Greater Houston Area

Houston is a diverse city with a large number of residents from other countries. That’s part of what makes it such a great place to live. Moving to Houston will give you the opportunity to explore the many cuisines and languages (over 90 are represented in the city) that make Houston what it is today.

Houston is home to NASA, which means there’s plenty to interest space enthusiasts. A visit to the Space Center is a must after moving to Houston, and you can save money by buying a Houston CityPASS and checking out other Houston sites included in the pass.

Houston is a driving city and traffic can be rough. There’s more in the way of light rail and buses than there used to be but public transit is still underdeveloped. Having a car is pretty much a must, and we’re guessing you’ll want to invest in a car with a functioning air conditioner. The heat and humidity in Houston can be pretty intense.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, between 2010 and 2015 the population of Houston grew by 8.9%. Between July 2014 and July 2015, Houston added over 40,000 residents. Living in a city that’s booming is exciting and the optimism in Houston is contagious.

If having a short commute is important to you be sure to buy or rent a home that’s near your office. Living far out in the suburbs and having a long commute is pretty common in Houston, though, so if you can’t find the perfect place near where you work you’ll be in good company on your daily drive. In Houston as in other heavy-traffic cities like L.A., traffic is a built-in excuse if you’re running a little late to meet a friend.

Interstate 610 is a freeway that loops around central Houston. When giving directions, residents will often mention whether a given destination is inside or outside “The Loop.” There’s a lot of good stuff inside the Loop, including cultural institutions and sports teams. If you don’t need a big house in the suburbs with a yard and a pool you may want to settle inside the Loop after moving to Houston.

You know those zoning laws that limit the height of buildings in certain districts and tell developers they can’t put a commercial building in the middle of a residential block? Houston doesn’t have any of them. In some ways, that’s great for a fast-growing city that’s expanding and adding housing stock, but it can also lead to a funky-looking mix of buildings.

All the oil money sloshing around Houston has been a boon to the city’s cultural sector, with wealthy donors supporting a range of artistic and musical institutions. There’s the Museum of Fine Arts, the Contemporary Arts Museum, the Menil Collection and the Blaffer Art Museum, to name a few. If you prefer the work of up-and-coming artists, the city has its own arts district on Washington Avenue, which is home to the studios and work spaces of over 300 artists and creative entrepreneurs.