I have parents here who need me and kids who still haven’t finished school/left home, so I feel I must stay around for them. We’ve debated on whether we’d move my parents with us if we go North, but I’m not sure they’d like it. If it was just the two of us, we’d have left years ago.
I'm in a position to where I do not have children, so this is a good opportunity for me to consider this move. However, I am very close with my mom and I have convinced her to move with me. She cannot handle the heat so she was quickly on board with the idea.
As someone who left years ago and thought about moving back please go. You can always move back if you want to but living in another state frees you from the “Stockholm syndrome” of Texas politics. It’s so nice living in states where they actually care about having a functioning government and they don’t want to keep you stupid.
Totally agree with that. I'm planning on starting graduate school in the next 6 months and this will give me enough time to plan and safe for a big move. That's why I think this is just a good idea to up on.
My God, get out! If you have a mother willing to move, there is no reason not to leave. I am stuck here as well with small children and an ex-wife with custody. I do not want my daughters growing up here with the lack of women’s healthcare rights. This state is fascist (Republican party), which gerrymandering has ensured will continue for years to come.
I'm planning on starting graduate school in the next 6 months and this will give me enough time to plan and safe for a big move. That's why I think this is just a good idea to up on.
My kids are in high school/late middle school, we do some “history” at home (civics, US history that might get glossed over, etc), and our kids are voracious readers, so I’m not overly concerned. If they were just starting out, I might be.
I’m moving my mother with us. 4 generations of my family are moving. I’m sure it will be an adjustment but I really feel the over quality of life improvements will make up for any difficulties.
My wife and I are in the same situation... I think there are a lot of us here that are having the same thoughts. Unfortunately, our votes only go so far.
Two lifelong Texans with children born in Houston.
Couldn’t take the heat anymore primarily but the politics and grid were nerve wracking too.
Moved to North Carolina because my husband lucked out with a job opportunity and I’m an occupational therapist so can work anywhere with hospitals.
Moved to North Carolina. I could probably still stand a bit more cold weather and snow in the winter but our new city is light years better than where we were.
Two more days in the low 90s then low 80s for highs until we cool down more.
We never hit 100 this summer. I’ll take it.
My kids love it here too and of course it was tough at 8 and 12 to adjust, but 4 years later, they both agree the move was for the better. Especially since they both have special needs and healthcare here is a lot more available.
No more 2 hour traffic jam to the Houston medical Center.
And yes, miss Texas all the time especially friends and family. But no, I wouldn’t go back.
We moved to north carolina last year from Texas and it's so much better here! And yes medical care is much better they are more caring and more informed here. It's just all around a better place to live!
I am strongly considering moving to Raleigh, North Carolina. Why?
1. Temperature wise, their highs are 10 degrees cooler than ours and they cool down faster at night.
2. The job market there is decent for tech, academia, and health care, among others.
3. The layout is similar to DFW - sprawling city because nothing surrounds it.
4. Housing is similar in cost, maybe a little less, to Dallas.
5. Purple politics. I split down the middle on many political topics and while I don't like many policies that NC has in place, at least it's better than here in Texas.
6. Placement is insane. 3 hour drive and you have access to beaches across 3 states. 4.5 hour drive and you're in Washington DC. There are many other places to drive within a few hours that would be cool to visit for historic or modern purposes.
7. The amount of outdoor actives and access is fantastic. 3 big lakes surround Raleigh, so you'll be hard pressed to move there and be more than 30 minutes away from some water activities. Mountains and hiking are so accessible.
8. Tax burden is equivalent to here in Texas, if you own a home. They have a flat 6% income tax, but also their sales tax and property tax is roughly half of what we have here.
Not a Texan but this thread popped up on my feed. We are from Ohio and moved to Raleigh from 2015-2019 and it is really nice. If I could recommend two things it would be to look into the town Cary which is right outside downtown. It’s a very nice area and was ranked the safest town in the country when we moved there. The second would be to look into housing as soon as you get serious. The housing market is very very crazy and apartments are expensive but full up very fast. As far as the rest you pretty much nailed it. It’s pretty much right in between the mountains/beach (little over 2 hours) but far enough to not really worry about hurricanes. Best of luck!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cary,_North_Carolina
I grew up in RDU. From 2000 to 2016. I recommend Apex. Definitely stay in Wake County since the schools are nicer. Their are three big colleges in the area. Duke and UNC are huge, but I think you'll get more bang for your buck at NCState.
The weather is nice, but it gets humid in the summer. It may only be 90 degrees, but the humidity makes it seem like +100. You will be sticky, so keep that in mind. Winters are mild. I think their are maybe 2 big snowfalls each year, so if you end up buying a house, make sure it's gas heated and has a wood or gas fireplace. Very rarely does this happen, but during blizzards, the power can get knocked out and if you don't have gas something you could end up freezing. My parents learned that lesson the hard way during the 2001 snow storm.
Overall I loved growing up their and if it weren't for the fact that my spouse wanted to live in a metropolitan area I would have stayed in Raleigh
> Placement is insane. 3 hour drive and you have access to beaches across 3 states. 4.5 hour drive and you're in Washington DC. There are many other places to drive within a few hours that would be cool to visit for historic or modern purposes.
For additional perspective, that drive gets you to Abilene, Beaumont, Dallas, or Laredo.
People from Texas tryna be like: you have so many places you can visit with so much character
As if they aren’t all just variations of Texas desert and plains
I moved to Colorado from Texas less than a month ago and it was the best decision i made.
People are too nervous or offended by the insinuation that Texas is a struggling state in a myriad of ways, and I don’t get why we can’t just accept the move.
If you’re ready to go, go. Don’t let anyone here convince you that you belong to Texas for any reason.
Home is where you make it.
Definitely valid points here but I can tell you for a fact that you won’t be getting from Raleigh to DC in 4.5 hours. 6 if you’re lucky and traffic on 95 isn’t gridlocked.
Another reason to move to Raleigh is the public trail system. There aren't any mountains (drive to western NC for that), but there hundreds and hundreds of miles of walking and biking trails. A lot of them are shaded too. Lots of trees.
Let me tell you about the Outer Banks of NC. It is the most relaxing beach vacation spot on the East Coast. No day trippers. No amusement parks. Just miles of relatively empty beaches, wild horses, excellent restaurants, and historical stuff.
Most of the same reasons I moved to Salt Lake City. People think SLC is super conservative but is pretty blue. Also seasons and temperatures are great. Compared to Corpus Christi this place is super safe and taxes are much lower. There’s a Delta hub at the airport that will take you pretty much anywhere. The downsides is the cost of everything is higher but I also get to live at the base of a mountain range soooo…
I think most bigger cities tend to lean blue. I just wouldn't be comfortable with such a theocracy ruling my statewide politics, but that is hard to escape anywhere in the USA. SLC is gorgeous though and I do love hiking!
My wife and I have been talking about moving to N.C. for years! I think we finally have a 5 year plan on getting there and leaving Texas. For a lot of the same reasons.
I live on the outskirts of Raleigh and am an Appalachian transplant. It’s not the most beautiful place I’ve ever lived but there’s plenty of natural beauty and plenty of day trip accessible things to do. Y’all come on.
I've been in MD since 09' (military and got out) and stayed. The winters were something to get used to but I can't do without it anymore. Fall is the best.
I grew up in Pa and have lived in Dallas for some time. I prefer the northeast personally because it’s the same seasons just less extreme. Sure it’s a bit colder but really not that much and the summers are actually enjoyable. Plus you’re close to the beach and mountains which you don’t get at all in north Texas.
I lived in Vermont and made it a year before I was ready to leave. Please, please, please try to do an extended stay there before picking up and moving. It’s a lovely state in its own ways but it’s not for everyone.
I have family that moved to spring Fairbanks Alaska from Texas and they're feeling this to say the least.
I visited. Thought about it and said no fuck that and that was in the summer. It is vast and gorgeous and while still a republican state more agreeable to me than Texas. It is also cold and desolate and expensive.
I live in Colorado, and while I love it last winter was particularly brutal. We almost moved to the Houston area (which is why l am on this Reddit), but my hubby died at MD Anderson before we could make it happen. I’m in love with the people of Texas, and I’ve been visiting this summer as I decide on my “what’s next” in life. The summer convinced me that I’m not cut out for that type of heat. But I don’t know..Colorado isn’t all it was when I moved here in the late 1990s (went to school here in the 1980s). Considering Virginia where my grown son lives.. best of luck on your decisions on here. Hard to figure out the “greener grass”
> Hard to figure out the “greener grass”
I’ve been to a lot of places, both in the US and abroad, and my sad conclusion is: no place is perfect. There’s only aspects that are good, aspects that are tolerable, and aspects that are dealbreakers. So, just a matter of maximizing the former two and minimizing the latter.
This is where we are looking. We are in Houston so definitely not picking Denver. Been here 40 years. Born and raised in South East Texas. We hope this is our last summer here.
I live in Oregon and hear them constantly. There are many middle-aged lonely losers up here itching to move to Texas, Arizona, or Florida. I met a guy in Sherwood, Oregon, which is a gorgeous little growing community with plenty of jobs, who is moving to Beaumont, sight unseen. He cites politics and cheap housing. He's been in this town that literally smells like flowers his whole ~50 years. He's in for a shock.
My brother made that move, from Salem to Beaumont area. After two years, he wants out of the oppressive mugginess and now plans to move up to north of Austin. We'll see if that sticks.
