Welcome to Houston

Cost of Living

Houston provides the opportunities and conveniences found in large cities, but is more affordable than many small cities.  Bargain housing prices and a low tax burden keep living expenses in Houston below those in most other major metropolitan areas. 

The ACCRA Cost of Living Index shows that Houston's living costs for professional and managerial households in the top income quintile are 13 percent below the average for 311 urban areas nationwide and 24 percent below the average for 24 metro areas with populations of more than 2 million.

• Los Angeles - 54.7 percent above average

• New York - 48 percent above average

• Boston - 34.2 percent above average

• Washington, D.C. - 33.6 percent above average

• Miami - 16 percent above average

• Denver - 4.7 percent above average

• Phoenix - 0.4 percent above average

• Atlanta - 3.1 percent below average

• Dallas - 6.3 percent below average

• Houston - 13 percent below average

Houston's housing costs are 28 percent below the nationwide average and 48 percent below the large-metro average.  Houston has the lowest housing prices among these 24 large metros.

Houston’s grocery prices are 25 percent below the major metro average, the lowest within this group.

Utility costs in Houston are 4 percent below the major metro average.

Transportation costs are 6 percent below the average.

Healthcare costs are 9 percent below the average.

Costs for miscellaneous goods and services in Houston are 13 percent below the average.

Source: Greater Houston Partnership

 

Everything you've always wanted to know about Houston.

• Houston, at approximately 596 square miles, is the fourth largest city in America.
• It is the largest city in Texas with a population approaching three million.
• County seat of Harris County, the nation’s third largest county with more than 3.4 million citizens.
• The City of Houston actually spreads over three counties: Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery.

Houston "Firsts"

• "Houston" was the first word Astronaut Neil Armstrong spoke when he landed on the moon.
• It’s home to the first major freeway in Texas.
• America’s first public television station is located here.

Access

• Two major airports: Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport.
• Houston Airport System (HAS) is the fourth largest multi-airport system in the U.S., the seventh largest international gateway in the country.
• Bush Intercontinental ranks third among U.S. airports for nonstop destinations.
• METRORail, a 7.5-mile rail line connects downtown to the Museum District, Texas Medical Center and Reliant Park.
• METRO operates more than 1,400 accessible buses.
• The city has the nation’s third largest fleet of taxis and, across the board, up to four passengers can ride for the price of one.

Sports

• MLB: 2005 National League Champion Houston Astros.
• NBA: two-time World Champion Houston Rockets.
• NFL: Houston Texans, the newest expansion team in the NFL.
• MLS: Back to Back Current MLS Chamaps The Houston Dyanmo 
• AHL: Calder Cup Champion Houston Aeros.
• WNBA: four-time World Champion Houston Comets.

Multicultural Houston

• 90 languages spoken throughout the area.
• Diverse population - 37.4 percent Hispanic, 49.3 percent Caucasian, 29.3 percent African-American and 5.3 percent Asian.
• 83 consulates - the third largest consular corps in the nation.

Theater District

• One of only five cities in the U.S. with resident companies in the four disciplines of the performing arts: Alley Theatre, Houston Ballet, Houston Symphony and Houston Grand Opera

Museum District

• Home to 15 institutions, including The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the sixth largest museum in the country, and Houston Museum of Natural Science.

Theme Parks

• Space Center Houston is the Official Visitors Center for NASA’s Johnson Space Center.
• Others include SplashTown water park, Moody Gardens on Galveston Island, Kemah Boardwalk and Downtown Aquarium.

Outdoors

• More than 165 public and private golf courses.
• Located 50 miles from the Gulf of Mexico.
• Located 30 minutes from Clear Lake, a 2,000-acre destination for boating enthusiasts.
• Third-largest pleasure boat basin in the U.S.

Business in Houston

• Texas Medical Center is home to 42+ nonprofit institutions, the largest medical center in the world.
• U.S. energy headquarters with more than 5,000 energy-related businesses.
• The Port of Houston, a $15-billion petrochemical complex, ranks number one in the nation in foreign tonnage and second in total tonnage.

Source: GuestLife^® Houston