📍 State guide · Texas
Texas State Guide
Texas gets a lot of attention for Austin and Dallas. But those cities have gotten expensive. The real story right now is what’s happening in the rest of the state, where you can still buy a home under $220,000, keep every dollar you earn because there’s no state income tax, and find a real job market in cities that don’t make the headlines.
These guides cover Texas cities worth knowing about. Real numbers on housing costs, jobs, and what your paycheck actually buys you there.
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Featured guide
State overview · 9 cities covered
Affordable Texas: The Cities Worth Moving to That Aren’t Austin, Dallas, or Houston
Housing costs, job markets, and honest tradeoffs for 9 underrated Texas cities
San Antonio
El Paso
Lubbock
Amarillo
Corpus Christi
+4 more
Read the guide →
Texas cities featured in our guide
San Antonio
Live
Median home: $278,000
1BR rent: $1,200/mo
Best for: Overall value, military, healthcare
El Paso
Live
Median home: $198,000
1BR rent: $950/mo
Best for: Lowest cost of living in TX
Lubbock
Live
Median home: $198,000
1BR rent: $900/mo
Best for: Families on a single income
Amarillo
Live
Median home: $219,000
1BR rent: $950/mo
Best for: Energy workers, low unemployment
Corpus Christi
Live
Median home: $219,000
1BR rent: $1,000/mo
Best for: Coastal living on a budget
Beaumont
Live
Median home: $198,000
1BR rent: $950/mo
Best for: Petrochemical and refinery workers
Killeen
Live
Median home: $219,000
1BR rent: $950/mo
Best for: Military families, VA loans
Wichita Falls
Live
Median home: $178,000
1BR rent: $800/mo
Best for: Lowest budget in Texas
Laredo
Live
Median home: $169,000
1BR rent: $800/mo
Best for: Border trade, rock-bottom costs
Why people are moving to Texas
Texas has been one of the fastest-growing states in the country for over a decade. And it’s not hard to see why. No state income tax, a job market that spans energy, tech, healthcare, defense, and manufacturing, and home prices that are still reasonable in cities most people haven’t considered yet.
The big metros like Austin and Dallas have gotten expensive. But the state is enormous, and there are cities here where a middle-class household can genuinely own a home, keep their paycheck largely intact, and live well. That’s what this page is about.
$0
State income tax
Every dollar you earn, you keep
1.6M+
New residents (5 yrs)
Fastest growing state in the US
#1
US business climate
Ranked 1st by CEO Magazine 17 yrs running
What no income tax actually saves you per year
This is real money. Here’s what a Texas resident keeps compared to someone earning the same salary in a state with income tax.
| Annual income |
vs. California (9.3%) |
vs. New York (6.85%) |
vs. Minnesota (9.85%) |
vs. Tennessee (0%) |
| $50,000 |
+$2,790/yr |
+$2,055/yr |
+$2,955/yr |
Same |
| $75,000 |
+$4,185/yr |
+$3,083/yr |
+$4,433/yr |
Same |
| $100,000 |
+$5,580/yr |
+$4,110/yr |
+$5,910/yr |
Same |
| $150,000 |
+$8,370/yr |
+$6,165/yr |
+$8,865/yr |
Same |
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The property tax offset
Texas property taxes run 1.6% to 2.2% of home value annually, among the highest in the US. On a $250,000 home that’s $4,000 to $5,500 per year. It partially offsets the income tax savings. The net advantage is still significant, but run the full numbers for your situation before assuming Texas is always cheaper.
Texas job market by industry
Texas has one of the most diversified job markets in the country. Unlike states that depend on one sector, Texas runs on energy, defense, healthcare, tech, agriculture, and logistics all at once.
| Industry |
Key employers |
Typical salary |
Best Texas cities |
| Energy / oil and gas |
ExxonMobil, Shell, ConocoPhillips |
$65k–$140k |
Houston, Beaumont, Midland |
| Technology |
Dell, Apple, Tesla, Oracle |
$75k–$160k |
Austin, Dallas, Round Rock |
| Military / defense |
Fort Cavazos, NAS Corpus Christi, Fort Bliss |
$45k–$110k |
Killeen, Corpus Christi, El Paso |
| Healthcare |
HCA Healthcare, Baylor Scott & White |
$50k–$130k |
San Antonio, Houston, Dallas |
| Skilled trades |
Refineries, construction, utilities |
$48k–$95k |
Beaumont, Corpus Christi, Amarillo |
| Logistics / trucking |
Amazon, FedEx, BNSF Railway |
$45k–$85k |
Laredo, Dallas, San Antonio |
| Agriculture / meat processing |
Tyson Foods, JBS, Cargill |
$35k–$65k |
Amarillo, Lubbock, Wichita Falls |
Who Texas is actually a good move for
✓ Texas works well if you are…
- In energy, defense, or healthcare: the three sectors that anchor most affordable Texas cities
- A military family — Killeen, Corpus Christi, and El Paso all have major bases with strong BAH rates
- A skilled tradesperson: electricians, plumbers, HVAC techs, and refinery workers earn well here
- Focused on homeownership. A $200k homes with no income tax is hard to find anywhere else
- A remote worker from a high-cost state: keeping your California or New York salary while paying Texas prices
- Building long-term wealth: lower housing costs free up money to save and invest faster
✗ Think carefully if you need…
- Walkability or transit: almost every Texas city requires a car for everything
- Mild summers: most of the state runs hot and humid from June through September
- Top-tier schools everywhere: quality varies a lot by district and neighborhood
- A diverse cultural scene: smaller cities have real limitations here
- Coastal access without hurricane risk: Gulf Coast cities face real weather exposure
- Job variety outside core sectors: white-collar work outside tech and healthcare can be thin in smaller cities
Texas vs other popular relocation states
How does Texas stack up against the other states people are moving to right now?
