Why People Move To Texas: There has been a trend in recent years of people relocating from one part of the United States to another. In fact, for the last decade, more than half a million people relocated to the Lone Star State annually in most of the years since the 2010 census.
Even during the pandemic, more people were moving into Texas than leaving. There are many reasons why individuals and families might decide to pull up stakes elsewhere and relocate to the vibrant and expanding opportunities in Texas. Here are some of the most common reasons for choosing Texas as a new home.
Texas is one of the fastest-growing US states because of affordability, job opportunities, weather, tax-free income, diversity in people groups, and asset protection. Some other aspects of the state, such as open-carry laws, fewer regulations, and challenging weather may be viewed as an advantage or disadvantage depending upon your point of view and political leanings.
Cost of Living
In comparison with many other U.S. states, the Cost of Living Index is lower. In 2022, Texas ranked above 17 states, with a COL of 91.5. The top three states, Hawaii, California, and New York, ranked 192.9, 151.7, and 139.1, respectively.
The COL is a figure which represents the amount of money required to maintain a standard of living by providing some of the necessities, such as healthcare, food, and housing. A value of 100 defines the average cost of living throughout the entire U.S., and a figure below 100 means that the state’s cost is less than the average nationwide.
Although some have criticized the relevance of the metrics in determining the COL Index, it is an accepted way to compare some aspects of costs across the country. The cost Of living is the best reason Why People Move To Texas.
The cost of a typical single-family home in one of the major Texas metropolitan markets is less than half of a similar property in New York, Washington, D.C., or Los Angeles.
Looking further at the numbers, Texans pay no state income tax, which is a rarity these days. When relocating from a highly-taxed state such as California, there is significant relief in the tax burden. Texas is one of the lowest taxed states, meaning wage earners can keep more earnings. Texas is one of the nine states which doesn’t assess an income tax.
Job Opportunities
A significant number of companies have expressed intentions to move corporate headquarters or branches to areas of Texas. The state already had a significant presence in the oil and gas industries, agricultural products, and space exploration. To this base, more technology firms are choosing to relocate to Texas. Some examples include Tesla, Oracle, and Hewlett Packard. Recently, Pabst Brewing relocated from Los Angeles to San Antonio.
In recent years, Dallas-Fort Worth has benefited from the fundamentals of affordable home prices, lower costs of living and low taxes as national brands like Charles Schwab, Deloitte, JP Morgan Chase, Liberty Mutual, McKesson, and State Farm, and Toyota have either relocated or significantly expanded their operations.
These companies looked at bottom-line figures and considered the quality of life components in making a move. Texas’s combined corporate tax rate is among the lowest, if not the lowest, in the United States at 21 percent.
Job opportunities for workers are drawing exceptional talent at a lower cost. According to an executive describing San Antonio, “The city is filled with creativity and opportunity as well as high quality of life and a great talent pool. A cultural boom is a side effect of the growing employed population. Job opportunity clearly defines Why People Move To Texas.
Temperate Weather
It is said that gardeners can enjoy their passion for eleven months of every year in Texas. The sole exception is not January, but September, when it is just too hot for plants to survive. The climate zones are varied in much of Texas, with the Hill Country at Zone 8, while the parts of the Gulf Coast are rated as Zone 9B.
The northern part of the state is Zone 6. Some parts of Texas are arider than others. Houston and the surrounding area have a rainfall greater than 47 inches annually, while western Texas is arid. However, the sun shines throughout the year.
While northerners are experiencing blizzards and cold conditions, Texans often do not need to wear winter clothing during winter. However, the Gulf Coast can experience serious storms which lead to flooding in parts of the coastline.
The statewide annual temperature average is a comfortable 65 degrees Fahrenheit. If you want to live in shorts and a t-shirt all year long, Texas is the location, location, location.
That being said, Texas can experience snow, and during the past two years, it has had a serious ice storm with sub-freezing temperatures and related problems. If you are one of the people who enjoy changing fall foliage colors and winter snow, you may not find the weather to your liking.
Asset Protection
Whether you live in a Texas urban area or a rural ranch, Texas Homestead Law protects your homestead. Your creditors cannot seize the property to pay debts. There are also exemptions for some types of personal properties. The rules for these exemptions define the type of properties and the aggregate values of such items.
Diverse Lifestyle Opportunities
Those who want to experience an urban lifestyle can find options in Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, and McAllen. If the crowds and bustle of city life don’t appeal to you, there are plenty of great options in suburban centers such as Waco, San Marcos, and New Braunfels. Most Texans live in urban areas, but many getaway places are within driving distance on weekends.
Population Diversity and Cultural Opportunities
There is a highly diverse population with interest in the cultural highlights of each group. The second-largest ethnic category is Latino and Hispanic people, followed by Asian-Americans, Indian, Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, Filipino, Japanese, Hmong, Thai, and Cambodian communities. When considering food and music, the varied cultural mix of Texas provides many opportunities to enjoy other cultures and tells about Why People Move To Texas.
Less Is More
The weight of governmental regulations is reduced in Texas. This can be a significant benefit for business owners. Starting a business requires fewer regulations, and only a small licensing fee is assessed. Texas is an open-carry state, which may be a negative factor for some people. It is, however, an example of the lack of governmental interference in the lives of Texans.
Where Are The New Texans Coming From?
People move away from a state, as well as moving to a state. In recent years, companies and individuals are leaving California and Florida by the hundreds. The reasons usually had links to the above reasons for long distance moving to Texas.
It remains to be seen how the reestablishment of the economy, the political infighting, COVID-19, and other factors will affect job creation and the movement of people from one part of the country to another. With any move, it is wise to plan your move as early as possible and take advantage of the many benefits of the new location.