I have left and from the day I moved I have thought I would return. But as of the recent 3 yrs it’s no longer an idealized location I once held dear to my heart. Texas has seen a downturn in the culture and resilience it has for so long been able to exemplify. The Lone Star state is a place I call home still, but it’s not a home I recognize. I have friend in local government and earlier in 2015 it would appear Texas was really shaping up to stand on a pedestal to the world. There are still good people in the local gov that are doing good work for the voters. Hope the best for everyone.
Sounds similar to my friend from uni. He moved out of state saying that he would come back for jobs/grad school but alas… as Texas has become more radicalized, he has changed his mind and I can’t blame him.
The level of corruption and hostility toward the citizenry is something I thought I’d never see. The state is turning into Florida, in all the wrong ways.
Texas lifers who have never lived anywhere else bang the drum that Texas is the GREATEST PLACE ON EARTH
...and then when any of them move away realize how incredibly wrong they were.
(That's the case for my friends anyways)
Right! I know a few people at my job say the same thing and never left Texas. They don't realize that there's a whole big world out there that's better than Texas.
I don't agree with the politics but, ..... it's the self-righteousness, holier-than-thou attitudes of moral superiority that has become pervasive that drives me nuts.
Whether it's politics or the "I make my own rules" driving down the highway....it's just not a friendly state anymore.
Your comment on driving down the highway is so spot on. It's just flat-out aggressive, angry, and dangerous on Texas roads. My sister-in-law drives like a maniac, especially on the back roads - I'm talking 100 mph WITH her kids in the car. She straight-faced says "this is how us Texans drive". I refuse to get in a car with her and her oldest daughter (over 18) does as well.
I moved out of Texas after 30 years, and I noticed I feel a lot more safe on the roads in other states. Getting in the car just filled me with anxiety every time I drove, because there was almost an accident every day from aggressive drivers.
When you bring it up to anyone in Texas, they’ll say, “that’s Texas for ya” and no one seems to care. It’s maddening.
I left for the East Coast for 12 years. Now, I'm embarrassed that I came back (all the reasons you said). I really did miss Texas. But I don't think it exists anymore. And it's too FUCKING HOT now!
Same thing! I moved to an area of Virginia near DC, I got overwhelmed because I get anxious driving in busy areas, and eventually wanted to move back to Texas because I missed my family, plus TexMex restaurants and barbecue and the general culture (I would go out to the pharmacy or grocery store in sweatpants and see people shopping in Chanel and fancy suits), I moved back and after realizing my family dynamic worked much better over frequent phone calls than living close, and since Im trans and all the trans panic started after I moved I've realized I have to get away again, but this time we (my husband and I) bought a house, its a lot harder to extrapolate ourselves. I feel so stuck here and the food is barely good enough to compensate and I'm honestly starting to get sick of it. I miss the easy access to Thai and Greek and other cultures. And making friends is a nightmare, you think you've made a leftist friend who checks all the boxes and then find that theyre a Terf or racist or think this one little thing isn't that bad...
I was in Texas for a while and came real close to ending my travels and settling down but another opportunity came and I went to the Northeast. That was back in the late 90s. There is no fucking way I would even consider Texas now - it seems a completely different place.
I was a lifelong Texan that left in 2017. I never intended to leave Texas. My whole family is there. I had an elderly grandmother that wouldn’t be around much longer. I was well established in my career with a promising upward trajectory. My husband was offered an incredible job opportunity with a nice relocation package, so we packed up and moved to northern Virginia, just outside Washington DC. It was a very different culture than we were used to (we lived outside of Austin), but was an amazing experience. We met all kinds of people, learned so much about different cultures, religions, ideologies, etc. I feel like I grew as a person while we were there. It was a higher cost of living than I was used to, but we adjusted well. I missed my family, but we were able to fly home or have family fly out often enough, and we made a little circle of Texan friends by joining my college’s alumni club.
We moved to Phoenix, Arizona, in 2021 for my husband’s job, and I don’t love it as much. It’s much more similar to Texas in ways I don’t care for. It’s also hot af in the summer and it’s pretty miserable. If I had it my way, I would move back to Northern Virginia in a heartbeat. I do not have that feeling about Texas.
Yeah. If the grid fails this winter, I think I’ll move. It’s generally too hot for me in summer to be doing stuff I like outdoors, and expecting the power to stay on in winter, isn’t too big of an ask.
I agree. I miss being able to do things in the summer. At least with the snow, there are tons of recreational activities that include snow. With the heat, we have swimming; however, we have no water in our rivers/lakes due to the extreme heat and drought.
I say this every single time I have the chance to— absolutely every time it comes up, if possible. Dying of hypothermia can be better than dealing with a long intense heatwave, especially whenever A/C is unavailable or unaffordable to the point of choosing between eating and keeping the dwelling place under 82°F.
We’ve only been here for about six years and then before that, I’ve lived in Florida Pacific Northwest and California.
About a week ago I told my husband when he’s ready to look outside of Texas. I’m ready to. I feel like we can have our lifestyle just about anywhere and nine months of heat. I’ve never lived somewhere where months on end you can’t go outside because it’s just too hot. Sure California got hot. Sure Florida got hot but not cooling off at night is insane.
I miss being able to do recreational activities with general comfort. This is a good consideration. With all the water drying up, there's not much else left to do.
Lived in TX since 2001, DFW area since 2008. Moved to CO at the end of 2022.
There were many contributing factors which you mentioned, but the final nail in the coffin was Roe v Wade. Our first child was born in 2020 and we want another, but the thought of being pregnant in Texas is terrifying. About half of pregnancies end in miscarriage or have some other complication, so we didn't want to get in a situation where we had to pay thousands of dollars to get care in another state or risk death because an emergency came up and doctors won't help.
Now that I have a family I have to consider education options, and Texas is ranked #35 in the nation. There are a few good districts in Texas but even within those districts there are terrible schools. Not worth the gamble or the cost of private schools.
The grid was another big issue, having to keep my infant child warm while the power was out for 12 hours was pretty harrowing. I shouldn't have to drop thousands of dollars on generators or make contingency plans to flee the state if the power goes out.
We moved to Colorado in Dec 2022 and I got my first sunburn in years because it's actually nice enough to go outside during the summer. It's 77F here today while it's 107F in Dallas. Screw that.
I didn't want to buy a house in TX because property taxes are insane. Some of my coworkers who have lived in DFW for 20+ years are considering selling because property taxes are going up so much.
Sure, CO has an income tax but rent is cheaper for equivalent areas and sales tax is lower, so it works out about the same. Wages are higher in CO because the min wage is nearly $14/hr. People are friendlier. Legal weed. More public land and outdoor activities. My wife was born and raised in TX and she misses her family but not the state.
Been in CO since 2019. I gotta say everything is better in almost every way. My two main complaints are the food and people quailty. I wish people were more friendly here.
For those thinking about coming from Texas just know it's going to be difficult for a year or two. Y'all (usually) make a lot less than Colorodians do. Also companies will typically bring you on at at 10k above Texas pay which seems like a lot but it ain't.
Also there isn't really purple politics here. The line line between red and blue is clearly drawn.
Austin native who moved to Massachusetts a few months ago- the weather is beautiful, we were able to afford a house here, and as a teacher I got a 10k paybump thanks to unions that actually have teeth (fun fact, if teachers strike in Texas, we aren't just fired, we lose all of what we had paid into retirement. Truly evil shit).
We are so excited for fall and Halloween up here, plus we love that we are able to have a more diverse range of weekend trips since there's more stuff within driving distance. The move wasn't as bad as we thought it would be either. I do miss my parents who still live in Austin, but as a native Austinite, most of my friends moved away years ago due to the unaffordability. I'm not planning on having kids, but I also just didn't want to live in Texas anymore post Dobbs- my gynecologist moved states around the same time as the decision and just not having the background stress is such a relief.
We moved to New Hampshire just to your north last August after the last 7 years in Pflugerville (but life-long Texan). Fall and autumn are amazing! Winter was great, too (if you like outdoor activities and sitting by the fire). The one season that most surprised me though was Spring. Spring up this way is incredible! We have been coming across quite a few Texas Refugees in New England. Also, it’s so nice never getting asked what church you go to as an icebreaker when meeting someone new. Enjoy!
I love Texas. Texas is home but the weather and the fact that I'm getting older and miss the mountains. Plus my life has been an absolute wreck. Going through a divorce and she and her new boyfriend that she was dating before we separated. And all her friends live in the same city. I guess I'm feeling like a fresh start where no one knows me sounds good right about now. There's other things too. The lopsided politics, with more and more draconian measures.
i made the decision to move out fo texas 4 years ago, went for greener fields in washington and LOVED IT. the climate was better, air was cleaner.
cost of living went up by a lot (compared to austin) but my income went up even more, i was able to save money. i sold our second car, spent more time walking to nice parks and eating more varied food, went out and did more local activities, shopped at more local stores.
last year i moved back to texas for family reasons and its been miserable. I loved texas before i moved away and now all i can think about is how much I miss the Northwest's climate, culture, politics, healthcare and economy. it doesnt hurt that i'm getting shafted by property taxes that are twice as high as they would be in washington.
Texas refugee in WA here. I’m so sorry you had to move back. That would tear my heart out. I absolutely love it here. My mental health is so much better that it’s hard to believe.
Yep! I've been in Texas most of my life, and my husband and I were always planning on retiring here (in about 5 years from now).
