Moving to Texas can be an exciting step, whether you’re relocating for work, moving closer to family, or looking for a new place to settle. With large cities, strong job markets, no personal state income tax, and a wide range of lifestyles, Texas appeals to many different types of movers.
Before you move, it’s worth thinking about where you’ll live, how you’ll get around, what your commute might look like, and how much time you need to find the right long-term home.
At InTown Suites, our extended stay hotels across Texas can support your move with furnished suites, weekly rates, and essential amenities for everyday living. This gives you a practical place to stay while you compare neighborhoods and settle into your new routine.
This guide covers what to know before moving to Texas, including why people are relocating, popular cities to consider, pros and cons, and a moving to Texas checklist.
Quick Overview
- Texas offers strong job markets and no personal state income tax
- Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and Fort Worth are popular cities to consider
- Weather, commute times, and housing costs vary by location
- A temporary stay can help you compare neighborhoods before signing a lease
- InTown Suites offers extended stay options across Texas for movers in transition
Why Are People Moving to Texas?
There are many reasons people are moving to Texas. For some, it’s the job market. For others, it’s the cost of living, the lack of personal state income tax, or the chance to live somewhere with more space and a different pace of life.
Texas has major industries across energy, healthcare, technology, logistics, manufacturing, education, and business services. This makes it a popular choice for people relocating for work or looking for new career opportunities.
Lifestyle is another major draw. Texas offers large cities, suburbs, smaller communities, live music, sports, barbecue, outdoor spaces, and strong local culture. Whether you’re moving from California to Texas, moving to Texas from Florida, or relocating from another state, the right city can make a big difference to your experience.
Best Cities in Texas to Relocate To
The best city in Texas to relocate to depends on your job, budget, commute, and lifestyle. Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and Fort Worth are all popular options, but each one offers something different.
Moving to Dallas, Texas
Moving to Dallas, Texas can be a good fit if you want a large metro area with business opportunities, suburbs, shopping, dining, sports, and entertainment.
The Dallas area is spread out, so commute planning matters. Before choosing a long-term home, think about where you’ll work, how often you’ll drive, and whether you want to live in the city or a nearby suburb.
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Moving to Houston, Texas
Moving to Houston, Texas is popular with people looking for job opportunities, cultural diversity, and access to one of the largest cities in the state.
Houston is known for industries like energy, healthcare, aerospace, logistics, and business services. It is also a very spread-out city, so your neighborhood choice can have a big impact on your daily routine.
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Moving to Austin, Texas
Moving to Austin, Texas appeals to people looking for tech jobs, live music, food, outdoor activities, and a lively city atmosphere.
Relocating to Austin, Texas does require planning. Housing can be competitive, and costs may vary depending on whether you want to live centrally or in nearby areas like Round Rock or North Austin.
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Moving to San Antonio, Texas
Moving to San Antonio, Texas can be a strong option for people who want history, culture, family-friendly areas, and a slightly more relaxed pace.
The city is known for military connections, healthcare, tourism, and local attractions. It may suit movers who want city amenities without the same pace as Dallas, Houston, or Austin.
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Moving to Fort Worth, Texas
Moving to Fort Worth, Texas can be a good choice if you want access to the Dallas-Fort Worth area while living somewhere with its own identity.
Fort Worth is known for Western heritage, cultural attractions, business access, and a slightly slower pace than Dallas. Relocating to Fort Worth, Texas can also make sense if you want to compare different parts of the DFW area before settling.
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Things to Know Before Moving to Texas
Before moving to Texas, it helps to understand a few practical details. Each city is different, so your experience will depend on where you choose to live.
Weather Can Vary by Region
Texas is known for hot summers, but the climate can feel different depending on the city. Houston can be humid, Austin and San Antonio can get very hot, and North Texas can see storms and cooler winter days.
Many Areas Are Car-Dependent
Some cities have public transportation, but many parts of Texas are easier to manage with a car. Think about your commute, school runs, grocery trips, and everyday errands before choosing a neighborhood.
Costs Depend on the City
Texas does not have personal state income tax, but movers should still budget for rent, utilities, insurance, transportation, sales tax, and property-related costs.
Local Rules May Be Different
After moving, you may need to update your driver’s license, vehicle registration, insurance, school enrollment, and other local services. Check what applies before you arrive so you can plan ahead.
