![\"\"](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/06\/houston-living\/30-Things-To-Know-Living-Houston-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Houston<\/a> is one of the fastest growing cities in America. In fact, it\u2019s expanding so fast, two people probably moved in during the time it took you to read this.<\/p>\n One of the reasons that Houston\u2019s population has been growing at such a rapid pace is because of higher wages along with an affordable cost of living. Houston is one of the few cities that missed the worst of the housing bubble burst. Housing costs also still fall below the national average, despite a slight increase since the population boom began. Houston is one of the top job creators in the country and home to 26 Fortune 500 companies.<\/p>\n \u2026Because Texas doesn\u2019t have an income tax. Coupled with Houston\u2019s super-affordable cost of living, low home prices, and big paychecks, that leaves for quite a few extra dollars in your pocket. Unfortunately, some of them will get spent on high property taxes.<\/p>\n The more people who move here, the younger the city gets. The median age in Houston is now 33 years old thanks to the great food, trendy art scene, and booming nightlife.<\/p>\n The folks in Houston are super friendly, y\u2019all. Smile.<\/p>\n Home of the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, America\u2019s astronaut corps, where astronauts are trained, and where Mission Control workers live for manned spaceflight expeditions. Houston, we have zero problems.<\/p>\n Everything you\u2019ve ever heard about Houston heat is true. The temperatures are not only brutal, regularly breaking 100 degrees, but the humidity can skyrocket the heat index above 130. Air conditioning is a must at home and in the car.<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t a walkable kind of city. Get a car that you like because you\u2019re going to be spending a lot of time in it.<\/p>\n var googletag = googletag || {}; googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1425403311834-0’); });<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The public transportation in Houston is leaps and bounds ahead of where it was even 10 years ago. But it\u2019s still weak compared to most other cities of the same size. Yes, the traffic in Houston sucks. There\u2019s no way around it. But, the good news is that the city has a system of feeder roads that most other cities don\u2019t that really help easing onto the highways.<\/p>\n There are no zoning laws here. And that doesn\u2019t really sound like a big deal until you wake up one day and realize that they\u2019ve built a bar to the left of you and a church to the right. Really, anything can go anywhere. You\u2019ll notice when you pass Zone\u2019d Erotica on your way to Dillard\u2019s.<\/p>\n Probably the most Texas thing about Houston is the lax gun laws. It\u2019s not uncommon for people around you to be carrying. For some, that\u2019s a plus. Others, not so much.<\/p>\n The Cowboys? Take that crap back to Dallas. This is Texans Territory.<\/p>\n Affordable living and housing, lots of parks and open space, plenty of arts and culture, and plenty to do make Houston one of the best cities to raise a family in.<\/p>\n That bigtime Texan drawl you\u2019re looking for isn\u2019t that common in a city like Houston. Houstonians do say \u201cy\u2019all\u201d a lot, though.<\/p>\n But you\u2019re free to wear one if you want.<\/p>\n The Texas Medical Center is the largest medical centers in the world, housing 21 hospitals, eight academic research facilities, and 50 related organizations. Houston is a food-lover\u2019s dream come true with over 11,000 awesome restaurants covering everything you could possibly crave. var googletag = googletag || {}; googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1425403275176-0’); });<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n According to Census data, Houston is the most racially and ethnically diverse large-metropolitan city in the country. Diversity and culture is what the city does best with ethnic restaurants and festivals around every corner.<\/p>\n Houston might be the fourth largest city but it\u2019s definitely not lacking in parks. With a total of 50,632 acres of green space, it comes third in the country behind San Diego and Dallas in acreage per capita.<\/p>\n A full-sized ice rink in a mall? That\u2019s not all The Galleria offers. With 375 stores, 30 restaurants, and two hotels, it\u2019s the destination of choice for shopping with over 24 million visitors annually. It\u2019s not quite as big as Austin\u2026 yet. But the music scene is getting better every year and the venues are just as great.<\/p>\n The Museum of Natural Science, The Children\u2019s Museum, Museum of Fine Arts, Contemporary Arts Museum, The Holocaust Museum, The Art Car Museum, The Weather Museum\u2026 You\u2019ll never run out of places to learn about stuff in Houston.