15 Things to Know Before Moving to Texas

Are you thinking about moving to Texas? Here are 15 things to know before you go. Expect warmer weather, taxes that are lower than you would expect, and a cost of living that can be affordable. You can pay less for electricity and enjoy a booming labor market. Texas is ideal for food lovers, has impressive employment growth, and several cities and cities booming energy.

Add in the rich culture and relatively affordable housing, and it's no wonder that people are flocking to the Lone Star State. At Dinosaur Valley State Park in Texas, you can literally follow in the footsteps of the dinosaurs that once roamed Texas. The state has a long history, with native tribes such as the Caddo, Apaches, and Comanche having been living on the land for approximately 11,000 years. Then there's the Spanish and Mexican history of Texas—think the Alamo—and the famous struggle for independence. If you love history, you'll love living in Texas. Summers are generally hot and temperatures average between mid and high 90 degrees, while winters are around 60 degrees, with rare drops if there is an occasional cold front crossing the state.

Texas has an average of more tornadoes per year than any other state, and the Gulf Coast has been hit by several major hurricanes, such as Carla (196), Celia (1970), Ike (200) and Harvey (201). We've all seen memes and made jokes about it, but the truth is that the weather in Texas is very unpredictable. Did you know that Alvin, Texas has the infamous record for the most amount of rain that has fallen in the U. S.

in a 24-hour period? It took place during Tropical Storm Claudette in 1979, in which 43 inches of rain occurred. Texas is one of only seven states where residents don't pay state income taxes. The state sales tax is not very high either. There are also several tax incentives for companies. According to Forbes, Texas encourages business ownership through lower taxes and less onerous regulations. Unless you live within 3 to 4 miles of your workplace, you'll spend a lot of time commuting to work.

Traffic is terrible, as roads in most areas haven't kept up with the ever-growing population, so be prepared for the inevitable. In fact, Texas Monthly rated Texas as the hottest state in the entire country. Along the Rio Grande, which is the hottest place in Texas, days and nights average 102 degrees Fahrenheit. In both San Antonio and Dallas, summer temperatures hover around 100 degrees. And honestly, it's something worth considering before taking the leap there.

If you're the type of person who can't stand the heat, Texas is the last place you'll want to move to. It could be worth investing in a swimming pool or taking a lot of cold showers during the summer. If you're thinking about living in North Texas, consider the possible tornado due to its location in Tornado Alley. Well, startups like AppSumo, Onnit, Rollick Outdoor and Senseye have gone from being ideas to great innovators employing hundreds. This constant innovation means more jobs for people moving to Texas. And if you are one of those who want to start a business, Austin is a good place to land.

Texans are an interesting mix of affectionate and tough. They are known for being huggers with larger personalities than real life but have been designed to be quite resilient considering they face 100-degree summers six months a year and have to avoid being bitten by venomous rattlesnakes on a daily basis. In fact, The New York Times wrote an entire piece about the emerging music scene in Texas. For history lovers it's a state built on land where native tribes such as the Caddo, Apaches and Comanches had lived for 11,000 years; and for futurists it's a place where organizations like SpaceX and NASA fire their rockets. The costs of moving to Texas can depend on a variety of factors - how far do you move? Do you need more than one truck? Do you need storage? One way to measure costs is to use a moving cost calculator to start planning within your budget. With hundreds of thousands of people moving to Texas every day, it's obvious why this Lone Star State has such charm. As long as you can handle the heat we're pretty sure you'll find a place in Texas where you can feel at home - and if you need help moving there well...you know who to call! With 238 cities with populations over 10K people there's sure to be one where you'll want to put down roots and watch those bluebonnets grow. If you need more convincing here are 8 other things to know before moving to Texas: Everything is bigger in Texas except for tax rate - it's one of only seven states without state income tax - saving hundreds or even thousands of dollars on your annual tax bill is one of biggest benefits of moving there; sales tax isn't too high either; plus there are several tax incentives for companies. So if you're looking for an advisor that specifically meets your needs use SmartAsset's matchmaking tool to get in touch with a financial professional - they'll have lots of guidance to offer! And if all else fails just remember: everything is bigger in Texas - except your tax rate!.