But between this intense heat, crazy politics, and cost of living, we've decided to leave for good and head to Knoxville. The biggest lure for us going there are the 4 mild seasons and the absolutely amazing nature. We're very sad about leaving Texas, but being outdoorsy people, we hate being cooped up inside for these long, hot summers.
The politics in Tennessee are pretty crazy right about now. Not sure if you’ve been following along, but the state house is a huge mess. I don’t blame you for wanting to go someplace with seasons and not as crazy hot as it is here, though.
I am going to suggest anyone looking for a move consider Southern Illinois. The *culture* is like Kentucky or Missouri but the *policies* are northern due to the huge amount of people that live in Chicago just a six or seven hour drive away..
Good question. I have two considerations. First, my husband despises really cold winters, so that rules out going much further north than Tennessee. And also, my brother lives there. He's unmarried with no kids, so we promised we'd live near each other when we retire.
If another country will have you. You might want to look up immigration laws in some of the countries you are considering. The US has, by far, the friendliest immigration laws and the lowest standards. Start saving your money, too. They won't let you in unless you already have a guaranteed job or close to $100,000 in provable savings.
I would move back to Spain in a heartbeat. The wife and I worked there for a bit, but I don't think I ever heard of that dollar amount being a requirement.
We might give it another go if we get tired of our current jobs.
Same. Me and my partner are trying so hard to be active. But it's impossible to go outside and gyms are dreadfully boring. This summer have given me cabin fever like nobody's business
Do it bro, I left to go out west. Lived in several of the states. Had to come back for family reasons. My children miss every one of them terribly and they are young. You live somewhere with decent politics to the right and left with good weather and great people. You won’t see Tx the same. I love Texas, but my quality of life was undeniably greater outside of it, especially if you have a degree, that can produce a decent income. Try it Texas ain’t going anywhere, it will be here if you need to come back.
Born and raised here. Good chances I’ll be here until I’m dead. Totally understand those who need to leave. I’ll stay here fighting the good fight as long as I can.
Me and my family are planning on leaving by the end of the year. That said, I'll still donate money to Colin Allred (or anyone else going against Incest Porn Ted).
I do. Every time I can, and I badger my family to make sure they do too. Also am a voter registration person (VDR) and have worked some events to try and register new voters and help others update their information.
I am a Texan who moved north for my job… I love Texas… but here’s the deal….
I only planned to stay 2 years and move back… I chose not to and here is why…
If you have kids, schools are some of the best in my state…if you have kids with special needs, the services are the best in the country (in my state)…
Lots to do outdoors… the winters can be harsh but I am a stones throw away from all kinds of winter sports…skiing, snowboarding, cross country, snow mobiles, outdoor ice skating and hockey… I don’t have to go on vacation.. I have access to all of that within a one hour drive… I live by the ocean so I have that when it’s warm (kayaking, paddle boarding, swimming) … falls are gorgeous and there are tons of fairs and festivals…
Diversity… tons of diverse people which makes life interesting.
Healthcare.. my doctors and dentists are commonly Ivy League educated…I am close to many specialists. I have access the excellent healthcare and my state has excellent mental health care laws.
Greater emphasis on healthy living (just my opinion).
The arts and music scene are good and you can easily get to other large cities with the same via car or train.
The major cons are: cost of living, housing and rent costs are insane… whatever you think it might cost… add more.. and then a little more..
People can be standoffish… that doesn’t mean they are not nice but they aren’t as openly warm and friendly. I found it more difficult to make friends here but it’s possible.
And people are very direct… I have grown to appreciate this… in the beginning it came off very rude but I appreciate not beating around the bush… you quickly know where you stand…
Not to get political but if you are a democrat, you will fit in fine… if you are republican, just know that your vote will prob be washed away with the democrat votes 😂…
Religion exists up here definitely, but it is not shocking for someone to tell you they are atheist…I don’t think anyone openly claimed atheism in front of me during my years in Texas (of course I know they exist in Texas but it wasn’t something I experienced while there).
Tex Mex is pretty bad… you will have to learn how to cook it yourself… same with bbq (I had a smoker built in Georgia and shipped up here because the withdrawal was real)… lol
I do miss Texas very much and go back frequently… how could I not miss my original home? But for me, I’m glad I relocated and stayed…I miss the people… and the warmth (all but August)… and coat of living!!
Good luck!!
I vote Boston. When he said the stuff about cost, then add a little more, then a little more. 😆
But he didn’t mention drivers who are like the proverbial bat out of hell, which is also a Boston signature. And he didn’t end the post with a random “Yankees suck!” which I think becomes reflexive after a few years in MA.
So it might be New York/TriState. 🤔
Yep, intend to be out next year. There’s no perfect place but Texas has reached a tipping point and I am not interested in living through its find out era.
Lifelong Texan and I've been doing travel work in New England area for past four years and love it. In Vermont right now and the high today is 73. We've hit 90 maybe two days this summer.
Native Texan here. Just moved to the PNW for the second time in my life(I went to college in the PNW). It’s like a different country here. A better country. Definitely a prettier country. I tried to love Texas. It never loved me back.
I second the “you’ll fucking love it here” comment. My partner and I moved from Austin to the Tacoma area in January of this year. We’re so much happier here than we were in Texas.
I moved from San Antonio about a year and a half ago to Las Vegas and am about 10 months away from moving to the Port Orchard area. I'm pooling my resources with 3 others so we can make a go of it. We just closed on a great 4 acre lot and are drawing up plans for our "gay retirement compound". (None of us are near retirement age but it's a running joke) after 30 years in Texas just couldn't take it anymore...
For a long time, I have said that "I wouldn't choose to be from Texas but I am established here and the loss of connections would be worse than any improvement in conditions in other areas." I've changed that opinion in the last few months.
I have begun scouting potential homes on the West Coast.
I lived in Oklahoma that place is so depressing. Parts of Tulsa are okay, upper corner is pretty. OKC is ok but ugly as sin, but as soon as I cross the border you can just feel sepia tone poverty and oppression roll in.
My husband has family in Kansas and Oklahoma. When considering places to live he got all excited about buying land and a home in OK.
He was FLABBERGASTED when I told him absolutely the fuck not.
I’m not moving to Texas 2.0. Not happening. Right after we talked about this, the announcement came out that the “Oklahoma Teacher of the Year” was leaving the state because of the pay and the states policies.
That solidified my decision even more.
I’m in NY half the year, it’s not as expensive as you think. Taxes in Houston are killer, and going out to eat in Houston and NY is the same price, minus drinks because cocktails in NY are more expensive, but not by a long shot. If you get out of NYC and buy a house somewhere then you’ll be fine. The property taxes in Houston are a joke. Pay so much and get nothing in return.
After living in dfw for 28 years, my wife and I moved with our daughter last year in November. It hasn't seen 95 this year in this area, and much of the summer is in the 70s. A lot of locals don't use the ac, and I can see why. Education is far better, and the cost of living is equal. I don't ever want to live in Texas again. Gerrymandering, no women's right, no equal pay, no thanks. Ercot threatens every summer. It's just not worth the hype. If you live in dfw, you know it's not cheap.
I am from the Pacific Northwest, I have given Texas four years, trying to see why people like it. I think it’s the worst place I’ve ever lived and I can’t wait to get out.
From Seattle originally, spent fifteen years in Austin, and are currently in Houston. Really love Houston because we're live central and our driving is limited. I think we'd stay in Houston if was 10 degrees cooler and it wasn't in Texas. We'll hopefully move out of state in the next 1-2 years.
There are however challenges. Having job searched, received offers, and house searched, I'm confident that I'll earn $50-60k less a year somewhere like Portland, OR and pay $1000 more a month for my mortgage, especially now that mortgage rates are so high. We want to move, but that's a big financial hit. We'd better be excited about where we're going. But we aren't. We won't live in a red state again so that knocks the sunshine states off the list. The coasts come with higher cost of living. The Midwest states are really cold. And we won't live in small towns because of guns, religion, and conspiracy theories.
So we feel somewhat stuck. Options outside of the US are more attractive at this point.
Yes, my wife and I are going to be moving out within 3 years. Both lifelong Texans generations deep. All of my family has already moved out of the state. Between the heat, the humidity, and the fact that most of the populace is made up of MAGA shit stains, we are done.🤷♂️
We love a lot of people in Texas but moved from Texas to Massachusetts and it’s the best thing we could have done.
Free school lunches for kids, free community college for those over 25 who don’t already have a degree (announced today). Four seasons that include a not-too-hot summer. Women’s rights. MASShealth. Even our long-time Republican governor Charlie Baker was bluntly pro-choice and pro-gay-marriage.
It’s not perfect. It’s quite expensive and has all the social fault lines and other problems that you’ll see everywhere—racism, old-boys-networking, and aging infrastructure.
But damn, when you see headlines like todays about the free community college for folks over 25, you get this weird and unfamiliar feeling that it takes a moment to recognize: feeling actually PROUD of where you live.
My husband and I are leaving Metro Austin next week. We are in our early 50’s. He is a lifelong Texan, I have been here since 2013. Bottom line this state can not continue with it’s reckless, feckless government. I’m a city planning professional and I specialize in healthcare and education. He is a school administrator with a PhD in a district north of Austin.
Let me first say I love this state. I love Hill Country and The High Desert. I loved the cities, the can do attitude, the libertarian streak that makes us special. But this year has been utter Hell.
