Taxes
Texas has no individual income tax, compared with 4.95% in Illinois. Property taxes remain significant, so you may not be escaping that part of your Chicago-area bill. Check actual bills on any home you are considering, and apply for the homestead exemption for your primary home through the county appraisal district.
Choosing a metro
| Metro | People move for | Consider |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas–Fort Worth | Corporate jobs, suburbs | Long commutes, summer heat, hail |
| Houston | Energy, medicine, port work | Flooding, humidity, hurricane season |
| Austin | Tech, university, music | Housing costs, fast change, hill-country access |
| San Antonio | Military, lower housing costs | Heat, longer drive from Chicago |
Public transit in most of these metros is limited compared with the L, so most households need a car per adult. Budget for that if you're leaving a car-light Chicago life.
Heat and home basics
Summers bring long stretches near or above 100 degrees in much of Texas. Ask about the age of the air conditioning and the cost of electricity on any home. You'll also pick your own retail electricity provider in much of the state, unlike Chicago's more familiar setup.
Homeowner associations
Many suburban communities have HOAs with fees and rules, including those on large trucks. Get the rules before move-in day.
New-resident deadlines
Texas sources commonly give new residents 90 days for a driver's license and 30 days to register a vehicle, so check the current requirements with Texas DPS and the Texas DMV as soon as you arrive. Texas also requires a vehicle inspection step in some cases.
Your move
See Chicago to Texas movers for cost by home size, and city pages for Dallas and Houston.