Texas is one of the nation’s most famous states for those who are relocating. Driven by factors such as the atmosphere, the economy and good job prospects, the huge opportunities for land and housing, and the accommodating climate, people from all over the country and the world are heading to Texas.
The independent spirit of the population continues to push this culture forward, although the cities of Texas have grown larger and the ranches have become more productive. Throughout the state, you will find a significant variety of perspectives, but you will also find that some common ground is shared by most people.
Usually, those who come here enjoy the experience. If you are thinking about living in Texas, then before finalizing your plans, here are some of the critical pros and cons to review.
Pros of Living in Texas
1. Favorable Climate
As Texas is such a large state, those who are dreaming about settling here have a wide range of climates at their service. If you prefer to be warm and coastal, then there is a wide shoreline along the Gulf of Mexico to be enjoyed by various communities.
With four definite seasons, if you want anything that is warm and humid, then the central interior is an alternative.
Near El Paso, you can get more of a western atmosphere or enjoy the tropics of the Southeast along the Arkansas frontier. The state, as a whole, remains reasonably temperate all year round.
2. Educational Opportunities
Based on results released by the National Center for Education Statistics, students enrolled in public, private and homeschooling opportunities both rate better than most other states.
Just 6.8%, a total of 74, of the school districts in the entire state received an accountability ranking in 2018 that was below a C grade. Just 1% of school districts were listed as needing improvement.
“The overall number of schools receiving a” D “or” F “rating fell to 5.5 percent when charter operations were omitted from those figures.
3. Tax
Texas is one of the few states in the United States where no income tax is collected. That also ensures that by reporting your income, you have one less return to file every year.
While opposed to some, you would pay a higher sales tax rate in the state, the highest combined rate is just 8.25 percent, which is more competitive than most states where a sales tax substitutes the income tax for the services needed.
After moving to Texas, several families discover that they can save more of their earnings per year thanks to the reduced average tax pressure that is present.
4. Cost of Living
The cost of living is just slightly higher in the state of Texas than it is for the general public of the United States. If the average cost in the U.S. is rated as 100, then Texans face a rate of 101.8. Rental rates in the state are slightly lower, with most households spending around $100 less for their room per month.
Although a few costs are a little higher, most families can maintain the same quality of life they do now without spending as much as they would because they came to Texas.
5. Affordable Properties
If you decide that it is right for you to live in Texas, then you will find that land in the state is cheaper than in most other places in the United States. The property acquisition process is also very efficient.
From the moment it takes to secure a building permit until the final completion of a new residence, building a dream house for your family here is even easier than it is in most other states.
The state also benefits from strict rules on lending, ensuring that there are less issues with the state’s household finances, shielding homeowners from recent market crashes.
Cons of Living in Texas
1. Challenging Intrastate Travel
Until you personally understand the size and reach of the state of Texas, it is difficult to understand just how large it is. If you were to fly from El Paso to Houston, it would take you more than 740 miles to drive, and at the end of your trip, you would end up in a different time zone. Although being in the same state, that’s over 10 hours of driving and that’s on the most direct route.
That covers the state’s east-to – west range. The distance is very close if you’re going north-to-south. When you live in Texas, it’s about the same distance from Amarillo to McAllen. Due to its size, trying to get anywhere on the other side of the state can be a laborious experience.
2. Hurricanes
For over six months of the year, every year, hurricanes are something that can drastically affect your life. While it is the biggest storms that usually make the national headlines, even a small tropical depression can have a significant adverse effect on your land no matter where you live in Texas.
To cover your house from the flood damage that hurricanes can cause, you must carry a separate insurance policy, which means you face higher annual expenses to repair your home.
Some people do not know that they may need the extra coverage, so if they are struck and flooded by a hurricane, they do not have any financial insurance available to them.
3. Crime
Since 2015, the rate of violent crime in the state of Texas has been rising. The ratio of police officers to the overall population has been declining at the same time.
Federal Bureau of Investigation statistics show that for every 1,000 individuals who live in the state, there are just 1.5 police officers. For every 1,000 persons, there were two officers in 2016. That is around 0.5 less than what the average is in the U.S.
In the state of Texas, the number of violent crimes per 100,000 persons in 2017 was 439, up 30 from the estimates in 2012. Right now, only 7 states have a lower officer-to-population ratio: Alabama, Ohio, Washington, Wyoming, New Mexico, Indiana, and Mississippi.