| State |
Income tax |
Avg median home |
COL index |
Job growth |
Best for |
| Texas |
None |
$312,000 |
93 |
Very strong |
Energy, defense, trades |
| Tennessee |
None |
$342,000 |
89 |
Strong |
Healthcare, manufacturing |
| Florida |
None |
$412,000 |
102 |
Strong |
Tourism, retirees, remote |
| North Carolina |
4.5% |
$340,000 |
96 |
Very strong |
Tech, finance, research |
| Georgia |
5.49% |
$320,000 |
93 |
Strong |
Logistics, film, finance |
| Arizona |
2.5% |
$398,000 |
103 |
Moderate |
Remote workers, retirees |
All Texas cities compared at a glance
| City |
Median home |
1BR rent |
Unemployment |
COL index |
Best for |
| San Antonio |
$278,000 |
$1,200 |
3.8% |
94 |
Overall value |
| El Paso |
$198,000 |
$950 |
3.7% |
84 |
Lowest COL |
| Lubbock |
$198,000 |
$900 |
3.4% |
83 |
Families on a budget |
| Amarillo |
$219,000 |
$950 |
3.2% |
86 |
Energy workers |
| Corpus Christi |
$219,000 |
$1,000 |
4.1% |
88 |
Coastal lifestyle |
| Beaumont |
$198,000 |
$950 |
4.8% |
88 |
Refinery and trades |
| Killeen |
$219,000 |
$950 |
4.1% |
86 |
Military families |
| Wichita Falls |
$178,000 |
$800 |
3.9% |
82 |
Lowest budget |
| Laredo |
$169,000 |
$800 |
4.8% |
80 |
Ultra-low cost only |
| Austin |
$489,000 |
$1,750 |
3.8% |
118 |
Tech jobs |
| Dallas |
$368,000 |
$1,550 |
3.9% |
108 |
Finance, corporate |
| Houston |
$312,000 |
$1,400 |
4.1% |
103 |
Energy sector |
Frequently asked questions
Is Texas really cheaper than most states?
It depends on where in Texas. Austin and parts of Dallas are now above the national average. But El Paso, Lubbock, Wichita Falls, and several other cities sit 15% to 20% below the national cost of living index. The no-income-tax advantage is real in every city, though property taxes partially offset it.
What Texas city has the lowest cost of living?
Laredo has the lowest overall cost of living index (80) and median home price ($169,000), but it also has the most significant tradeoffs in school quality and job market variety. Among cities with stronger quality-of-life scores, El Paso and Lubbock offer the best combination of low cost and functional infrastructure.
Is Texas a good state for military families?
Yes, strongly. Texas has four major military installations: Fort Cavazos (Killeen), Joint Base San Antonio, Fort Bliss (El Paso), and Naval Air Station Corpus Christi. All four are in cities with below-average housing costs, and VA loan eligibility combined with no state income tax makes the financial picture genuinely excellent for active duty and veterans.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Texas?
It varies by city and household size. In affordable Texas cities like San Antonio or Lubbock, a single person can live comfortably on $45,000 to $55,000. A family of four typically needs $65,000 to $80,000 to cover housing, food, transportation, and basics without stress. Use our
affordability calculator to run your specific numbers.
What are the biggest downsides of living in Texas?
The three that come up most: brutal summers (hot and humid for months in most of the state), near-total car dependency in almost every city, and high property taxes that offset some of the income tax benefit. Coastal cities also carry hurricane risk that shows up in homeowners insurance premiums.
Is it worth moving to Texas from California or New York?
For many people, yes. A household earning $100,000 saves roughly $5,000 to $9,000 per year in state income tax alone. Combined with lower housing costs in most Texas cities, the financial difference can be $15,000 to $25,000 per year. The tradeoff is giving up coastal weather, walkability, and cultural density that larger metros offer.
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The Texas advantage worth knowing
Texas has no state income tax. For a household earning $75,000 that’s roughly $2,500 to $4,000 a year you keep compared to living in California, New York, or Minnesota. Every city guide on this page factors that in.
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