TX · The Lone Star State

Moving to or from Texas?

The second-largest state in both population and land. Oil, space, cattle, barbecue, live music, and the fastest-growing big-city economies in the country — all with no state income tax.

  • #2 Population rank
  • 31,000,000 Residents
  • Houston Largest city
  • Austin State capital
What Texas Is Known For

Why people move to Texas.

  • Second-largest US state by population and land area
  • No state income tax — a major relocation driver
  • Houston's energy and medical industries, Austin's tech boom, Dallas-Fort Worth's corporate giants
  • Barbecue, Tex-Mex, ranching, and a genuine cowboy culture
  • Gulf coast ports and NASA's Johnson Space Center
  • A top destination state — one of the strongest net-inflows in the country
Icons of Texas

Where people spend their time.

  • The Alamo San Antonio
  • Big Bend National Park Southwest Texas
  • Space Center Houston Houston
  • San Antonio River Walk San Antonio
  • Austin's Sixth Street live music district Austin
  • Fort Worth Stockyards Fort Worth
  • Padre Island National Seashore Gulf Coast
  • Guadalupe Mountains National Park West Texas
Migration Patterns

Where Texas movers come from and go to.

City-to-City Move Guides

Detailed guides for Texas city moves.

Each guide includes vetted movers, neighborhoods, climate, drive time, and what to expect on arrival.

Moving from a Texas city:

Moving to a Texas city:

What To Know

Planning a Texas move.

Hot and humid along the Gulf Coast, hot and dry in the western deserts, temperate with severe thunderstorms across the northern plains. Tornado season peaks April–June in North Texas. Gulf hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, with direct strikes possible from Corpus Christi to Beaumont.

  • Texas is enormous. El Paso to Beaumont is 830 miles — farther than New York City to Chicago. In-state moves across regions require overnight driver stays, fuel surcharges, and 2-day delivery schedules. Budget accordingly.
  • There's no state income tax, but property taxes are among the highest in the country (averaging 1.7–2.2% of assessed value). Your monthly housing cost may be similar to higher-income-tax states once taxes and insurance are in.
  • Summer moves in Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio are brutally hot. Movers slow down by necessity, and damage to heat-sensitive items (candles, electronics, vinyl records) goes up sharply. Schedule morning-only or choose October–April if possible.
  • Tornado Alley runs through the Dallas-Fort Worth metro and North Texas. Severe storm season (April–June) can halt moves mid-load. Gulf hurricane season (June–Nov) affects Houston, Corpus Christi, and Galveston — confirm your mover has weather-rescheduling clauses.
Licensing & Regulation

Intrastate household-goods movers in Texas must be licensed by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) and display a valid TxDMV number. Verify any Texas mover's number at the TxDMV Motor Carrier public lookup before signing. Interstate movers need a USDOT number from the FMCSA.

Common Questions

Moving in Texas: FAQ.

How much does it cost to move within Texas?

Local moves under 50 miles run $900–$3,200 for a 1–2 bedroom and $3,000–$7,500 for a 3–4 bedroom. Cross-Texas moves (Houston to El Paso, DFW to the Gulf) run $2,500–$8,500 for a 2-bedroom — the state's size means most region-to-region moves involve overnight driver stays. Texas is 5–10% below the national average on local moves.

Is the 'no state income tax' advantage real?

Partly. Texas has no personal state income tax, which saves real money for higher earners. But property taxes are among the highest in the country — the average Texas homeowner pays 1.7–2.2% of their home's assessed value each year, vs. 0.3–1.0% in many lower-property-tax states. For most middle-income households, the tax savings are smaller than the headline suggests.

Do Texas movers need a state license?

Yes. Household-goods movers operating within Texas must be licensed by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) and display their TxDMV motor carrier number on marketing and invoices. You can verify any Texas mover's license at the TxDMV public lookup. Unlicensed Texas movers are common — always verify before signing.

Which Texas city should I move to?

Depends entirely on industry. Energy and medical = Houston. Tech and music = Austin. Corporate and finance = Dallas. Military and history = San Antonio. Aviation and western heritage = Fort Worth. Cross-border trade = El Paso. Cost of living is lowest in El Paso, San Antonio, and Corpus Christi; highest in Austin.

When's the best time to move to Texas?

October through April. Summer heat peaks in August — triple-digit highs across most of the state. October–November is ideal: post-hurricane season, pre-holiday, mild temperatures, and pricing dips before the January spike when corporate relocations start again.

Moving in Texas?

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