4. Storms
If you plan to start living in Texas, hurricanes are not the only weather problem to be worried about. In the spring and summer, there are violent storms that happen in the state that are similar to what homeowners encounter in the Midwest. It is normal to have extreme thunderstorms, bringing heavy winds, hail, lightning, and tornadoes that can have an adverse effect on your house and property.
5. Less Life Opportunities
While there are many work opportunities available in the state of Texas, it ranks 46th out of the 50 states in the overall quality of life ranking. Your access to healthcare is one of the most important drawbacks to living here. It could be a drive of 50 miles or more to meet your nearest provider if you live in a rural area.
The state ranks 46th in healthcare access and 45th in the quality of healthcare. Compared to the national average of 12%, over 20 percent of adults residing in Texas actually have no health insurance.
Cost of Living
We all know everything in Texas is bigger. But does “bigger” mean extremely expensive? Well, the cost of living in Texas is fairly affordable, as it turns out! In fact, according to the Cost of Living Index, the average cost of living there is 8 percent lower than the national average. Keep in mind that, behind Alaska, Texas is the second largest state in the U.S., so some cities are costlier than others.
You’d have to compare the cost of living in your current city with the Texas city of your dreams to learn if you can afford to live in the Lone Star State. We’ll show you how much Texas costs for “super cool” grown-up things like housing, food, taxes and bills to help you make a positive decision about whether Texas is the right move for you cost-wise.
1. Housing
All right, let ‘s start with expenses for housing. Median home prices in Texas were $310,000 in June 2020, about 9 percent lower than the national median of almost $342,000! The median monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment, meanwhile, was almost 11% lower than the national median of $1,200.
You may be wondering why you haven’t ridden off into the Texan sunset earlier with prices like those! Ok, don’t forget, it doesn’t cost all of Texas the same. Texas varies all the way from 40 percent lower than the national average in the southern city of Harlingen to 23 percent higher in the city of Plano, north of Dallas, when you weigh overall housing cost factors!
2. Utilities
Utility prices in Texas, such as electricity and phone use, range from 14% lower than the national average in the western city of El Paso, to 41% higher in the Gulf of Mexico in Corpus Christi! McAllen, located in the Rio Grande Valley at the southern tip of Texas, is 2 percent higher than the national average in the middle range among Texas cities for utility costs.
3. Groceries
Texas groceries range from 24 percent lower than the city of Temple’s national average, about an hour north of Austin, to 2 percent higher in El Paso. Speaking of groceries, at H-E-B, you might find yourself shopping.
The grocery chain is based in San Antonio, which just so happens to be located somewhere between Texas cities for groceries in the middle price range. You can buy half a gallon of milk and some cereal in San Antonio for less than $5, 25 percent less than the national average.
4. Transportation
Rev up the motors! In the northern city of Amarillo, the cost of transport in Texas ranges from 19 percent lower than the national average, to 7 percent higher in San Marcos, a city south of Austin. Waco, Dr. Pepper’s homeland just south of Dallas, falls among most Texas cities, which is 7 percent lower than the national average, into the middle range for transportation costs.
Since Texas is largely a driving state, by having the correct coverage, you’ll want to keep transportation costs down. By speaking to one of the independent insurance agents, try bundling your auto insurance for a discount.
5. Healthcare
The cost of Texas health insurance ranges from 21% lower in Plano than the national average, to 26% higher in San Marcos. Meanwhile, Midland, a city in western Texas, is positioned within Texas cities in the middle range, with health care costs about 4 percent lower than the national average.
6. Miscellaneous
A broad variety of items and facilities, including aspects such as typical restaurant food, clothes, entertainment, sports and personal care, are covered by miscellaneous charges. These prices in Texas range from 24 percent lower in Harlingen than the national average to 13 percent higher in Midland.
For miscellaneous spending, the western city of Odessa serves most Texas cities, and is 6 percent smaller than the national average. You can order a pizza for $12 in Odessa, have a haircut for $16.50, and purchase a $29 sweater.
Those rates are $10, $17.45 and $32 for the average U.S. city, for reference. But you’re going to have to move to Texas if you like authentic dessert kolaches.