People are moving to Texas more than anywhere else in America. For three consecutive years, the Lone Star State has netted the largest number of movers in one-way U-Haul® equipment, consistently ranking it No.1 Growth State in the U-Haul Growth Index
“People are still flocking to Texas,” said U-Haul Company of Northeast Dallas President Zane Rowland in a statement. “The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex is attracting new companies every day. Businesses are relocating to DFW and Texas because we’re a cost-effective option.”
With a steady stream of new and expanding companies opening operations in the state, job creation is soaring. In 2023, Texas added 326,700 nonfarm jobs, more than any other state in the nation. While Texas’ labor force of more than 15 million people is more than equipped to fill these positions, U-Haul’s findings show that people from outside the state are eager to benefit from its booming business climate.
According to the Index, Austin, College Station- Bryan, Dallas and Conroe are all hotbeds for newcomers. And like businesses, individuals are finding the affordability of these locations and others across the state to be a selling point. RentCafe reports that housing is 17% below the national average, and the cost of living 7% lower.
Día de los Muertos Festival San Antonio
Photo courtesy of Travel Texas
“Texas is great because you have a low the cost of living, no state income tax, and deregulated energy costs,” said Robert Abidin, the president of U-Haul Company of Northeast Houston. “Texas is also the energy capital of the U.S. We’re home to every major industry. Anything you’re looking for in Texas, you can find in Texas.”
The Bigger, The Better
While employment opportunities draw many to the state, what keeps locals and new arrivals around is the close-knit communities and cultural celebrations Texas is known for. With a population as diverse as its landscape, every section of the state is home to music, food and events that are uniquely inspired by the people located there.
Every October, San Antonio hosts that largest Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration in the nation. Alight with food, music, art, traditional activities and a river parade, the city comes alive to celebrate alongside its Hispanic residents. As a majority of the state’s population is Latino, 40.2%, hundreds of events take place each year to celebrate Latin heritage and its influence within Texas culture.
From Tex-Mex cuisine to Tejano music, many new art forms and customs have been born from the state’s blended communities. Derived from Spanish-Mexican settlers and the expansion of the cattle industry in the American West, Rodeos continue to be one of the Lone Star State’s most time-honored traditions.
Barrel racing
Photo Courtesy of Travel Texas
Many of its major cities, Houston, Fort Worth and San Antonio, to name a few, host massive competitions featuring stock shows, barrel racing, bull riding and more. Some of the events up the entertainment with parades, concerts and carnivals as well.
This level of revelry is equally apart of the state’s culture, with the Texas State Fair setting the standard. Held in Dallas, the 24-day extravaganza is the largest and longest running fair in the entire country. Over. 2.3 million people attended in 2023. Rides, carnival games, fried food, livestock shows, rodeos and concerts are among the myriad of activities and competitions available to guests.
As a nonprofit organization, proceeds from the event as used to preserve and improve the historic Fair Park, underwrite community initiatives and support higher education scholarship programs. In 2022, due to the success of the festival, the Fair contributed nearly $18.5 million through philanthropic and Fair Park giving.
“Each year the State Fair of Texas is centered around community,” said State Fair of Texas President, Mitchell Glieber. “Despite the challenges we faced this Fair, our team has been resilient and remained steadfast in bringing the community together to celebrate at the Most Texan Place on Earth. After 137 years, there is nothing more fulfilling than seeing folks from all walks of life embrace and uplift the time-honored tradition that is the State Fair of Texas.”
This celebration of agriculture, education and entertainment is the essence of what life in Texas is about, supporting one another. That, and a healthy dose of competition.
As seen in the state’s continued economic success, the Lone Star State competes to win. And alongside major development projects, it is certainly winning hearts as well. More and more people are moving to Texas. And it’s easy to see why.
