Moving from Illinois to Texas
Located in the Midwestern region of the United States, the state of Illinois is the 6th-most populous one in the US, while Texas, with a population of over 28.7 million people (as of September 2018), is the 2nd-most populous one. The reason why the population of Texas keeps growing, is because the state offers a steady job growth, a great atmosphere, warm welcome, rich culture, affordable housing, and more.
Nicknamed the “Lone Star” state, Texas also ranks in the second position when it comes to land area, which is significantly higher than the state of Illinois ranking in the 25th position in the US.
Moving from the Midwestern region to the South Central region, means that you will have to experience a climate change whether you like it or not. Even though Texas is often associated with deserts, only 10% of the state is made up of deserts. Nonetheless, most parts of the state are characterized by high temperatures and dry heat.
Illinois’ climate varies from humid continental (hot, humid summers and cold winters) to humid subtropical (with moderate winters). Texas’ weather, on the contrary, varies from arid to humid and is characterized by various climate zones since the state is very spread out. Snowfalls are common in the Panhandle and the mountain parts of West Texas, while in other parts of Texas it rarely snows.
Economy and employment
With a Gross State Product (GSP) of $1.706 trillion in 2017, business-friendly Texas is one of the states with the highest number of Fortune 500 companies. Its GSP is currently the second-highest in the US and if the state were a separate country, it’s economy would rank among the top 10 largest in the world.
You can find plenty of job opportunities in industries like energy, aerospace, agriculture, computers and electronics, high technology, petrochemicals, and biomedical sciences, since Texas is one of the US leaders in these industries.
Housing and Living Costs
Housing and living costs in Texas are much lower compared to other states in the US, and as mentioned earlier, affordable housing and living costs is one of the main reasons why the population of Texas keeps growing. Compared to the city of Chicago, the cost of living in Houston is 8.4% less expensive, while the housing costs in Houston are 5.1% more expensive than in Chicago.
Besides Houston, you can pick among other great cities to live in, such as Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth. Frisco, Pearland, Plano, and San Antonio.
Things to see and do in Texas
Texas is a lot more than just a Barbecue Paradise. The state has a beautiful nature, and offers plenty of attractions like the Big Bend National Park, River Walk Walkway, Alamo Mission in San Antonio, Padre Island, Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Zilker Metropolitan Park, Six Flags Fiesta Texas, and Lady Bird Lake, which you can visit whenever you can. When it comes to music festivals and events, you’ll be able to attend several ones throughout the year. Just be on the lookout for such events and you will get to know new people and make new friends in no time.
Moving to Texas with a car
Having a car in Texas is highly recommended if you want to get around in your own time and agenda. After you become a Texas resident, you will have up to 30 days to register your vehicle. Keep in mind that in order to get your car registered, you must show proof of auto insurance as well as get your car inspected before you submit all the other required documents at your local County Tax Office. If you want to, you can transfer your out-of-state driver’s license at the same time you submit your documents to register your car with the TX DMV.