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Texas has gained more new residents than any other state in recent years, driven primarily by three factors: employment, affordability and the absence of a state income tax. Anyone considering a move to Texas faces a genuine decision, as the state spans several metros with distinct economies, price points and daily routines. Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Austin and San Antonio each attract a different type of newcomer. The right choice depends less on statewide reputation than on the specific priorities driving the move. This guide outlines where relocation activity is concentrated, what each region offers and how to determine which one fits.
Why People Are Moving to Texas
Affordability drives most of that migration:
- Median home value across Texas: about $303,000
- National average: about $370,000
- Overall cost of living: about 8 percent below the national average, once groceries, utilities and transportation are factored in
The absence of a state income tax adds further appeal, especially for anyone moving from a state with a high income tax rate. Steady job growth across several industries adds to that pull, one more reason multiple Texas metros continue to rank among the best places to move in the state.
Dallas-Fort Worth: Job Growth and New Construction
Dallas-Fort Worth added 123,557 residents between mid 2024 and mid 2025, the second-largest population increase of any U.S. metro that year, trailing only Houston. That growth shows up directly in current homes for sale in DFW.
A few suburbs stand out for buyers weighing where to land:
- Allen and Plano: consistently rank near the top of statewide livability studies, known for strong schools, low crime and a steady influx of corporate offices
- Mansfield: comparable appeal at a lower price point, with newer construction and shorter commutes just outside the core metro
Houston: Affordability and a Diverse Job Base
Houston continues to add residents faster than any other Texas metro. The reasons behind that growth have shifted over time, as the energy sector now shares the load with healthcare, the Port of Houston and a growing aerospace industry. Those shifts matter most to anyone actually moving to Houston, from housing costs to hurricane season.
Baytown, about thirty minutes from downtown, offers median home prices near $199,000, with ExxonMobil and Chevron anchoring steady local employment. It is one of several smaller cities around Houston offering lower home prices for buyers unable to afford the urban core. That range, from Baytown to the urban core, shows clearly in homes for sale in Houston.
Austin and San Antonio: Two More Options to Weigh
Austin: Tech Growth at a Premium
Austin leads the state in technology job growth, with a large concentration of software and hardware companies and a steady stream of startups. Home prices there run well above both Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston, which is the main tradeoff for buyers drawn to the industry.
San Antonio: Texas' Most Affordable Major Metro
San Antonio offers the lowest overall cost of living among Texas' major metros, supported by a stable base of healthcare, military and tourism employment. It draws a different kind of newcomer than Austin, often retirees, remote workers and buyers prioritizing a lower cost of living over rapid career growth.
Together, these four metros account for most relocation activity into Texas. Each serves a distinct type of newcomer.
How Cost of Living Varies Across Texas
The cost difference between Texas metros is often larger than newcomers expect. A household earning enough to live comfortably in Austin could see that same income stretch considerably further in Houston or in one of the smaller cities surrounding Dallas-Fort Worth, since housing accounts for the largest share of most relocation budgets.
Property taxes exceed the national median statewide, a tradeoff for the lack of an income tax, which makes it important to calculate total housing costs rather than comparing home prices alone. Even the best places to buy in Dallas differ block by block once property taxes are added to that total.
Choosing a City Based on Priorities, Not Rankings
Job field, commute distance and school priorities typically determine the right city faster than any ranking list. A few examples of how that plays out:
- Corporate careers: Dallas-Fort Worth's broad corporate base
- Energy and medical careers: Houston's concentration of major employers in both fields
- Technology careers: Austin's growing tech industry
Families weighing school districts often narrow the search to two or three suburbs before the city itself becomes the deciding factor, because neighborhoods in the same metro can differ significantly in price and commute.
Get Local Guidance Before You Decide
Jeremy Washington, a TREC-licensed agent and NAR member with Gentec Realty, is one of the few advisors working actively across both the Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston markets, giving clients a direct comparison instead of a single market view. Conversations typically start with what matters most to the client, whether that is a specific job field, a school district, or a monthly budget, since that priority points toward the right city more reliably than any general ranking.
For the Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston markets specifically, The JW Standard supports both from the first conversation, so a decision to move to Texas is grounded in a specific city and neighborhood rather than a general ranking.
