When you think about Houston, do you envision cowboys and tumbleweeds? Well, forget those ideas. Contrary to these preconceived notions, Houston - the fourth most populous city in the United States - boasts modern industries, a thriving intellectual and cultural environment, lush vegetation and much more. Houston is also the most diverse city in the nation with a great mix of people, culture and industries.
Houston consistently ranks high in surveys related to quality of life, including:
#1 Highest Average Starting Salaries (Adjusted for Cost of Living)
#1 Most Diverse City in the U.S.
#1 Highest Annual Median Wage for STEM Workers
WalletHub 2019
#1 Top Metros Where Young Adults are Moving
The Brookings Institute 2019
#2 Top U.S. Metros for Job Growth
U.S. Labor Statistics 2019
#2 Best U.S. Metro Areas for STEM Workers
American Enterprise Institute’s Housing Center 2019
"The cultural diversity in the city is so impressive. Other cities may offer as much to do as Houston, but the extremely low cost of living here means that you can actually take advantage of everything the city has to offer."
Houston is the fourth largest U.S. city. Thirty-seven percent of the population is 24 or younger, 32 percent are between ages 25-44. Houston has a multicultural population of more than 5.5 million in the metropolitan area. It is the most diverse large metropolitan area in the nation. Nearly one in four Houstonians is foreign-born. According to the 2018 census, 36.8 percent of Houstonians identify as Hispanic, 36.9 percent as white, 16.9 percent as Black, 7.6 percent as Asian and 1.8 percent as other.
Houston's cost of living is 23 percent below the average cost of living in the 20 most populous U.S. cities. This means affordable housing. Plus, there are no state or local income taxes. Request a free Houston Relocation Guide from the Greater Houston Partnership to help you plan for your move. Visit our housing page for Cost of Living Calculators and information on Houston neighborhoods.
Houston has the 6thlargest U.S. economy and the 24th largest in the world. The city has the third largest concentration of Fortune 1000 companies in the U.S. Have you checked out careers at BCM?
In the winter, you may need a light jacket but ice or snow won’t keep you from enjoying the outdoors. With an average temperature year-round of 68 degrees and average rainfall of 46 inches, you can enjoy the outdoors as much as you’d like to.
Entertainment Options
More than 500 institutions are devoted to the performing and visual arts, science and history in Houston. Houston’s Theater District features seven renowned performing arts organizations and many smaller ones. The Houston Museum District is one of the country’s most visited and diverse cultural centers with 19 museums within close proximity. The Houston Zoo receives 2.55 million visitors per year and is among the most-visited zoos in the U.S. The city is also home to many professional and college sports teams. There are also festivals and special events throughout the year.
Houston has more than 11,000 restaurants, which serve every type of cuisine you could think of, including brick-and-mortar establishments and food trucks. In 2020, U.S. News & World Report ranked Houston among the top 10 best foodie cities in the country.
Houston ranks first in total park acreage among U.S. cities with more than one million residents. The city has more than 350 parks and more than 20 green spaces. The Houston Parks and Recreation Department maintains nearly 165 miles of biking and hiking trails that loop within parks or run along streets and bayous.
"I moved from Washington D.C. to Houston. The cost of living here is amazing compared to other big cities. There are lots of outdoor activities and free entertainment and, of course, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the food."
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Visit Houston on YouTube
Hear about Houston from well-known Houstonian celebrities like Jim Parsons from “The Big Bang Theory,” Chandra Wilson from “Grey’s Anatomy,” and celebrated music group ZZ Top in these videos produced by the official visitor’s site for Houston. In addition to videos with these celebrities, this YouTube channel contains a variety of videos about Houston events and things to do in and around the city.
My Houston
Houston's most prominent natives--George Foreman, Lyle Lovett, Jim Parsons, ZZ Top and Chandra Wilson--tour their hometown. Video courtesy of the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Texas Medical Center
Baylor’s location in the TMC, the world’s largest life sciences complex, provides unique experiences and resources.
Virtual Tours of Houston
Take virtual tours of Houston's landmarks and attractions available on the website youvisit.com.
