Thinking about making Houston your home? You're not alone. Though a relatively young city compared with counterparts like Boston and New York, Houston is one of the fastest-growing big cities in the country. Ranked fourth in the U.S. by total population, Houston is luring more residents from around the globe drawn by its mix of cultural amenities, world-class restaurants, diverse communities and a low cost of living.
Here, you’ll find the perfect mix of Southern hospitality and urban sophistication; of hole-in the-wall hot spots and cutting-edge culinary prowess; of big business and unbreakable entrepreneurial spirit. The Bayou City also boasts a number of waterways and public parks, making it a verdant hub for those who wish to live an active lifestyle.
Explore this section to learn about the places, people and amenities that make Houston a truly global mecca.
Houston: Nation's Most Diverse City
Houston has long been considered one of the youngest, fastest-growing, and most diverse cities in the nation— one with no ethnic majority, where nearly one-in-four residents are foreign-born and more than 145 languages are spoken. A number of reports and analyses in recent years have named Houston among the most diverse cities in the U.S., often putting the Bayou City in the top spot.
A true cultural mosaic, Houston boasts restaurants, shops, neighborhoods and festivals that reflect its many global influences.
Houston consistently ranks among the most affordable big cities in the nation across a number of dimensions, including housing. The lack of state income tax also makes living in the Bayou City attractive.
Of all the things that make living in Houston so enjoyable, high on the list are the city and county parks as well as the region's other vast greenspaces.
Houston is a major-league sports town where fans can cheer for a variety of professional, semi-pro, and collegiate teams year-round.
Once you decide Houston's for you, the real fun begins. You'll discover an extraordinarily large number of choices when it comes to housing, from trendy Downtown lofts to family-friendly suburban enclaves and near-town bungalows to master-planned communities. You can choose from a wealth of living options in every style, location and price range.
Use the Houston Association of Realtor's website to purchase or rent a home in the region.
While affordability and job opportunities help draw folks to Houston, it's often the culture and the food that keeps them here!
The city is home to one of the largest collections of top-rated museums in the nation, centered around the 19 institutions in the Houston Museum District. There you'll find the sprawling campus of the Museum of Fine Arts Houston and its collection of more than 70,000 works of art as well as the Houston Museum of Natural Science with its expansive paleontology hall and large collection of Egyptian mummies.
Head downtown to the Theater District for performances from the city's five resident performing arts companies as well as a never-ending array of Broadway and other traveling shows.
For foodies and those looking for a bit of nightlife, Houston's more than 11,000 establishments do not disappoint. Dig in to dim sum and pho in Chinatown or experience the flavors of India and South Asia in the Mahatma Ghandi District. James Beard Award-winning chefs await at acclaimed bistros in Montrose and Uptown while seafood abounds at the coastal eateries dotting the Clear Lake area. Craft cocktail bars, pubs and dance clubs are sprinkled across neighborhoods from Midtown to Memorial.
Houston is one of the best cities in the world - and No. 1 in Texas, according to Resonance Consultancy. The consulting giant, which specializes in tourism, real estate and economic development, released its sixth annual World's Best Cities report last week.
Following a year filled with extraordinary challenges, the Houston region is looking ahead to 2021 with cautious optimism. The last 12 months brought significant economic development wins to the area in the technology, new energy and aerospace sectors, among others.
The global pandemic didn't keep people from moving for work last year. In fact, Houston was the No. 1 city for corporate moves in 2020. It's the second year in a row the Bayou City has earned the distinction in a new report from moving company Allied Van Lines.
Want to learn more? Download or receive a copy of the Relocation Guide in the mail for more information on Houston!
As you would expect in a city the size of Houston, educational opportunities and options are abundant and varied. Within the nine-county region there are more than 60 school districts, roughly 50 state-approved charter schools and almost 200 private schools. More than 215,000 students are enrolled each year in HISD schools.
From the internationally recognized Texas Medical Center south of downtown to the numerous community hospitals in outlying areas, Houston is home to medical facilities and expertise that are second to none. The city's hospitals are routinely ranked among the top in the nation, and many of Houston's doctors and surgeons are considered number one in their fields.
Getting to and around Houston is made easier through public transit and the region's system of highways, transit centers and other transportation options. Learn more about METRO's services as well as major roadways and more that will help you navigate the nation's fourth-largest city.
The Houston restaurant scene has evolved over the last two decades into one of the most sophisticated and diverse dining landscapes in the nation.
It's a question just about every family struggles with: what can we do this weekend? Fortunately in the nation's forth-largest city Houston families have a lot to choose from when it comes to exploring this dynamic region.
As a city that's home to a diverse array of nightlife, Houston offers residents and visitors a wide variety of options to explore. Those who prefer handcrafted cocktails, wine or beer have a lot of exciting options to choose from.
Home to one of the largest concentrations of theatre seats in the nation, Houston's bustling performance arts district is ready for its post-COVID debut.
It's not every day that a 150-acre site gets redeveloped within a stone's throw of Downtown Houston. But that's just what's in store for an expansive tract hugging the north bank of Buffalo Bayou east of the Central Business District where one of the region’s largest mixed-use projects is set to rise.
Houston is known internationally as a mecca for both performing and visual arts. "Newstonians" and visitors alike know to head to the Downtown Theater District and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston for amazing art experiences, but many do not realize just how deep art runs within the city’s culture.
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