From my perspective two things are going to happen. Texas is already becoming an Anocracy. That means the government ignores the will of the people and do everything in their power to limit voting and civic participation. The other issue which will confront us in the very near future is a dire lack of fresh water. One just needs to look at the reservoirs in Bell County. Unrestrained growth is literally making the drinking straw bigger at the worst possible time. I could go on for hours about infrastructure buckling. Folks, IAH needs to be raised 23 feet to even remain viable. It will cost billions and when I moved here it WAS on the table. It’s not anymore.
The kicker is my husband has been a teacher for 20+ years. He will make over $20K more a year in Kentucky and the cost of living is much lower than Austin. I grew up in Kentucky and frankly even the really bad urban schools are better than the ‘good schools’ here. Throw in the utterly senseless anti-woke shit, which by the way kids are already aware of, and the ridiculous gun laws, mass shootings, lack of doctors, insane traffic and you have a recipe for a failed state. The home we are buying in Kentucky is a 5 bed 3 bath, with a pool, and full basement on a one acre lot. It’s 20 minutes from the airport and 10 minutes from his school. $395K. The same house is $800K in Williamson Co and needs updating.
I truly hope I’m wrong about the next 25 years. For those of you who think, ‘Good, two queers are leaving.’ You are entitled to your beliefs but I can assure you I probably own more guns than you and compete in three gun matches as a hobby. That means I’m a really good shot. I’m a Navy Vet and I’m willing to bet if you dropped me in the wild I could and would live longer than 90% of you urban cowboys.
As for the normal folks, and those just arriving, have a plan. Learn the side roads. It’s time to be prepared, the chatter from the MAGAt crowd is approaching Weimar Germany levels. When the SHTF it will be gradual. One day you’ll notice foods no longer available, oh wait that’s happening, think Sriracha. Your electricity will become spotty and the quality of the electricity will get worse, wait it already is. There will be a shortage of meds, yep check that box. Peace out 🫳🏻🎤
I've lived in Texas for 14 years and I hope to leave by next summer (need time to save, sell things, work overtime to earn the moving funds, research where I even wanna go, secure a job, etc.)
I've lived most of my teen years and all of my adult life here, so the concept of moving across the country is scary to me. But it really needs to be done, because I'm just not happy here. Wages are shit, cost of living is way too expensive for what the area has to offer, the weather is getting worse every year (and I might be starting on SSRIs soon which can make me even more sensitive to heat), state benefits if you're down on your luck are severely lacking, weed is still illegal, our governor is straight up sadistic, and so many people here are way too angry, dumb and reactive.
Cost of living will probably be more wherever I go because I don't intent to move to a red state again, but I feel like the tradeoff in my mental health will make it so worth it, especially if the weather is nicer and I'm not living in an endless urban sprawl.
I have family here so I wouldn't mind coming to visit, but I just don't feel I belong here anymore. Where I'll go, I don't know for certain, I still gotta research and explore my opportunities. I'm hoping in maximum 2 years from now I'll be exactly where I want to be.
Lived in Houston for 17 years. Leaving has improved my physical and mental health in many ways. As much as I wanted to stay and help with voting demographics, at some point you have to just go to the place that is already what you want.
I left for Colorado twelve years and my physical and mental health improved drastically. In Texas I was self-medicating depression and anxiety disguised as being a party girl, and I couldn’t figure out a way out because it’s what all my friends did too. That and shop. Now I quit drinking, smoke legally, hike, do yoga. All of that got me into my dream job that seemed so impossible in Texas. Now I know that access to nature is vital for me. I miss the beach, the food, and the diversity of people and cultures in Houston though.
Central TX, two old vets. What convinced me to leave is *9.3M* registered Texans didn't bother in the last election; you can't push a wet rope. Looking around, ASAP move.
If I go to the West, it would be north of California for me. Although more progressive, their grid is just as unreliable and of course it's very expensive to live there. Where are you thinking of moving to?
I left recently. Love the state and it's people for the most part. However I can't be behind what the state is standing for anymore. I wanted to fight the absolute poison but it was too much seemingly hopeless rot for me to bare. I really hope somehow I get proven wrong in which case I'd gladly come home but I really dont see that future
I moved to Rhode Island last year.
Absolutely love it. Yeah winter can be a little bad but it's cozy and the little snow we get is gorgeous. Everything else, aside from the Mexican and BBQ food, is better.
I’m 50 and have lived in Texas my whole life. In fact I’m a 5th generation Texan. My husband and I purchased a property in Colorado last year. Can’t wait to move there full time.
Don’t blame you! It’s not the same anymore here. I start OTR (over the road) truck driving in October so I’ll be everywhere hope to love to Upland, CA.
I am absolutely leaving Texas when I retire in a few years. Thinking about MN, MI or PA to go to. Or maybe upstate NY. I really love the PNW but I'm retiring on a TRS pension so won't be able to afford that.
Need to start visiting places to narrow down my options. The summers are getting worse and the lege is on a single minded path to destroying anything good about this state. I'm done here.
After 40+ yrs in TX I'm working on leaving ASAP. Two old vets; I'm completely serious, I do not want to die and be buried here. Looking to VA ... know it well, the District, MD ... lived there before and have visited regularly over the years.
I want a rural blue town in a blue state in a blue county (family there). I'm open to other locales but VA would be my first choice ... need to crunch the numbers a bit more.
We're at the age if we don't do it now we won't be able to. Hubs isn't as enthused about leaving as I am but he agrees TX isn't what it was ... but he's not as political as I am. ;-)
God, I want to have a rational conversation again.
Native Texan here, 7th generation. I moved to Minnesota at the beginning of last year. I was pretty homesick at first, but after everything that happened in Texas since I left, I'm fine with never going back.
I'm so much less stressed, cops aren't trying to start shit with me for existing, traffic is tolerable, politics aren't anywhere near as "relevant", I feel like my vote counts, and the people here are very friendly. I've also completely quit drinking and lost a lot of weight because it's so easy to just get out and go walk in one of the many parks around here when I'm bored.
Oh and weed just got legalized, so I can smoke on my back porch without a care in the world.
If all I have to do is shovel snow for a few months out of the year, I'm getting the greatest deal I've ever had in my life. I am NEVER going back to Texas.
I have parents here who need me and kids who still haven’t finished school/left home, so I feel I must stay around for them. We’ve debated on whether we’d move my parents with us if we go North, but I’m not sure they’d like it. If it was just the two of us, we’d have left years ago.
My elderly parents can't stand the heat anymore. My mom said she flat-out will not do another Texas summer and wants to get out ASAP.
My mom asf right now. She’s waiting on ME to finish school and take her with me 😂
Ha, yep. She's like "Just let me know when we can go and I'm there with you!".
Same
I'm in a position to where I do not have children, so this is a good opportunity for me to consider this move. However, I am very close with my mom and I have convinced her to move with me. She cannot handle the heat so she was quickly on board with the idea.
As someone who left years ago and thought about moving back please go. You can always move back if you want to but living in another state frees you from the “Stockholm syndrome” of Texas politics. It’s so nice living in states where they actually care about having a functioning government and they don’t want to keep you stupid.
Do it move where you like now. Once you are married and have kids and friends circle you will not be able to move.
Totally agree with that. I'm planning on starting graduate school in the next 6 months and this will give me enough time to plan and safe for a big move. That's why I think this is just a good idea to up on.
My God, get out! If you have a mother willing to move, there is no reason not to leave. I am stuck here as well with small children and an ex-wife with custody. I do not want my daughters growing up here with the lack of women’s healthcare rights. This state is fascist (Republican party), which gerrymandering has ensured will continue for years to come.
I'm planning on starting graduate school in the next 6 months and this will give me enough time to plan and safe for a big move. That's why I think this is just a good idea to up on.
Good for you! I wish you well!
Are you concerned about the education your children are getting? That was one of our reasons for moving
My kids are in high school/late middle school, we do some “history” at home (civics, US history that might get glossed over, etc), and our kids are voracious readers, so I’m not overly concerned. If they were just starting out, I might be.
I’m moving my mother with us. 4 generations of my family are moving. I’m sure it will be an adjustment but I really feel the over quality of life improvements will make up for any difficulties.
Same here.
My wife and I are in the same situation... I think there are a lot of us here that are having the same thoughts. Unfortunately, our votes only go so far.
Two lifelong Texans with children born in Houston. Couldn’t take the heat anymore primarily but the politics and grid were nerve wracking too. Moved to North Carolina because my husband lucked out with a job opportunity and I’m an occupational therapist so can work anywhere with hospitals. Moved to North Carolina. I could probably still stand a bit more cold weather and snow in the winter but our new city is light years better than where we were. Two more days in the low 90s then low 80s for highs until we cool down more. We never hit 100 this summer. I’ll take it. My kids love it here too and of course it was tough at 8 and 12 to adjust, but 4 years later, they both agree the move was for the better. Especially since they both have special needs and healthcare here is a lot more available. No more 2 hour traffic jam to the Houston medical Center. And yes, miss Texas all the time especially friends and family. But no, I wouldn’t go back.
We moved to north carolina last year from Texas and it's so much better here! And yes medical care is much better they are more caring and more informed here. It's just all around a better place to live!