Commute Times Matter
A location that looks close on a map may feel different during rush hour. This is especially important in larger areas like Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and Fort Worth.
Moving to Texas Pros and Cons
One of the biggest benefits of moving to Texas are its array of options. The state offers large metro areas, growing suburbs, smaller cities, rural communities, and college towns, each with different housing options, job markets, commutes, and lifestyles.
Texas is also popular for its job opportunities. Industries such as energy, healthcare, technology, logistics, manufacturing, education, and business services create options across different regions of the state.
Other benefits of moving to Texas include:
- No personal state income tax
- Access to major airports, highways, and business centers
- A lower cost of living in many areas compared with some coastal states
- Warm weather for much of the year
- A strong food, music, sports, and festival scene
- Plenty of outdoor space, from parks and lakes to beaches and hill country trails
Cons of Moving to Texas
The challenges of moving to Texas can depend on where you settle. Large metro areas may have heavy traffic, growing suburbs can have competitive housing, and smaller communities may require longer drives to work, shopping, healthcare, or other daily services.
Weather is another important factor. Summers can be very hot, some areas are humid, and parts of the state can experience storms, flooding, or sudden temperature changes.
Other things to plan for include:
- Higher cooling costs during hot summer months
- The need for a reliable car in many areas
- Longer distances between cities, suburbs, and rural communities
- Limited public transportation outside major metro areas
- Sales tax, insurance, utility, and property-related costs
- Different flood, storm, or weather risks depending on the region
These are not reasons to avoid moving, but they are reasons to give yourself time. Staying temporarily with InTown Suites can help you compare areas, test commute routes, and avoid rushing into a long-term lease before you know which location fits your routine.
Moving to Texas Checklist
Use this moving to Texas checklist to stay organized before and after your move:
- Research Texas cities before choosing where to live
- Compare job locations and commute times
- Budget for rent, utilities, insurance, transportation, taxes, and moving costs
- Book temporary housing with InTown Suites before you arrive
- Check driver’s license and vehicle registration requirements
- Update insurance, school, and healthcare information if needed
- Research school districts if you are moving with children
- Plan for hot weather and regional storm risks
- Visit neighborhoods in person before signing a long-term lease
- Keep important documents, medication, work items, chargers, and daily essentials easy to access
Finding Temporary Housing While You Settle In
Finding a permanent home can take time, especially when you are moving to a city or region you do not know well. Photos, maps, and online listings are useful, but they cannot always show what your commute, neighborhood, or daily routine will feel like.
Temporary housing gives you time to get settled before making a longer commitment. It can help you start work, compare neighborhoods, visit apartments, and understand which area fits your lifestyle. This is useful whether you are moving to a major Texas city, or considering other Texas locations such as Arlington, Corpus Christi, El Paso, Plano, Lewisville, and surrounding communities.
InTown Suites offers extended stay locations across Texas for movers who need flexibility during the transition. With furnished suites, kitchens, Wi-Fi, on-site laundry, and weekly rates, InTown Suites can provide a practical place to stay while you look for the right long-term home.
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Frequently Asked Questions:
Dallas is a good choice for business, suburbs, and big-city amenities. Houston is strong for jobs, healthcare, and cultural diversity, while Austin is popular for tech, music, and outdoor living. San Antonio and Fort Worth can suit movers looking for history, family-friendly areas, and a slightly slower pace.
Moving from California to Texas can be worth it for people looking for no personal state income tax, more space, or different job opportunities. Before moving, compare housing costs, commute times, weather, and lifestyle differences.
Florida and Texas both offer warm weather, but Texas cities can be more spread out. Before moving from Florida to Texas, compare commute times, housing costs, job opportunities, and the area that best fits your routine.
The biggest changes are often weather, transport, housing style, and daily routines. Movers from NYC may need to adjust to more driving, while movers from colder states may need to prepare for Texas heat.
Start by looking into the Texas economy and job market to find opportunities for work. Make a budget, keeping in mind the affordable cost of living and tax benefits in the state. Reviewing city-specific guides and talking with locales can provide you with extra information you may not be able to find online.
Texas has a low cost of living. It is about 8% lower than the national average. There is no state income tax in Texas. However, Texans do pay sales tax and property taxes. These taxes help keep the state affordable.
Texas has many great cities for families. You should look for places with good school districts, safe areas, and lots of activities. Consider the suburbs around major cities. Smaller towns with a strong community feel are also good choices.
