Moving to Texas
Texas, otherwise known as ‘The Lone Star State’, is a amazing state to work and live. If you are moving or relocating to TX, we have organized a detailed list of some important facts and useful data to help make your move an easy transition.
Geography
Located in the West South Central Region of the country, Texas is bordered by Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Oklahoma. With a total land area of over 268,580.82 Square Miles, it comes in as the 2nd largest state.
Population
Currently, the population of TX is 27,862,596 making it the 2nd most populated state in the union and the 21st least densely populated. The state capital, Austin, has a population of 681804. which is the 4th largest capital in the country.
Other Populous Texas Cities are:
| US Rank | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Houston | 2,303,482 |
| 7 | San Antonio | 1,492,510 |
| 9 | Dallas | 1,317,929 |
| 11 | Austin | 947,890 |
| 16 | Fort Worth | 854,113 |
| 20 | El Paso | 683,080 |
| 48 | Arlington | 392,772 |
| 58 | Corpus Christi | 325,733 |
| 69 | Plano | 286,057 |
| 80 | Laredo | 257,156 |
Notable Texans
Texas is home to many famous and some infamous citizens such as, Red Adair a memorable fireman oil well fires is from Houston and Alvin Ailey a notable choreographer is from Rogers. Others include people like Mary Kay Ash a cosmetics entrepreneur and Steven Fuller Austin a founding father of Texas .
Climate
The Texas climate is characterized by hot summers and cool to mild winters. Three geographical features largely influence the state’s varied climate. The Rocky Mountains block intrusions of moist Pacific air from the west and tend to channel arctic air masses southward during the winter. The relatively flat central North American continent allows easy north and south movement of air masses. The Gulf of Mexico is the primary source of moisture, most readily available to the eastern part of the state. As a result of these factors, the state exhibits large east-west variations in precipitation and is subject to frequent occurrences of a variety of extreme events, including hurricanes, tornadoes, droughts, heat waves, cold waves, and intense precipitation. Increased demand for limited water supplies due to rapid population growth, especially in urban areas, may increase Texas’ vulnerability to naturally occurring droughts.
National Parks
Texas is home to 2 beautiful national parks.
- Big Bend
Named for the prominent bend in the Rio Grande along the USMexico border, this park encompasses a large and remote part of the Chihuahuan Desert. Its main attraction is backcountry recreation in the arid Chisos Mountains and in canyons along the river. A wide variety of Cretaceous and Tertiary fossils as well as cultural artifacts of Native Americans also exist within its borders.
- Guadalupe Mountains
This park contains Guadalupe Peak, the highest point in Texas, as well as the scenic McKittrick Canyon filled with bigtooth maples, a corner of the arid Chihuahuan Desert, and a fossilized coral reef from the Permian era.
Crime Statistics
Safety and security should always be an important consideration when moving to a new state. A state’s crime rate affects more than just the safety of its citizens, it intensely affects property value, economics and the overall quality of life. Based on the last FBI Crime Statistics, Texas’s violent crime rate is 40 per 10k residents which is greater than the national average of 37.3. In addition, the state’s property crime rate is 301per 10k residents which is greater than the national average of 248.7.
Texas ranks #16 in the US for violent crime and #13 for property crime.
Schools & Education
Whether you are a student, have children, or neither, a state’s educational system is not only important to those attending, it’s vital to the overall quality of life, culture and economics of the state. Based on data from multiple public and private sources, we were able to rank Texas’s educational system.
Overall Grade: C-
Texas spends on average $8265.00 per pupil, which is less than the national average ($11,900). TX ranks #40 in the US compared to the rest of the country. While TX ranks #40 in spending, the latest graduation rate is 89.00%%.
Another important factor is the percentage of families that enroll their young children (ages 3-4) in an accredited pre-school program. Texas ranks #34 with over 41.90% of children attending a early educational program.
Taxes
The current income tax rate for Texas is 0.00% which ranks 1st favorable amongst other states. If you are purchasing property, you may want to consider the the property tax burden rate. This is the amount you pay in taxes per $1000 earned. TX’s rate is $37.14 which ranks 37th in the US.
Currently, TX sales tax is $29.06 for which it comes in as 37th compared to other states.
Sports
Texas fans are not only devoted but also very unwavering to their local major league teams. Texas is home to the following teams: the FC Dallas, the Dallas Cowboys, the Dallas Mavericks, the Dallas Stars, the Houston Astros, the Houston Dynamo, the Houston Rockets, the Houston Texans, the San Antonio Spurs, and the Texas Rangers .
Utility Companies
Before you move to Texas, it’s advised that you know who your utility companies are. We have an extensive list of both public and private utility companies in TX.
Other Resources
For more information about moving to Texas, visit their website at http://www.state.tx.us/