When you move to Houston, you’ll immediately learn about the intense rivalry between Houston and Dallas. It’s no wonder — these top cities in Texas are always competing for that number-one title!
We’re biased. But we think Houston beats Dallas any day of the week. Here are a few reasons why.
Houston: Best Place for Any Age
Moving to Houston is a no-brainer for young professionals and families. In 2016, Forbes named our city the best for college graduates because of the area’s low cost of living, affordability, job growth, and amenities.
Forbes also named Houston the “Coolest City” based on entertainment, restaurants, bars, and recreational and cultural activities. Houston is the city every other city in Texas should aspire to become (especially Dallas – they were fourth on the ‘cool cities’ list. Not that we’re counting).
Houston Housing
With all the buzz surrounding Dallas’ real estate market, you might overlook Houston’s. But Houston offers real estate investors outstanding value and accessibility to a major U.S. housing market.
Houston is a highly desirable market, but Houston homes aren’t as overvalued as other Texas metros. In a national analysis of the top 100 housing markets, Houston was only number 51 of the most overvalued real estate markets. That is way better than Dallas — it ranked number 18 on the list! (But again, not that we’re counting.)
Houston Business & Education
Houston is a world destination for business and education. Houston has a strong climate for international business and a diverse population of students, which makes Houston a destination city for college students.
The University of Houston is the second most diverse research university in the U.S. and is among the top 25 U.S. universities for international students. Also, Lone Star College ranks third for international students among community colleges.
Houston Arts & Culture
You can find art and culture everywhere in Houston. Dallas has history, but Houston makes history every day with the renaissance among our creative community. We can boast our Tony award-winning theater and a bevy of others downtown.
At the same time, Texas Repertory Theatre satisfies northwest Houston audiences and is the only professional theater between here and Dallas. You can also enjoy different exhibits at our sprawling Houston Museum District or rich music offerings at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion.
Houston Landscape
In Houston, there’s a landscape for every liking. From urban or suburban cityscapes, you can find what you’re looking for in Houston.
While our urban communities are quite charming, we also boast lush green landscapes within the city’s urban areas. Check out Discovery Green downtown for a calming nature experience within the city. You can also take a long walk with family and friends at the botanical gardens in Humble or the Katy Prairie.
Houston Celebrities & Millionaires
Houston is the city of celebrities and millionaires. Houston has about 120,841 millionaire households and was the only Texas city to make 24/7 Wall Street’s list of the top 10 U.S. cities with the wealthiest citizens.
Of course, Dallas has its fair share of celebrity residents and famous beginnings, but look at Houston! For every Angie Harmon and Big D, we have Beyoncé, Renée Zellweger, Dennis Quaid, Marvin Zindler, ZZ Top, and president George H. W. Bush. Even Lil Wayne has called Houston home.
Houston Medicine
Houston has some of the nation’s best doctors and hospitals, and advancements in medicine begin here.
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center ranked number one for cancer care for 9 out of 11 years. Texas Children’s Hospital ranked number one in Texas overall, and in the top 10 for various categories. Kelsey-Seybold, Memorial Hermann, and the Texas Medical Center boast high rankings and have been observed across the U.S. and internationally for their work in medicine.
Everything in Houston is Big
Speaking of the Texas Medical Center, it ranks as the largest medical complex globally. Houston also holds one of the largest urban roads in the nation, FM 1960, which covers 47 miles and 26 zip codes.
We also have Lakewood Church, America’s largest church, and of course the Astrodome, the eighth wonder of the world. The Houston Independent School District is the seventh largest in the nation, and we boast the nation’s second-largest port, the Port of Houston.
The only thing Dallas can boast about is longer airport delays.
It’s fair to say that both Dallas and Houston have their strengths and weaknesses. Which do you prefer — Houston or Dallas?
If you’re thinking of moving to Houston and want to learn more about why we love it so much, get in touch! We can help make the home building, buying, and selling process as seamless as possible for your family.