Why People Are Moving to Texas (2025)
Texas has been a magnet for movers—and not just in one city or one industry. Here’s what’s pulling people in, with fresh data and straight talk on the trade-offs.
1) Population growth is real (and still broad-based)
Texas led the nation in numeric population growth in 2024, adding well over half a million residents. Fort Worth crossed the 1-million mark—one of only two U.S. cities to do so between 2023 and 2024—underscoring how growth stretches beyond Austin and Houston. Houston Chronicle+1
2) Jobs, jobs, jobs
The labor market is deep and diversified (energy, tech, logistics, advanced manufacturing, health care). Over the 12 months through August 2025, Texas employers added ~196,000 jobs while the labor force hit record levels—outpacing the national growth rate. Texas Workforce Commission
3) Your money goes a bit farther
On average, Texas prices sit just under the U.S. level when you compare states apples-to-apples using the BEA’s Regional Price Parities (Texas RPP ~98 vs. U.S.=100). That relative price edge is one reason families and remote workers land here. FRED
4) Taxes: no state income tax (with a caveat)
Texas constitutionally prohibits a personal income tax. That’s attractive to high earners and retirees, though part of the bill shows up in other places—especially property taxes, which are on the higher side compared with many states. statutes.capitol.texas.gov+1
5) Housing and space to grow
Texas still offers more new construction and suburban options than many coastal markets. Affordability tightened during the 2019–2023 price run-up, but the state’s own index continues to track where median-income households can qualify for median-priced homes—useful for comparing metros as you shortlist neighborhoods. comptroller.texas.gov+1
6) Corporate investment keeps piling in
Relocations and expansions haven’t stopped: Oracle, HPE, Schwab and many others have made Texas home, and the Governor’s office keeps an updated ledger of HQ moves since 2015. The 2025 snapshot from Reuters shows the broader trend: firms chasing lower costs, a big talent pool and easy market access. Reuters+4Reuters+4gov.texas.gov+4
7) Infrastructure & connectivity
With DFW holding the world’s #3 spot for passenger traffic in 2024, Texas is unusually well-connected for both domestic and international travel—handy for hybrid teams and frequent flyers. dfwairport.com
8) Big-tent higher ed and talent pipelines
Flagship institutions like UT Austin and Texas A&M anchor large, steady talent flows into engineering, business, health and more—feeding local employers and startups. Recent enrollment data show record highs across the system. The Texas Tribune
9) Energy, growth, and resilience
Policy has focused on shoring up the grid after 2021’s failures—via new funding tools for “dispatchable” generation and modernization (e.g., Texas Energy Fund). That mix—plus abundant wind, solar and natural gas—keeps large power users (fabs, data centers) interested. velaw.com+1
But—read the fine print
Migration has cooled from peak-pandemic highs. Texas is still attracting newcomers, but several indicators (moving-truck indices, brokerage flows) show moderation versus 2021–2022. In U-Haul’s 2024 ranking, Texas slipped to #2 behind South Carolina—still strong, just less torrid. Houston Chronicle
Property taxes can sting. If you’re moving from a high-income-tax state, run the math on your home’s assessment and local rates; the savings can shrink if you buy at today’s values without exemptions. Tax Foundation
Affordability isn’t uniform. Austin’s core is pricier than San Antonio or suburbs of Houston/Dallas; use metro-level data (and the state affordability index) to target. Texas Real Estate Research Center
Bottom line
People are coming to Texas for a simple stack of reasons: a big, diverse job market; a legal ban on personal income tax; slightly lower overall prices; a lot of corporate investment; and world-class connectivity. The trade-offs (notably property taxes and metro-to-metro price gaps) are real—but for many movers, the math, the careers and the room to grow still pencil out.