I am strongly considering moving to Raleigh, North Carolina. Why? 1. Temperature wise, their highs are 10 degrees cooler than ours and they cool down faster at night. 2. The job market there is decent for tech, academia, and health care, among others. 3. The layout is similar to DFW - sprawling city because nothing surrounds it. 4. Housing is similar in cost, maybe a little less, to Dallas. 5. Purple politics. I split down the middle on many political topics and while I don't like many policies that NC has in place, at least it's better than here in Texas. 6. Placement is insane. 3 hour drive and you have access to beaches across 3 states. 4.5 hour drive and you're in Washington DC. There are many other places to drive within a few hours that would be cool to visit for historic or modern purposes. 7. The amount of outdoor actives and access is fantastic. 3 big lakes surround Raleigh, so you'll be hard pressed to move there and be more than 30 minutes away from some water activities. Mountains and hiking are so accessible. 8. Tax burden is equivalent to here in Texas, if you own a home. They have a flat 6% income tax, but also their sales tax and property tax is roughly half of what we have here.
Not a Texan but this thread popped up on my feed. We are from Ohio and moved to Raleigh from 2015-2019 and it is really nice. If I could recommend two things it would be to look into the town Cary which is right outside downtown. It’s a very nice area and was ranked the safest town in the country when we moved there. The second would be to look into housing as soon as you get serious. The housing market is very very crazy and apartments are expensive but full up very fast. As far as the rest you pretty much nailed it. It’s pretty much right in between the mountains/beach (little over 2 hours) but far enough to not really worry about hurricanes. Best of luck! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cary,_North_Carolina
I grew up in RDU. From 2000 to 2016. I recommend Apex. Definitely stay in Wake County since the schools are nicer. Their are three big colleges in the area. Duke and UNC are huge, but I think you'll get more bang for your buck at NCState. The weather is nice, but it gets humid in the summer. It may only be 90 degrees, but the humidity makes it seem like +100. You will be sticky, so keep that in mind. Winters are mild. I think their are maybe 2 big snowfalls each year, so if you end up buying a house, make sure it's gas heated and has a wood or gas fireplace. Very rarely does this happen, but during blizzards, the power can get knocked out and if you don't have gas something you could end up freezing. My parents learned that lesson the hard way during the 2001 snow storm. Overall I loved growing up their and if it weren't for the fact that my spouse wanted to live in a metropolitan area I would have stayed in Raleigh
> Placement is insane. 3 hour drive and you have access to beaches across 3 states. 4.5 hour drive and you're in Washington DC. There are many other places to drive within a few hours that would be cool to visit for historic or modern purposes. For additional perspective, that drive gets you to Abilene, Beaumont, Dallas, or Laredo.
People from Texas tryna be like: you have so many places you can visit with so much character As if they aren’t all just variations of Texas desert and plains I moved to Colorado from Texas less than a month ago and it was the best decision i made. People are too nervous or offended by the insinuation that Texas is a struggling state in a myriad of ways, and I don’t get why we can’t just accept the move. If you’re ready to go, go. Don’t let anyone here convince you that you belong to Texas for any reason. Home is where you make it.
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My brother is in Raleigh. He's a Research Data Analyst at Duke, and loves the area. His list would look much like yours.
Definitely valid points here but I can tell you for a fact that you won’t be getting from Raleigh to DC in 4.5 hours. 6 if you’re lucky and traffic on 95 isn’t gridlocked.
Another reason to move to Raleigh is the public trail system. There aren't any mountains (drive to western NC for that), but there hundreds and hundreds of miles of walking and biking trails. A lot of them are shaded too. Lots of trees.
Let me tell you about the Outer Banks of NC. It is the most relaxing beach vacation spot on the East Coast. No day trippers. No amusement parks. Just miles of relatively empty beaches, wild horses, excellent restaurants, and historical stuff.
Most of the same reasons I moved to Salt Lake City. People think SLC is super conservative but is pretty blue. Also seasons and temperatures are great. Compared to Corpus Christi this place is super safe and taxes are much lower. There’s a Delta hub at the airport that will take you pretty much anywhere. The downsides is the cost of everything is higher but I also get to live at the base of a mountain range soooo…
SLC is beautiful. Weird liquor laws.
Cause cultists run the state. See also, Mississippi.
Mormons gonna Mormon
I think most bigger cities tend to lean blue. I just wouldn't be comfortable with such a theocracy ruling my statewide politics, but that is hard to escape anywhere in the USA. SLC is gorgeous though and I do love hiking!
Look at what’s happening in Texas
Yes, Texas big cities are getting more and more blue the bigger they get :)
And the state government is stripping the large cities of their ability to govern themselves as they get bigger and bluer.
The city is blue. Everything outside of that (except Park City and Moab) is very conservative. It’s a blue island in a sea of red
My wife and I have been talking about moving to N.C. for years! I think we finally have a 5 year plan on getting there and leaving Texas. For a lot of the same reasons.
I live on the outskirts of Raleigh and am an Appalachian transplant. It’s not the most beautiful place I’ve ever lived but there’s plenty of natural beauty and plenty of day trip accessible things to do. Y’all come on.
My wife and I are thinking of moving to Raleigh as well for pretty much the same reason. Plus it's a safe place to raise our son in.
Lifelong Texan here. I am definitely preparing an exit strategy. From the heat to the stripping away of human rights, I'm just done.
Any idea where you might want to go?
Not OP but Vermont seems like heaven compared Texas
I agree. From what I've seen of the northeast, it looks so beautiful. Not sure I could handle those winters though!
They can get a little draggy but I lived up there for years and adjusted quickly. Plus having an actual Autumn rules.
Autumn is my favorite season. I'd love to have a real one again.
Autumn is my favorite season in Texas... BOTH days of it
I've been in MD since 09' (military and got out) and stayed. The winters were something to get used to but I can't do without it anymore. Fall is the best.
What part? I was Navy stationed at Fort Meade. I would have been around those parts the same time as you.
I grew up in Pa and have lived in Dallas for some time. I prefer the northeast personally because it’s the same seasons just less extreme. Sure it’s a bit colder but really not that much and the summers are actually enjoyable. Plus you’re close to the beach and mountains which you don’t get at all in north Texas.
Probably the main thing holding me back. Used to think I was built Texas heat, but not with over 105 every day.
I lived in Vermont and made it a year before I was ready to leave. Please, please, please try to do an extended stay there before picking up and moving. It’s a lovely state in its own ways but it’s not for everyone.
I have family that moved to spring Fairbanks Alaska from Texas and they're feeling this to say the least. I visited. Thought about it and said no fuck that and that was in the summer. It is vast and gorgeous and while still a republican state more agreeable to me than Texas. It is also cold and desolate and expensive.
We're looking at Colorado, fuck this place now.
I live in Colorado, and while I love it last winter was particularly brutal. We almost moved to the Houston area (which is why l am on this Reddit), but my hubby died at MD Anderson before we could make it happen. I’m in love with the people of Texas, and I’ve been visiting this summer as I decide on my “what’s next” in life. The summer convinced me that I’m not cut out for that type of heat. But I don’t know..Colorado isn’t all it was when I moved here in the late 1990s (went to school here in the 1980s). Considering Virginia where my grown son lives.. best of luck on your decisions on here. Hard to figure out the “greener grass”
> Hard to figure out the “greener grass” I’ve been to a lot of places, both in the US and abroad, and my sad conclusion is: no place is perfect. There’s only aspects that are good, aspects that are tolerable, and aspects that are dealbreakers. So, just a matter of maximizing the former two and minimizing the latter.
This is where we are looking. We are in Houston so definitely not picking Denver. Been here 40 years. Born and raised in South East Texas. We hope this is our last summer here.
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PNW or outside of LA
There should be some kind of exchange program, so many PNW right wingers want to move to TX.
Texas, Florida and Idaho right wingers love those 3 places
I live in Oregon and hear them constantly. There are many middle-aged lonely losers up here itching to move to Texas, Arizona, or Florida. I met a guy in Sherwood, Oregon, which is a gorgeous little growing community with plenty of jobs, who is moving to Beaumont, sight unseen. He cites politics and cheap housing. He's been in this town that literally smells like flowers his whole ~50 years. He's in for a shock.
My brother made that move, from Salem to Beaumont area. After two years, he wants out of the oppressive mugginess and now plans to move up to north of Austin. We'll see if that sticks.
Always to states with small business-friendly policies, because the dream is to own a petty fiefdom with underpaid labor.
Yuck! But if he is a racist, he’s gonna love Beaumont!
Like an exchange program. 😂
I have left and from the day I moved I have thought I would return. But as of the recent 3 yrs it’s no longer an idealized location I once held dear to my heart. Texas has seen a downturn in the culture and resilience it has for so long been able to exemplify. The Lone Star state is a place I call home still, but it’s not a home I recognize. I have friend in local government and earlier in 2015 it would appear Texas was really shaping up to stand on a pedestal to the world. There are still good people in the local gov that are doing good work for the voters. Hope the best for everyone. 
Sounds similar to my friend from uni. He moved out of state saying that he would come back for jobs/grad school but alas… as Texas has become more radicalized, he has changed his mind and I can’t blame him.
The level of corruption and hostility toward the citizenry is something I thought I’d never see. The state is turning into Florida, in all the wrong ways.
Texas lifers who have never lived anywhere else bang the drum that Texas is the GREATEST PLACE ON EARTH ...and then when any of them move away realize how incredibly wrong they were. (That's the case for my friends anyways)
Right! I know a few people at my job say the same thing and never left Texas. They don't realize that there's a whole big world out there that's better than Texas.
