Texas

    Why Are People Still Moving to Texas?

    Why Are People Still Moving to Texas? The population, housing and income numbers behind the headline, from the Smart Movers Club app.

    Updated October 2026 · Smart Movers Club research desk

    Quick answer

    Texas can be a good place to live in 2027 if its numbers fit your life: the app's top-scoring places have a median home value of $355,250, rent of $1,877/month and household income of $128,573, and the state's violent crime rate (349 per 100k, 2025) is above the median state. Texas has no state tax on wage income. Start your research with Celina, Sienna, Pecan Grove.

    Median home value

    $355,250

    Top-scoring places

    Median rent

    $1,877/mo

    Household income

    $128,573

    Violent crime / 100k

    349

    Texas, 2025

    Population change

    +6.6%

    Tracked places + counties

    Home value change

    +11.0%

    State wage income tax

    None

    Home value ÷ income

    2.8×

    Top-scoring Texas cities in the app
    PlaceScoreHome valueRentIncomePop. change
    Celina, TX88$458,000$2,064$155,875+26.2%
    Sienna, TX83$440,600$2,853$171,709+8.1%
    Pecan Grove, TX81$359,300$1,833$137,275+8.8%
    Fulshear, TX78$546,200$1,889$178,398+25.2%
    Corinth, TX77$351,200$1,826$118,949+1.6%
    Leander, TX76$470,700$1,865$140,180+8.6%
    Top-scoring Texas counties
    PlaceScoreHome valueRentIncomePop. change
    Clay County82$161,300$825$77,355+1.1%
    Bailey County80$104,400$744$70,625+2.1%
    Burleson County80$174,000$909$72,888+2.1%
    Carson County77$140,600$933$84,583+0.0%
    Archer County76$175,300$766$71,958+1.0%
    Dallam County75$140,500$1,074$72,332+0.2%

    Verdict factors to check before you decide

    1. 1Price the whole address: taxes, insurance, utilities and HOA, not just the listing.
    2. 2Confirm the exact city, county and school assignment for the address.
    3. 3Drive the commute at the hours you will actually travel.
    4. 4Check flood, heat and storm exposure on official maps.
    5. 5Compare crime at the jurisdiction level, then visit at night.

    Frequently asked questions

    Why Are People Still Moving to Texas?

    Texas can be a good place to live in 2027 if its numbers fit your life: the app's top-scoring places have a median home value of $355,250, rent of $1,877/month and household income of $128,573, and the state's violent crime rate (349 per 100k, 2025) is above the median state. Texas has no state tax on wage income. Start your research with Celina, Sienna, Pecan Grove.

    What are the best places to live in Texas?

    In the Smart Movers Club app, the top-scoring Texas cities are Celina, Sienna, Pecan Grove, Fulshear, Corinth, and the top counties are Clay County, Bailey County, Burleson County, Carson County. Scores combine income, housing, growth, employment and education.

    Does Texas have a state income tax?

    Texas does not tax wage income at the state level. Property, sales and other local taxes still apply, so compare the full cost.

    Where does this data come from?

    Figures come from the Smart Movers Club app, which compiles U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey estimates and FBI state crime rates. Census figures are survey estimates, not live listing prices.

    Go deeper

    See every number for Texas.

    Neighborhood heat maps, homes for sale, crime, schools, taxes and side-by-side comparisons for 50 states and 270+ cities — all in the Smart Movers Club app.

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    Sources and method

    Figures are medians across the top-scoring places the Smart Movers Club app tracks in each state, compiled from public data. Census values are survey estimates, not current listings; crime rates are state-level. This is research, not financial or legal advice.

    Photo: Wikimedia Commons.