA is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to entertainment.
There are 89 state parks, plus 14 spots run by the federal government, and an entire coastline of beaches.
Each city has a flavor of its own and is independent of the others.
That means you do not have to leave the state to have great experiences.
There is so much history and modern amenities that you will have a good time.
As long as it is not August.
As a former resident of texas will not put a capital on it
breckenridge tx is the worst place to live or visit most of the city workers are prejudiced people
I concur. My father was born in Breckenridge and it’s a backwards little Texan town with two hotels, the Ridge and the Breckenridge. And it is a very, very, very racist city, as is most of Texas. I am so glad that our parents spirited us out of Texas when we were young. Whew! We dodged a bullet.
Most of the cons seem to be good things in fact in addition the pros. It’s all about perspective. Even the property tax rate looks appealing when you come from states like Illinois.
Truly. When I read baking in an oven my face lit up with joy. I’d rather have that than waking up to several feet of snow, freezing to the bone and having to go to work on top of all that.
God forbid a state has its own sense of cultural identity that its residents take pride in instead of trying to be everything but in the end representing nothing unique or cohesive.