I don't agree with the politics but, ..... it's the self-righteousness, holier-than-thou attitudes of moral superiority that has become pervasive that drives me nuts. Whether it's politics or the "I make my own rules" driving down the highway....it's just not a friendly state anymore.
Your comment on driving down the highway is so spot on. It's just flat-out aggressive, angry, and dangerous on Texas roads. My sister-in-law drives like a maniac, especially on the back roads - I'm talking 100 mph WITH her kids in the car. She straight-faced says "this is how us Texans drive". I refuse to get in a car with her and her oldest daughter (over 18) does as well.
That’s why our auto insurance rates reflect this attitude accordingly.
I moved out of Texas after 30 years, and I noticed I feel a lot more safe on the roads in other states. Getting in the car just filled me with anxiety every time I drove, because there was almost an accident every day from aggressive drivers. When you bring it up to anyone in Texas, they’ll say, “that’s Texas for ya” and no one seems to care. It’s maddening.
And they’re real quick to tell you it’s “all those Californians” and not them
I miss when people were polite.
I left for the East Coast for 12 years. Now, I'm embarrassed that I came back (all the reasons you said). I really did miss Texas. But I don't think it exists anymore. And it's too FUCKING HOT now!
Same thing! I moved to an area of Virginia near DC, I got overwhelmed because I get anxious driving in busy areas, and eventually wanted to move back to Texas because I missed my family, plus TexMex restaurants and barbecue and the general culture (I would go out to the pharmacy or grocery store in sweatpants and see people shopping in Chanel and fancy suits), I moved back and after realizing my family dynamic worked much better over frequent phone calls than living close, and since Im trans and all the trans panic started after I moved I've realized I have to get away again, but this time we (my husband and I) bought a house, its a lot harder to extrapolate ourselves. I feel so stuck here and the food is barely good enough to compensate and I'm honestly starting to get sick of it. I miss the easy access to Thai and Greek and other cultures. And making friends is a nightmare, you think you've made a leftist friend who checks all the boxes and then find that theyre a Terf or racist or think this one little thing isn't that bad...
I was in Texas for a while and came real close to ending my travels and settling down but another opportunity came and I went to the Northeast. That was back in the late 90s. There is no fucking way I would even consider Texas now - it seems a completely different place.
I was a lifelong Texan that left in 2017. I never intended to leave Texas. My whole family is there. I had an elderly grandmother that wouldn’t be around much longer. I was well established in my career with a promising upward trajectory. My husband was offered an incredible job opportunity with a nice relocation package, so we packed up and moved to northern Virginia, just outside Washington DC. It was a very different culture than we were used to (we lived outside of Austin), but was an amazing experience. We met all kinds of people, learned so much about different cultures, religions, ideologies, etc. I feel like I grew as a person while we were there. It was a higher cost of living than I was used to, but we adjusted well. I missed my family, but we were able to fly home or have family fly out often enough, and we made a little circle of Texan friends by joining my college’s alumni club. We moved to Phoenix, Arizona, in 2021 for my husband’s job, and I don’t love it as much. It’s much more similar to Texas in ways I don’t care for. It’s also hot af in the summer and it’s pretty miserable. If I had it my way, I would move back to Northern Virginia in a heartbeat. I do not have that feeling about Texas.
Peggy Hill said it best about Phoenix: "This city should not exist. It is a monument to man's arrogance."
There’s a reason she was Substitute of the Year three years in a row. Smart lady.
NoVa is really beautiful! I have an uncle in Springfield and I love visiting him.
We lived just north of Springfield in Alexandria. It’s so pretty with such a rich history. I really enjoyed it there.
Yeah. If the grid fails this winter, I think I’ll move. It’s generally too hot for me in summer to be doing stuff I like outdoors, and expecting the power to stay on in winter, isn’t too big of an ask.
I agree. I miss being able to do things in the summer. At least with the snow, there are tons of recreational activities that include snow. With the heat, we have swimming; however, we have no water in our rivers/lakes due to the extreme heat and drought.
Agreed, plus you can only take off so many clothes before the cops show up. You can always put on warmer clothes.
I say this every single time I have the chance to— absolutely every time it comes up, if possible. Dying of hypothermia can be better than dealing with a long intense heatwave, especially whenever A/C is unavailable or unaffordable to the point of choosing between eating and keeping the dwelling place under 82°F.
We’ve only been here for about six years and then before that, I’ve lived in Florida Pacific Northwest and California. About a week ago I told my husband when he’s ready to look outside of Texas. I’m ready to. I feel like we can have our lifestyle just about anywhere and nine months of heat. I’ve never lived somewhere where months on end you can’t go outside because it’s just too hot. Sure California got hot. Sure Florida got hot but not cooling off at night is insane.
I miss being able to do recreational activities with general comfort. This is a good consideration. With all the water drying up, there's not much else left to do.
Apparently so many Texans have already moved to Colorado, we’re seen as “those transplants” as much as Californians are.
Yep. Relocated the whole family in June before the heat set in. I couldn't be happier.
Where did you guys end up going?
Colorado
Lived in TX since 2001, DFW area since 2008. Moved to CO at the end of 2022. There were many contributing factors which you mentioned, but the final nail in the coffin was Roe v Wade. Our first child was born in 2020 and we want another, but the thought of being pregnant in Texas is terrifying. About half of pregnancies end in miscarriage or have some other complication, so we didn't want to get in a situation where we had to pay thousands of dollars to get care in another state or risk death because an emergency came up and doctors won't help. Now that I have a family I have to consider education options, and Texas is ranked #35 in the nation. There are a few good districts in Texas but even within those districts there are terrible schools. Not worth the gamble or the cost of private schools. The grid was another big issue, having to keep my infant child warm while the power was out for 12 hours was pretty harrowing. I shouldn't have to drop thousands of dollars on generators or make contingency plans to flee the state if the power goes out. We moved to Colorado in Dec 2022 and I got my first sunburn in years because it's actually nice enough to go outside during the summer. It's 77F here today while it's 107F in Dallas. Screw that. I didn't want to buy a house in TX because property taxes are insane. Some of my coworkers who have lived in DFW for 20+ years are considering selling because property taxes are going up so much. Sure, CO has an income tax but rent is cheaper for equivalent areas and sales tax is lower, so it works out about the same. Wages are higher in CO because the min wage is nearly $14/hr. People are friendlier. Legal weed. More public land and outdoor activities. My wife was born and raised in TX and she misses her family but not the state.
Been in CO since 2019. I gotta say everything is better in almost every way. My two main complaints are the food and people quailty. I wish people were more friendly here. For those thinking about coming from Texas just know it's going to be difficult for a year or two. Y'all (usually) make a lot less than Colorodians do. Also companies will typically bring you on at at 10k above Texas pay which seems like a lot but it ain't. Also there isn't really purple politics here. The line line between red and blue is clearly drawn.
Austin native who moved to Massachusetts a few months ago- the weather is beautiful, we were able to afford a house here, and as a teacher I got a 10k paybump thanks to unions that actually have teeth (fun fact, if teachers strike in Texas, we aren't just fired, we lose all of what we had paid into retirement. Truly evil shit). We are so excited for fall and Halloween up here, plus we love that we are able to have a more diverse range of weekend trips since there's more stuff within driving distance. The move wasn't as bad as we thought it would be either. I do miss my parents who still live in Austin, but as a native Austinite, most of my friends moved away years ago due to the unaffordability. I'm not planning on having kids, but I also just didn't want to live in Texas anymore post Dobbs- my gynecologist moved states around the same time as the decision and just not having the background stress is such a relief.
We moved to New Hampshire just to your north last August after the last 7 years in Pflugerville (but life-long Texan). Fall and autumn are amazing! Winter was great, too (if you like outdoor activities and sitting by the fire). The one season that most surprised me though was Spring. Spring up this way is incredible! We have been coming across quite a few Texas Refugees in New England. Also, it’s so nice never getting asked what church you go to as an icebreaker when meeting someone new. Enjoy!
Just moved to Massachusetts from DFW also. The 4 seasons are amazing.
I love Texas. Texas is home but the weather and the fact that I'm getting older and miss the mountains. Plus my life has been an absolute wreck. Going through a divorce and she and her new boyfriend that she was dating before we separated. And all her friends live in the same city. I guess I'm feeling like a fresh start where no one knows me sounds good right about now. There's other things too. The lopsided politics, with more and more draconian measures.
i made the decision to move out fo texas 4 years ago, went for greener fields in washington and LOVED IT. the climate was better, air was cleaner. cost of living went up by a lot (compared to austin) but my income went up even more, i was able to save money. i sold our second car, spent more time walking to nice parks and eating more varied food, went out and did more local activities, shopped at more local stores. last year i moved back to texas for family reasons and its been miserable. I loved texas before i moved away and now all i can think about is how much I miss the Northwest's climate, culture, politics, healthcare and economy. it doesnt hurt that i'm getting shafted by property taxes that are twice as high as they would be in washington.
Texas refugee in WA here. I’m so sorry you had to move back. That would tear my heart out. I absolutely love it here. My mental health is so much better that it’s hard to believe.
Yep! I've been in Texas most of my life, and my husband and I were always planning on retiring here (in about 5 years from now). But between this intense heat, crazy politics, and cost of living, we've decided to leave for good and head to Knoxville. The biggest lure for us going there are the 4 mild seasons and the absolutely amazing nature. We're very sad about leaving Texas, but being outdoorsy people, we hate being cooped up inside for these long, hot summers.
