Texas Living Report — July 26, 2026

The decision to relocate to Texas often hinges on a single, powerful promise: more space and opportunity for less money. With a population of over 29.2 million, the state is now the second most populous in the nation, a figure that reflects decades of domestic migration. For anyone eyeing a move in 2026, the numbers paint a picture of a state that remains comparatively affordable, though the landscape is shifting in significant ways.

For starters, the housing market offers a stark contrast to coastal extremes. The median home value in Texas sits at $238,000—roughly half the national median in many major metro areas. This figure, however, masks regional bubbles; in Austin, prices have cooled but remain elevated, while in cities like Houston or San Antonio, that $238,000 can still buy a comfortable single-family home. The rental market follows a similar pattern. With a median one-bedroom apartment costing $1,251 per month, the state is a relative bargain compared to California or New York. But an affordability analysis reveals a tighter squeeze for many. Using the state’s median household income of $73,035 per year, housing costs for that one-bedroom consume roughly 20.5% of gross monthly income—comfortably within the 30% rule of thumb. Yet with a poverty rate of 13.6%, that cushion disappears for a significant portion of the population, underscoring that Texas’s low tax burden often comes with higher out-of-pocket costs for health insurance and property taxes.

The job market provides the primary draw. Texas recorded a modest unemployment rate of 4.9% in June 2026, slightly above the national average at that time, but the workforce is exceptionally dynamic. The state attracts a broad cross-section of newcomers: families drawn to good school districts and suburban safety, retirees seeking warm winters and no state income tax, and a growing legion of remote workers leveraging Texas’s relatively low cost of living to stretch their salaries further. The median age of 35.2 reflects this youthful influx, skewing slightly younger than the national median, which suggests a robust pipeline of early- and mid-career professionals.

Quality of life in Texas is a study in trade-offs. The cost of living is undeniably lower, and the lack of a state income tax is a major incentive. On the other hand, property taxes are among the highest in the nation, summer heat is oppressive, and the state’s vast geography means that car dependency is nearly absolute. One curious data point: Finklick tracks 1 city in Texas. This suggests an aggregated, narrow snapshot of data, but in a state with dozens of distinct metro areas, it is a reminder that generalizations about “Texas living” can be misleading—life in El Paso bears little resemblance to life in the Piney Woods or the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

Looking forward, Texas’s outlook remains bullish but cautious. The population is projected to continue growing, fueled by domestic migration and a relatively high birth rate. However, infrastructure is straining under the weight of new arrivals: traffic in Houston and Dallas is worsening, and the power grid remains a point of vulnerability during extreme weather. The state’s economic diversification—anchored by energy, tech, healthcare, and logistics—offers resilience, but rising home prices and insurance premiums could eventually erode the affordability advantage that made Texas famous. For now, it remains a land of opportunity, but one where

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Data: US Census Bureau ACS 2022, BLS. Updated July 26, 2026.