Moving from Memphis to Houston?
Memphis to Houston — both 0% tax states (TN/TX), 45% housing premium for energy/medical careers.
- 565 mi Distance
- 9 hr Drive time
- -45% lower Home prices
- 204 Sun days/year
Memphis-to-Houston is the rare 0%-tax-to-0%-tax move. Both TN and TX have no state income tax. Trade: 45% housing premium and 23% higher COL for Houston's Fortune 500 corporate base (ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, ConocoPhillips, Phillips 66 — energy capital) + Texas Medical Center (world's largest medical complex) + most diverse US city.
Why people move from Memphis to Houston.
- Same 0% income tax — TN/TX both have no state income tax
- Energy industry — ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, ConocoPhillips, Phillips 66, dozens more
- Texas Medical Center — world's largest medical complex (60+ institutions)
- Most diverse US city — Houston outpaces Memphis on diversity
- International cuisine scene — Houston is genuinely top-5 US food city
- George Bush Intercontinental — major international hub
- Career options multiply — broader Fortune 500 than Memphis's FedEx/AutoZone-focused mix
- Better property insurance market
The money side of TN → TX.
Memphis
- Median home$235,000
- Income tax0% (TN)
- Cost index78
Houston
- Median home$340,000
- Income tax0% (TX)
- Cost index96
Things you'll want to know about your new city.
Bookmark this page — these are the icons of Houston, organized by what kind of day you're planning.
Outdoors & Recreation
- Discovery Green — 12-acre downtown park; ice skating in winter
- Buffalo Bayou Park — 160-acre linear park; kayaking, biking, art installations
Culture & Arts
- Museum of Fine Arts Houston (MFAH) — Sixth-largest museum in US; James Turrell Skyspace
- The Menil Collection — Free private collection; renowned 20th-century works
- Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo — March; world's largest rodeo and concert series
- Minute Maid Park (Astros) — Retractable-roof MLB stadium
Family-Friendly
- Space Center Houston — NASA Johnson Space Center visitor center; Mission Control tour
- Houston Museum of Natural Science — Cockrell Butterfly Center, Hall of Paleontology
- Hermann Park / Houston Zoo — 445-acre park; 55-acre zoo
- Galveston Island (50 min south) — Beach, Pleasure Pier, historic Strand district
Houston's essential restaurants.
The dining list every Houston resident knows by heart. Save the spots, work through them.
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Pappas Bros. Steakhouse Steakhouse Galleria
Classic Houston steakhouse
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Crawfish & Noodles Vietnamese-Cajun Bellaire/Chinatown
Viet-Cajun crawfish — a Houston original cuisine
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Ninfa's on Navigation Tex-Mex East End
Original 1973 Ninfa's; invented fajitas (claim)
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Truth BBQ BBQ Midtown
Brisket comparable to Austin's Franklin (some say better)
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Underbelly Hospitality (multiple) Various Multiple
Chris Shepherd's restaurant group; James Beard winner
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Killen's BBQ (Pearland) BBQ Pearland
Ronnie Killen's flagship BBQ
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Xochi Mexican Downtown
Hugo Ortega's Oaxacan-focused; James Beard winner
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March Mediterranean tasting Montrose
Felipe Riccio's tasting menu; Michelin star
Best Houston neighborhoods for Memphis transplants.
Mapped to the Memphis neighborhoods that probably feel like home to you.
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The Heights
If Cooper-Young was your vibe — walkable, restaurants, bungalows, hip historic
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Montrose
If Downtown South Main was your speed — eclectic, art, restaurants, LGBTQ-friendly
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Rice Village / West University
If you came from East Memphis family — walkable, top schools, family
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Memorial Villages
If Germantown affluent was your speed — affluent, low crime, top schools, $700K-$3M+
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Midtown
If Midtown Memphis was your speed — walkable, nightlife, lofts, light rail
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The Woodlands (suburb, 35 min N)
If Collierville was your model — top schools, woodland feel, $400K-$1.5M+
What daily life feels like in Houston.
Climate
Humid subtropical (effectively coastal). Hot, humid summers (78-95°F, June-Sept). Mild winters (45-65°F, occasional freeze). Hurricane season June-November (Harvey 2017 was catastrophic). 204 sun days/year.
- Summer78-94°F
- Winter45-65°F
- Sun days/yr204
- Rainfall53 inches
Walkability
- Walk Score47/100
- Transit Score36/100
- Bike Score51/100
Houston is car-dependent — most errands require driving.
Outdoors & Recreation
- Buffalo Bayou Park — 160 acres of linear park, kayaking, biking
- Memorial Park — 1,500-acre urban park; Seymour Lieberman Trail
- Galveston Island — beach access (50 min south)
- Brazos Bend State Park — alligators, hiking (1 hr southwest)
- Sam Houston National Forest (1 hr north) — hiking, kayaking
- Houston Bayou system — paddling Buffalo, White Oak, Brays bayous
What changes about your daily life.
- Same 0% income tax — no change
- Housing 45% higher — $235K Memphis SFH becomes $340K Houston SFH
- Cost of living 23% higher
- Climate similar (both humid subtropical) — Houston more humid (Gulf Coast vs. Mississippi Valley)
- Hurricane risk arrives — Memphis inland, Houston Gulf Coast
- Property insurance jumps significantly (Houston averages $4-7K/yr; Memphis $1.5-2.5K/yr)
- Memphis MATA replaced with Houston Metro (similar smaller scale)
- BBQ scene shifts — Memphis dry-rub ribs to Houston brisket-focused
- Music heritage stays sacred (Memphis blues/rock/soul); Houston has its own scene
How to drive there.
What it takes to move 565 miles.
- Full-service (3BR)$3,200-$6,000
- Container/PODS$2,200-$4,200
- DIY (26-ft truck)$1,500-$2,800
- Best monthsOct-Apr (avoid Texas summer humidity + hurricane peak)
- Lead time5-7 weeks ahead
USDOT-registered.
Moving from Memphis to Houston: FAQ.
Hurricane risk shock?
Real adjustment. Memphis is far enough inland to avoid direct hurricane hits. Houston is 50 miles from Gulf — direct hurricane exposure (Hurricane Harvey 2017 was widespread flooding). Insurance jumps $2,500-4,500/yr. Most Memphians handle storm prep well (TN tornado experience); hurricane-specific prep is a learning curve.
Worth the housing premium?
Career-dependent. Houston pays 20-35% more than Memphis in corporate Fortune 500 careers (energy industry especially). That clears the housing premium plus more. The same TX 0% tax means full salary increase translates. Most successful Memphis-to-Houston moves are corporate transfers or career advancement.
Let's find the right interstate mover for your Memphis-to-Houston move.
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