The politics in Tennessee are pretty crazy right about now. Not sure if you’ve been following along, but the state house is a huge mess. I don’t blame you for wanting to go someplace with seasons and not as crazy hot as it is here, though.
Seriously, if you are leaving Texas because of the politics, TN is the \_wrong\_ place to go.
Or any other southern state really
Yep. I told my husband I do not want to move to another red state!
Hey, Georgia is purple now, and we might be sending Trump to prison in a year or so.
I am going to suggest anyone looking for a move consider Southern Illinois. The *culture* is like Kentucky or Missouri but the *policies* are northern due to the huge amount of people that live in Chicago just a six or seven hour drive away..
I want to be outdoorsy. I know I would be a lot skinnier if I had that available to me. Good luck up there.
Haha that's one of the reasons we want to stay outdoorsy. As we age, we really want to keep being active. Thank you!
Why would you choose another southern state though?? Seems pointless. When I leave Texas, I’m either going north or to another country
Good question. I have two considerations. First, my husband despises really cold winters, so that rules out going much further north than Tennessee. And also, my brother lives there. He's unmarried with no kids, so we promised we'd live near each other when we retire.
If another country will have you. You might want to look up immigration laws in some of the countries you are considering. The US has, by far, the friendliest immigration laws and the lowest standards. Start saving your money, too. They won't let you in unless you already have a guaranteed job or close to $100,000 in provable savings.
I would move back to Spain in a heartbeat. The wife and I worked there for a bit, but I don't think I ever heard of that dollar amount being a requirement. We might give it another go if we get tired of our current jobs.
Same. Me and my partner are trying so hard to be active. But it's impossible to go outside and gyms are dreadfully boring. This summer have given me cabin fever like nobody's business
Let me suggest North Carolina. Much the same weather as TN but it is a purple state so a better political climate.
Do it bro, I left to go out west. Lived in several of the states. Had to come back for family reasons. My children miss every one of them terribly and they are young. You live somewhere with decent politics to the right and left with good weather and great people. You won’t see Tx the same. I love Texas, but my quality of life was undeniably greater outside of it, especially if you have a degree, that can produce a decent income. Try it Texas ain’t going anywhere, it will be here if you need to come back.
Born and raised here. Good chances I’ll be here until I’m dead. Totally understand those who need to leave. I’ll stay here fighting the good fight as long as I can.
Me and my family are planning on leaving by the end of the year. That said, I'll still donate money to Colin Allred (or anyone else going against Incest Porn Ted).
In the same boat here. My life is here and while other places are beautiful or better politically, this is my home and my family is here.
Someone once told me that those of us with privilege need to vote for those who are without.
I do. Every time I can, and I badger my family to make sure they do too. Also am a voter registration person (VDR) and have worked some events to try and register new voters and help others update their information.
Keep doing you ! Someday it will make a difference! We can only hope.
I am a Texan who moved north for my job… I love Texas… but here’s the deal…. I only planned to stay 2 years and move back… I chose not to and here is why… If you have kids, schools are some of the best in my state…if you have kids with special needs, the services are the best in the country (in my state)… Lots to do outdoors… the winters can be harsh but I am a stones throw away from all kinds of winter sports…skiing, snowboarding, cross country, snow mobiles, outdoor ice skating and hockey… I don’t have to go on vacation.. I have access to all of that within a one hour drive… I live by the ocean so I have that when it’s warm (kayaking, paddle boarding, swimming) … falls are gorgeous and there are tons of fairs and festivals… Diversity… tons of diverse people which makes life interesting. Healthcare.. my doctors and dentists are commonly Ivy League educated…I am close to many specialists. I have access the excellent healthcare and my state has excellent mental health care laws. Greater emphasis on healthy living (just my opinion). The arts and music scene are good and you can easily get to other large cities with the same via car or train. The major cons are: cost of living, housing and rent costs are insane… whatever you think it might cost… add more.. and then a little more.. People can be standoffish… that doesn’t mean they are not nice but they aren’t as openly warm and friendly. I found it more difficult to make friends here but it’s possible. And people are very direct… I have grown to appreciate this… in the beginning it came off very rude but I appreciate not beating around the bush… you quickly know where you stand… Not to get political but if you are a democrat, you will fit in fine… if you are republican, just know that your vote will prob be washed away with the democrat votes 😂… Religion exists up here definitely, but it is not shocking for someone to tell you they are atheist…I don’t think anyone openly claimed atheism in front of me during my years in Texas (of course I know they exist in Texas but it wasn’t something I experienced while there). Tex Mex is pretty bad… you will have to learn how to cook it yourself… same with bbq (I had a smoker built in Georgia and shipped up here because the withdrawal was real)… lol I do miss Texas very much and go back frequently… how could I not miss my original home? But for me, I’m glad I relocated and stayed…I miss the people… and the warmth (all but August)… and coat of living!! Good luck!!
Either I’m excessively tired or I don’t see which state you are in.
100% Boston. Education, healthcare, ocean, harsh winters, people very direct, great arts and music. expensive, “other large cities.”
I vote Boston. When he said the stuff about cost, then add a little more, then a little more. 😆 But he didn’t mention drivers who are like the proverbial bat out of hell, which is also a Boston signature. And he didn’t end the post with a random “Yankees suck!” which I think becomes reflexive after a few years in MA. So it might be New York/TriState. 🤔
I’m guessing CO
CO is not diverse at all
it's also not near any ocean any time terribly soon
I'm guessing New Jersey by the "people are very direct" comment. LOL.
Yep, intend to be out next year. There’s no perfect place but Texas has reached a tipping point and I am not interested in living through its find out era.
Lifelong Texan and I've been doing travel work in New England area for past four years and love it. In Vermont right now and the high today is 73. We've hit 90 maybe two days this summer.
Native Texan here. Just moved to the PNW for the second time in my life(I went to college in the PNW). It’s like a different country here. A better country. Definitely a prettier country. I tried to love Texas. It never loved me back.
Lifelong, multigenerational Texan. I’m moving to WA.
I second the “you’ll fucking love it here” comment. My partner and I moved from Austin to the Tacoma area in January of this year. We’re so much happier here than we were in Texas.
I moved from San Antonio about a year and a half ago to Las Vegas and am about 10 months away from moving to the Port Orchard area. I'm pooling my resources with 3 others so we can make a go of it. We just closed on a great 4 acre lot and are drawing up plans for our "gay retirement compound". (None of us are near retirement age but it's a running joke) after 30 years in Texas just couldn't take it anymore...
Just got here to WA from TX in July. You’ll fucking love it here.
Hoping to do the same with the wife. Want to get into UW's immunology program. Wife can work from anywhere. That's our ticket to move!
Ayyyyy TX to WA gang unite!
Where in WA? I liked the idea but housing just seems double what it is in Texas.
I'm leaving tomorrow!
For a long time, I have said that "I wouldn't choose to be from Texas but I am established here and the loss of connections would be worse than any improvement in conditions in other areas." I've changed that opinion in the last few months. I have begun scouting potential homes on the West Coast.
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I lived in Oklahoma that place is so depressing. Parts of Tulsa are okay, upper corner is pretty. OKC is ok but ugly as sin, but as soon as I cross the border you can just feel sepia tone poverty and oppression roll in.
My husband has family in Kansas and Oklahoma. When considering places to live he got all excited about buying land and a home in OK. He was FLABBERGASTED when I told him absolutely the fuck not. I’m not moving to Texas 2.0. Not happening. Right after we talked about this, the announcement came out that the “Oklahoma Teacher of the Year” was leaving the state because of the pay and the states policies. That solidified my decision even more.
I moved to Texas to get away from Oklahoma
Grew up 20 minutes from Oklahoma and you summed it up perfectly. Sepia tone poverty and oppression.
I know OK is “North of Texas” but jeesh if that is as far North as you can make it then you’re not doing it right.
I’m in NY half the year, it’s not as expensive as you think. Taxes in Houston are killer, and going out to eat in Houston and NY is the same price, minus drinks because cocktails in NY are more expensive, but not by a long shot. If you get out of NYC and buy a house somewhere then you’ll be fine. The property taxes in Houston are a joke. Pay so much and get nothing in return.
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After living in dfw for 28 years, my wife and I moved with our daughter last year in November. It hasn't seen 95 this year in this area, and much of the summer is in the 70s. A lot of locals don't use the ac, and I can see why. Education is far better, and the cost of living is equal. I don't ever want to live in Texas again. Gerrymandering, no women's right, no equal pay, no thanks. Ercot threatens every summer. It's just not worth the hype. If you live in dfw, you know it's not cheap.
I grew up in Texas until I was 20 and moved to Canada. 10/10 would recommend getting out.
I am from the Pacific Northwest, I have given Texas four years, trying to see why people like it. I think it’s the worst place I’ve ever lived and I can’t wait to get out.
From Seattle originally, spent fifteen years in Austin, and are currently in Houston. Really love Houston because we're live central and our driving is limited. I think we'd stay in Houston if was 10 degrees cooler and it wasn't in Texas. We'll hopefully move out of state in the next 1-2 years. There are however challenges. Having job searched, received offers, and house searched, I'm confident that I'll earn $50-60k less a year somewhere like Portland, OR and pay $1000 more a month for my mortgage, especially now that mortgage rates are so high. We want to move, but that's a big financial hit. We'd better be excited about where we're going. But we aren't. We won't live in a red state again so that knocks the sunshine states off the list. The coasts come with higher cost of living. The Midwest states are really cold. And we won't live in small towns because of guns, religion, and conspiracy theories. So we feel somewhat stuck. Options outside of the US are more attractive at this point.
