Thinking about moving to Houston? It’s not all glitz and glamor—do you know what life is really like in the nation’s 4th largest city?
Houston, Texas has become a top relocation city for both companies and families, and with good reason. Apart from the low cost of living and diverse culture, there are so many great things about living in the city that would entice anyone to move here. But if you’re not prepared for everything about living in Houston—the good and the bad—there are certain aspects that can be quite shocking to a newbie. Let’s face it, an experience is always 100x worse when you’re blind-sided.
So, here are the 9 things you should consider before relocating to Houston to help you prepare for your best possible life in our favorite city:
1. The Humidity
Probably the most popular cliche about Houston is “it’s not the heat, it’s the humidity.” And truer words have never been spoken. Even in the dead of winter, the humidity here can be something serious. The average humidity sits at around 78% year-round, but a hot summer can bring as much as 85% humidity! It’s especially bad right before or right after a rainstorm (so…quite often), making it feel like you just stepped out of the shower. There’s a plus side though—the high humidity levels in Houston are great for your skin!
2. It Floods
Only 50 miles from the gulf, Houston is a coastal city. Meaning, along with the high humidity, we get a lot of rain. So, it might make sense to expect some flooding, right? Well, Houston experiences major flooding roughly every two years (and almost always with every hurricane). To start, the city is built on a bayou which is barely above sea level. On top of this, Houston proper is like a bowl, and all the surrounding waters drain towards downtown. While this sounds like a major drawback, no city is without natural disasters. Plus, the city has model evacuation plans, local home builders have made excellent storm-resistant improvements to their designs, and you can usually get insurance policies to add extra protection. And if that doesn’t help, 50/50 chance you have a couple of neighbors who own a boat!
If you're buying a home in Houston, check out these six tips to prepare your house for hurricanes.
3. The Traffic
Driving in Houston can be a major source of frustration, especially if you don’t know what to expect. “Rush hour” is about 85% of the day, and a trip that should take around 15 minutes will end up taking closer to an hour if you find yourself driving during Houston traffic! As frustrating as it sounds, the city actually has a decent number of “back ways” to get you anywhere you need to go, fast. After a couple of months of sitting in traffic, you’ll find the back roads are pretty easy to learn. Or, you can just schedule your outings during the few short hours the roads are clear.
4. Lackluster Public Transportation
While Houston does have a well-established public transportation system, it’s not exactly the shining star of the city. Yes, the Houston METRO has park-and-ride systems sprinkled all throughout the suburbs to help commuters. Yes, Houston has a light-rail system connecting downtown to the Texas Medical Center. And yes, there have been a lot of public transportation expansions in recent years. But if you’re looking for reliable, easy, or even clean transportation, or if you’re simply expecting access to all parts of the city… you may be disappointed. In fact, Houston was ranked #21 for public transportation out of all major metro-cities. (Houston traffic is starting to make sense now, huh?) On the plus side, the Houston METRO is a lifesaver during Rodeo season and can save you a ton of gas money if you commute from the suburbs for work.
5. Culture Pockets
We’ve already mentioned the major diversity found in Houston; there are over 145 languages spoken and countless cultures in the city. On top of that, there are several “culture pockets” in almost every part of Houston. These little areas or neighborhoods usually have excellent food and family-owned business options. With the exception of Chinatown, you won’t find any single, specific area for different cultures. Instead, you’re sure to find diversity everywhere you go!
Discover more about the cultural arts scene in Houston here.
6. Galveston
This island-beach destination is like a double-edged sword for many Houstonians. While it’s incredible having a vacation spot within driving distance, the muddy waters of the gulf can be a bit disappointing if you’ve been to a beach literally anywhere else. But Galveston holds a lot of events beloved by Houston residents, like Mardi Gras and Dickens on the Strand, just to name a few. Plus, the seafood joints on the seawall are some of the best around!
7. No Zoning
Houston has a reputation for being pro-business and development-friendly. This is because land-use zones are actually prohibited in the city’s charter. Of course, there are still rules and regulations around land development, but what land is used for is generally left unrestricted. This means you’ll see schools, shopping strips, high-rises, churches, and even liquor stores all on the same block (if not, occasionally, next door to each other!) While some may see it as bizarre, long-time Houston residents see no-zoning as a good thing… Unlike in other large cities (like Dallas), you can find almost everything in your own neighborhood! You can do a little shopping after dropping the kids off at school, then stock up on drinks for your next party, grab a bite at a great restaurant—all without having to leave your neighborhood! And with Houston traffic being a nightmare, who could complain about that?
8. Crowds
Houston is well-known for its affordable cost of living. With housing costs sitting almost 19% BELOW the national average, it’s surprising the city isn’t growing at a faster rate! However, there are consequences to this… Houston is crowded. That may seem like an obvious fact, but it can be a bit overwhelming if you’ve just moved to the city from nearly any place else. While the hustle and bustle may be what draws some to Houston in the first place, others will have to drive well past the suburbs to get back some small-town coziness. There’s a plus side to the crowds though—there’s too many people to keep track of, so you’ll finally feel like you can live a private life!
9. Tex-Mex
Tex-Mex is essentially the official food of Houston. There will be a thousand-and-one recommendations for the “best” tex-mex in the city—and they’re all right. (Don’t ask how, that’s the magic of Houston Tex-Mex!) From happy hour to girls’ night to family dinners, the local tex-mex restaurants do it all. And if chips and queso or a refreshing margarita aren’t really your thing… Well, maybe don’t tell a native Houstonian that! But if the thought of endless Tex-Mex options excites you, check out our guide to the best margaritas in Houston here.
Hopefully, these nine things don’t scare you away from the city, but instead help you prepare for it. We absolutely love living in Houston, so we want to be as honest as possible about it! We know with a little planning and preparation, you’ll love it here too.
Thinking about moving to Houston? We’ll make sure you love where you live and that your transition is smooth and easy. To get started, check out our free relocation guide here.
Alexis Feezel is a results-oriented Marketing Coordinator responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing all promotional strategies and activities to effectively market clients & listings and maximize sales.