Within its sprawling 627 square miles, Houston is a growing, ethnically diverse city with a thriving job market, an impressive food scene, affordable cost of living, and plenty to do. Even with all these perks, there are still a few cons to living in Houston. Read on and see if it’s the city for you.
Pro: Job Market
The job market in Houston is perhaps the biggest draw for new residents. Besides oil and gas, aerospace, healthcare, and manufacturing are all major industries that keep the economy in Houston booming. If you’re in the engineering or business fields, you can expect to find a good amount of work available in the energy industry. If you’re in the medical field, you’re in luck. The city is home to the world’s largest medical complex, and those living in Houston are certainly proud of it.
Con: Transportation/Traffic
Like any sprawling metropolis, you’re going to need a car to get around Houston. And like any large city you need a car in, you’re going to experience traffic. You can avoid it altogether by working from home, or just find a good podcast for the commute–which will be at least an hour into the city if you live in the suburbs. The freeway system is enormous and always expanding, but so is the population, so just be prepared to come across some traffic on the roadways. For such a major city, Houston is behind on its public transportation systems, but it’s made improvement efforts in recent years.
The METRORail light rail system – for downtown commuters – and Park & Ride services – for suburban dwellers – make getting around easier, but it’s still underdeveloped compared to other major cities. On the bright side, having two major airports makes getting out of the city for both domestic and international travel a breeze. George H. Bush Intercontinental Airport (north of the city) is a United Airlines hub and William P. Hobby International Airport serves as a hub for Southwest Airlines.
Pro: A City of Many Cultures
Houston is known for its culture. In 2012, Houston surpassed both New York and Los Angeles as the most ethnically diverse metropolitan area in the U.S., according to a Rice University report. With a large percentage of the population being of Hispanic, African American, and Asian origins, this melting pot makes for truly a diverse city.
Con: Mosquitos
The hot and humid climate of the bayou makes Houston a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. They are large and in charge, but then again, everything’s bigger in Texas, right? Coat yourself in bug spray and you should be good to go.
Pro: Things to Do and Entertainment
With its variety of sports teams, museums, and family-friendly activities, there’s always something to do in Houston. Pro sports teams, including the Rockets (NBA), the Texans (NFL), and the Astros (MLB), all call Houston home. If art and science are more of your things, Houston has numerous museums and theaters. The city’s relatively compact downtown area includes the Theater District, home to the renowned Houston Grand Opera. The Johnson Space Center, Downtown Aquarium, and the Houston Zoo are all great places for a day of family fun, too. Or, there’s always the beach! Living in Houston definitely has its options.
Con: Taxes
Welcome to Texas, where there’s no state income tax. Although this sounds great in theory, it makes for higher sales taxes. Most purchases will carry an 8.25% sales tax, one of the higher sales taxes in the country.
Pro: Cost of Living
Aside from the sales tax, Houston is pretty darn affordable for a major city. The median rental prices of one and two-bedroom apartments are $1,120 and $1,370, respectively, making Houston cheaper to rent in than over 40 major U.S. cities. A night out on the town is reasonably cheap, as well, so you can head to an outdoor concert or a nice dinner without breaking the bank.
Pro: Food
Grub down in H-town. The city’s incredible food options are endless—from world-class dining in the East End neighborhood to local favorites like Tex-Mex, Viet-Cajun po-boys, Czech kolaches, and barbecue. You’ll have plenty of tasty options when living in Houston.
Con: Weather
You thought the “H” in H-town stood for Houston, but it actually stands for heat and humidity. It’s no joke, folks. The trade-off is that it’s not very cold at all in the winter months. Unfortunately, Houston’s gulf coast location leaves it prone to natural disasters. Hurricane season brings the threat of flooding, as we saw in August 2017 with Hurricane Harvey. In fact, the large, coastal city ranks among the most disaster-prone cities in the country. If you’re living in Houston, just make sure to buy flood insurance and have an emergency kit on hand.
Pro: The Greenest City in the South
The Bayou City boasts over 50,000 acres of park space within the city limits. Recently, Houston began an extensive green space transformation, adding new parks and beautifying old ones, cleaning up bayous, and adding nature and biking trails throughout the city. Bayou Greenways 2020 is officially open, and it has improved the city’s access to trails and parks while also boosting wildlife conservation. Memorial Park on Houston’s west side is home to hiking/running trails, and the Houston Arboretum, which is free to the public and worth checking out. George Bush Park, located on the far west side of the city and situated entirely within Barker Reservoir, is Houston’s largest park.
Whether you’re thinking of moving to Houston for a job offer, to be closer to family, or just for a change of pace, consider the pros and cons first.
-Laura Bennet of Zumper.com