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t get blindsided by the parking rates downtown. If you park in some places at 4 p.m. for an hour, you might end up paying $30. But maybe if you had just waited until 6 p.m., you could have parked for free. Always check the area you\u2019re going to before paying for parking.<\/p>\n As if you needed any more reasons to get hooked on Houston, the barbecue will do the trick. Harlon\u2019s, Fainmous, Gabby\u2019s\u2026 You\u2019ll be able to find a new favorite barbecue joint around every corner.<\/p>\n And if you think Houston has the best barbecue, wait until you try their tacos. The best place to get them is from a taco truck. But be warned, it\u2019s an addiction that no other city can ever compete with.<\/p>\n When you\u2019re overwhelmed with all the awesome Houston keeps laying on you, escape to the beaches of Galveston like everyone else. 1. Houston Is Bigger Than When You Started Reading This Source: Visit Houston Facebook Houston is one of the fastest growing cities in America. In fact, it\u2019s expanding so fast, two people probably moved in during the time it took you to read this. 2. You Can Live Larger In Houston Than Most Other Big Cities Source: Visit Houston Facebook One of the reasons that Houston\u2019s population has been growing at such a rapid pace is because of higher wages along with an affordable cost of living. When adjusted accordingly to national averages, Houston has the highest pay in the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":41587,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[61],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-41585","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opinions","post--single"],"yoast_head":"\n2. You Can Live Larger In Houston Than Most Other Big Cities <\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/06\/houston-living\/30-Things-To-Know-Living-Houston-2.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSource: Visit Houston Facebook <\/div>\n
\nWhen adjusted accordingly to national averages, Houston has the highest pay in the country at $73,418, according to Forbes.<\/p>\n3. Housing Is Steadier In Houston <\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/06\/houston-living\/30-Things-To-Know-Living-Houston-3.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSource: Houston Chronicle <\/div>\n
\nSo, you can buy a home here with confidence that you\u2019ll see a decent return on your investment.<\/p>\n4. Finding A Job Is Easier, Too <\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/06\/houston-living\/30-Things-To-Know-Living-Houston-4.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSource: Visit Houston Facebook <\/div>\n5. In Houston, You Can Take A Break From Complaining About Income Tax<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/06\/houston-living\/30-Things-To-Know-Living-Houston-6.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSource: CBS News<\/div>\n6. Houston Is Young <\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/06\/houston-living\/30-Things-To-Know-Living-Houston-7.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSource: Visit Houston Facebook <\/div>\n7. Houstonians Will Put A Smile On Your Face <\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/06\/houston-living\/30-Things-To-Know-Living-Houston-8.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSource: Downtown Houston Facebook<\/div>\n8. This Is Space City<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/06\/houston-living\/30-Things-To-Know-Living-Houston-9.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSource: Visit Houston Facebook <\/div>\n9. Houstonians Can\u2019t Skimp On Air Conditioning <\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/06\/houston-living\/30-Things-To-Know-Living-Houston-10.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSource: Examiner <\/div>\n10. In Houston, You\u2019ll Need A Car <\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/06\/houston-living\/30-Things-To-Know-Living-Houston-11.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSource: Visit Houston Facebook <\/div>\n
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\n});<\/p>\n\n<\/p>\n\n11. Public Transportation Is Getting Better\u2026 <\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/06\/houston-living\/30-Things-To-Know-Living-Houston-12.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSource: Visit Houston Facebook <\/div>\n
