Moving to the Lone Star State
Nicknamed the “Lone Star” state, Texas is the second largest state in terms of area in the United States. With a population of over 28.7 million people as of September 2018, Texas is also the second most populous in the US thanks to its high population growth rate.
Just like the seaport city of Seattle, Texas is also one of the best states to live in the US and its name means “Friends” in the Caddo language. The population of Texas continues to grow thanks to its affordable housing and living costs, job growth, rich culture, and great atmosphere. Located in the South Central region, Texas’ landscapes are diverse and about 10% of its land area is made up of deserts. Nevertheless, no matter in which city in Texas you move to, you will experience high temperatures and dry heat.
Compared to Seattle’s Mediterranean climate with warm, mild summers and cool, rainy winters, Texas’ weather varies from arid to humid since the state has a large size and its parts fall into multiple climate zones. In the Panhandle and the mountain parts of West Texas, snowfalls are a common phenomenon. In the Northern part of Texas it snows once or twice a year while in Central and East Texas it snows once every few years.
Economy and employment
Business-friendly Texas is among the states with the highest number of Fortune 500 companies headquartered within the state. Texas reached a Gross State Product (GSP) of almost $1,600 trillion in 2016 and its GSP is currently the second-highest in the US. If the state were a separate country, its rich economy would be among the top 10 largest ones in the world.
Texas is one of the US leaders in industries such as energy, aerospace, agriculture, computers and electronics, high technology, petrochemicals, and biomedical sciences. When it comes to employment, the state offers diverse opportunities for everyone looking for a job.
Housing and Living Costs
Housing and living costs in most cities in Texas are way more affordable than in Seattle. Compared to the city of Seattle, the living costs in Houston are 42% less expensive, while the median home cost is 76% less expensive. There are several cities in Texas where you can find a good home or apartment to buy or rent. Just make sure you do your research well in advance so you can be as well-informed as possible and avoid any unwanted surprises.
Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth. Frisco, Houston, Pearland, Plano, and San Antonio are just some of the best cities to live in Texas, but you can easily find other cities in Texas that offer a good life quality.
Things to see and do in the Barbecue Paradise
From visiting 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, Lady Bird Lake, to attending various music festivals and events happening year-round, life in the state of Texas can be very busy and exciting at the same time. The barbecue paradise also offers plenty of opportunities to go hiking, camping, cycling and practice any other activity that you enjoy doing in your free time.
Moving to Texas with a car
As soon as you become a Texas resident, you will have up to 30 days to register your car with the TX DMV. In order to get your car registered, you must have a proof of auto insurance and get your car inspected before you submit all the other required documents at your local County Tax Office.