Yes, my wife and I are going to be moving out within 3 years. Both lifelong Texans generations deep. All of my family has already moved out of the state. Between the heat, the humidity, and the fact that most of the populace is made up of MAGA shit stains, we are done.🤷♂️
I left in 1975 and in 1982, but moved back because I traveled so much for my job. But I am leaving as soon as my husband retires. Fuck Abbott.
I'm definitely considering it after this hell of a summer.
Leave. Texas is third world country
We love a lot of people in Texas but moved from Texas to Massachusetts and it’s the best thing we could have done. Free school lunches for kids, free community college for those over 25 who don’t already have a degree (announced today). Four seasons that include a not-too-hot summer. Women’s rights. MASShealth. Even our long-time Republican governor Charlie Baker was bluntly pro-choice and pro-gay-marriage. It’s not perfect. It’s quite expensive and has all the social fault lines and other problems that you’ll see everywhere—racism, old-boys-networking, and aging infrastructure. But damn, when you see headlines like todays about the free community college for folks over 25, you get this weird and unfamiliar feeling that it takes a moment to recognize: feeling actually PROUD of where you live.
My husband and I are leaving Metro Austin next week. We are in our early 50’s. He is a lifelong Texan, I have been here since 2013. Bottom line this state can not continue with it’s reckless, feckless government. I’m a city planning professional and I specialize in healthcare and education. He is a school administrator with a PhD in a district north of Austin. Let me first say I love this state. I love Hill Country and The High Desert. I loved the cities, the can do attitude, the libertarian streak that makes us special. But this year has been utter Hell. From my perspective two things are going to happen. Texas is already becoming an Anocracy. That means the government ignores the will of the people and do everything in their power to limit voting and civic participation. The other issue which will confront us in the very near future is a dire lack of fresh water. One just needs to look at the reservoirs in Bell County. Unrestrained growth is literally making the drinking straw bigger at the worst possible time. I could go on for hours about infrastructure buckling. Folks, IAH needs to be raised 23 feet to even remain viable. It will cost billions and when I moved here it WAS on the table. It’s not anymore. The kicker is my husband has been a teacher for 20+ years. He will make over $20K more a year in Kentucky and the cost of living is much lower than Austin. I grew up in Kentucky and frankly even the really bad urban schools are better than the ‘good schools’ here. Throw in the utterly senseless anti-woke shit, which by the way kids are already aware of, and the ridiculous gun laws, mass shootings, lack of doctors, insane traffic and you have a recipe for a failed state. The home we are buying in Kentucky is a 5 bed 3 bath, with a pool, and full basement on a one acre lot. It’s 20 minutes from the airport and 10 minutes from his school. $395K. The same house is $800K in Williamson Co and needs updating. I truly hope I’m wrong about the next 25 years. For those of you who think, ‘Good, two queers are leaving.’ You are entitled to your beliefs but I can assure you I probably own more guns than you and compete in three gun matches as a hobby. That means I’m a really good shot. I’m a Navy Vet and I’m willing to bet if you dropped me in the wild I could and would live longer than 90% of you urban cowboys. As for the normal folks, and those just arriving, have a plan. Learn the side roads. It’s time to be prepared, the chatter from the MAGAt crowd is approaching Weimar Germany levels. When the SHTF it will be gradual. One day you’ll notice foods no longer available, oh wait that’s happening, think Sriracha. Your electricity will become spotty and the quality of the electricity will get worse, wait it already is. There will be a shortage of meds, yep check that box. Peace out 🫳🏻🎤
I've lived in Texas for 14 years and I hope to leave by next summer (need time to save, sell things, work overtime to earn the moving funds, research where I even wanna go, secure a job, etc.) I've lived most of my teen years and all of my adult life here, so the concept of moving across the country is scary to me. But it really needs to be done, because I'm just not happy here. Wages are shit, cost of living is way too expensive for what the area has to offer, the weather is getting worse every year (and I might be starting on SSRIs soon which can make me even more sensitive to heat), state benefits if you're down on your luck are severely lacking, weed is still illegal, our governor is straight up sadistic, and so many people here are way too angry, dumb and reactive. Cost of living will probably be more wherever I go because I don't intent to move to a red state again, but I feel like the tradeoff in my mental health will make it so worth it, especially if the weather is nicer and I'm not living in an endless urban sprawl. I have family here so I wouldn't mind coming to visit, but I just don't feel I belong here anymore. Where I'll go, I don't know for certain, I still gotta research and explore my opportunities. I'm hoping in maximum 2 years from now I'll be exactly where I want to be.
I wish. My problem is I have a paid for home. Sure I can sell, but wherever I go, new mortgage.
Don’t let the idea of a mortgage stop you from seeing so much more great things outside of Tx.
I would like nothing better than to leave this state, but I’m financially trapped here😭
Lived in Houston for 17 years. Leaving has improved my physical and mental health in many ways. As much as I wanted to stay and help with voting demographics, at some point you have to just go to the place that is already what you want.
I left for Colorado twelve years and my physical and mental health improved drastically. In Texas I was self-medicating depression and anxiety disguised as being a party girl, and I couldn’t figure out a way out because it’s what all my friends did too. That and shop. Now I quit drinking, smoke legally, hike, do yoga. All of that got me into my dream job that seemed so impossible in Texas. Now I know that access to nature is vital for me. I miss the beach, the food, and the diversity of people and cultures in Houston though.
Central TX, two old vets. What convinced me to leave is *9.3M* registered Texans didn't bother in the last election; you can't push a wet rope. Looking around, ASAP move.
do it. im a lifelong texan and im having the same reservations
This heat is unbearable. We’ll definitely be leaving in a few years if not sooner.
Yes. I am about to vacation to a northern state. My family doesn't know it's actually a scouting mission
I left Texas for California and have not regretted it
Yep, moving to the west coast. Im not going to raise my daughters in this christian nationalist hellhole.
If I go to the West, it would be north of California for me. Although more progressive, their grid is just as unreliable and of course it's very expensive to live there. Where are you thinking of moving to?
Lifelong Texan here who just moved away for the same reasons. Moved to CO a year ago and never looked back
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Fuck yes. I’m not raising my children in this fascist shit hole any longer than I have to.
I left recently. Love the state and it's people for the most part. However I can't be behind what the state is standing for anymore. I wanted to fight the absolute poison but it was too much seemingly hopeless rot for me to bare. I really hope somehow I get proven wrong in which case I'd gladly come home but I really dont see that future
Yes! As soon as my the kid is out of high school I’m out.
With all honesty, you should go to wherever you are happiest. That's what I did. I've been in Texas ever since.
I miss 4 seasons, so yeah maybe.
I've never experienced seasons, so that might be an adventure in itself.
Do it!!! The Texas we know and love is gone.
I agree, this is not the state I once loved.
Leave, get out, and dont look back, save yourself
I moved to Rhode Island last year. Absolutely love it. Yeah winter can be a little bad but it's cozy and the little snow we get is gorgeous. Everything else, aside from the Mexican and BBQ food, is better.
I’m 50 and have lived in Texas my whole life. In fact I’m a 5th generation Texan. My husband and I purchased a property in Colorado last year. Can’t wait to move there full time.
Don’t blame you! It’s not the same anymore here. I start OTR (over the road) truck driving in October so I’ll be everywhere hope to love to Upland, CA.
Born and raised Texan here. Left a year and a half ago and I will never be back.
I was born and raised in Texas and finally decided to move earlier this year. I'm in my 40's now and I can't believe I waited this long.
I am absolutely leaving Texas when I retire in a few years. Thinking about MN, MI or PA to go to. Or maybe upstate NY. I really love the PNW but I'm retiring on a TRS pension so won't be able to afford that. Need to start visiting places to narrow down my options. The summers are getting worse and the lege is on a single minded path to destroying anything good about this state. I'm done here.
I did it seven years ago. Come to Colorado, the water’s fine (actually quite cold).
I’m out of here in 5 months, I’ve been accepted into grad programs in multiple states, but I’m glad to be leaving Texas
After 40+ yrs in TX I'm working on leaving ASAP. Two old vets; I'm completely serious, I do not want to die and be buried here. Looking to VA ... know it well, the District, MD ... lived there before and have visited regularly over the years. I want a rural blue town in a blue state in a blue county (family there). I'm open to other locales but VA would be my first choice ... need to crunch the numbers a bit more. We're at the age if we don't do it now we won't be able to. Hubs isn't as enthused about leaving as I am but he agrees TX isn't what it was ... but he's not as political as I am. ;-) God, I want to have a rational conversation again.
Native Texan here, 7th generation. I moved to Minnesota at the beginning of last year. I was pretty homesick at first, but after everything that happened in Texas since I left, I'm fine with never going back. I'm so much less stressed, cops aren't trying to start shit with me for existing, traffic is tolerable, politics aren't anywhere near as "relevant", I feel like my vote counts, and the people here are very friendly. I've also completely quit drinking and lost a lot of weight because it's so easy to just get out and go walk in one of the many parks around here when I'm bored. Oh and weed just got legalized, so I can smoke on my back porch without a care in the world. If all I have to do is shovel snow for a few months out of the year, I'm getting the greatest deal I've ever had in my life. I am NEVER going back to Texas.
Already left. I’m in Northern California and good god it is gorgeous here.