\nYou can use it to get around downtown pretty well, but other than that, stick to your car for now.<\/p>\n12. Traffic Sucks But Feeder Roads Rule <\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/06\/houston-living\/30-Things-To-Know-Living-Houston-13.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSource: Texas Freeway <\/div>\n13. The Zoning Laws Make Houston A Little Bit Like A Seuss Book <\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/06\/houston-living\/30-Things-To-Know-Living-Houston-14.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSource: Reddit <\/div>\n14. Gun Laws Are Even Looser Than The Zoning Laws <\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/06\/houston-living\/30-Things-To-Know-Living-Houston-15.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSource: Chron.com <\/div>\n15. This Is Texans Territory <\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/06\/houston-living\/30-Things-To-Know-Living-Houston-16.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSource: Zimbio <\/div>\n16. Houston Is A Great City For Families <\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/06\/houston-living\/30-Things-To-Know-Living-Houston-17.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSource: Visit Houston Facebook <\/div>\n17. If You\u2019re Wondering Where Everyone\u2019s Accent Is\u2026<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/06\/houston-living\/30-Things-To-Know-Living-Houston-18.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSource: Etsy <\/div>\n18. And No, You Won\u2019t Need A Cowboy Hat To Be A Houstonian<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/06\/houston-living\/30-Things-To-Know-Living-Houston-19.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSource: Downtown Houston Facebook <\/div>\n19. If Houstonians Get Sick, They\u2019re Covered <\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/06\/houston-living\/30-Things-To-Know-Living-Houston-20.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSource: Wikipedia <\/div>\n
\nIt\u2019s so big, in fact, that it\u2019s larger than downtown Dallas.<\/p>\n20. Houstonians Eat Like Kings <\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/06\/houston-living\/30-Things-To-Know-Living-Houston-21.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSource: Visit Houston Facebook <\/div>\n
\nThe New York Times even called it \u201cone of the most exciting places in the country to eat.\u201d The Houston Culinary Tours can help you explore every last bit of it.<\/p>\n
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\n});<\/p>\n\n<\/p>\n\n21. Houstonians Come In All Shapes And Sizes <\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/06\/houston-living\/30-Things-To-Know-Living-Houston-22.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSource: Downtown Houston Facebook <\/div>\n22. It\u2019s Easy Being Green In Houston <\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/06\/houston-living\/30-Things-To-Know-Living-Houston-23.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSource: Visit Downtown Facebook <\/div>\n23. Shopping Is Like A Professional Sport Here <\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/06\/houston-living\/30-Things-To-Know-Living-Houston-24.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSource: Visit Houston Facebook <\/div>\n
\nAvoid this place like the plague at Christmas time if you don\u2019t like crowds, long lines, and no parking spaces, though.<\/p>\n24. The Music Scene Is Growing <\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/06\/houston-living\/30-Things-To-Know-Living-Houston-25.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSource: Visit Houston Facebook <\/div>\n25. Houston Has Museums Galore <\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/06\/houston-living\/30-Things-To-Know-Living-Houston-26.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSource: Visit Houston Facebook <\/div>\n26. Parking Rates May Apply <\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/06\/houston-living\/30-Things-To-Know-Living-Houston-27.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSource: Houston Chronicle <\/div>\n27. The Barbecue Will Suck You In <\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/06\/houston-living\/30-Things-To-Know-Living-Houston-28.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSource: Harlon\u2019s BBQ Facebook <\/div>\n28. Houston Has The Best Taco Trucks In The Country <\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/06\/houston-living\/30-Things-To-Know-Living-Houston-29.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSource: Taco Me Crazy Facebook <\/div>\n29. Escape To The Beach <\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/citybuzz\/2015\/06\/houston-living\/30-Things-To-Know-Living-Houston-30.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSource: Visit Houston Facebook <\/div>\n
\nJust a 35 minute drive from the city, you can enjoy pristine beaches, fun piers, and some killer oysters.
\nLike This Post? You\u2019ll Definitely Love These:<\/b><\/p>\n\n