So you’re new to the area? Here’s a what’s what of the area and a breakdown of the perks of living in Houston.
Employment:
The city has been a rising player in sustaining an excellent job environment even through the 2008 recession. According to Forbes magazine, the city ranked fourth for the highest increase in the local technological innovation over the last 15 years. It also ranked second on Fortune 500’s list of company headquarters and is ranked the best city for shopping by Forbes as well.
The major employers include Memorial Hermann Healthcare System, Continental Airlines, and the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. The region is also a hot spot for the chemical and energy industry and employs over 36,000 within the over 400 plants around the region.
And despite such a great economic standing, the C2ER Cost of Living Index 2013 Annual Average reveals that among the United States’ 20 most populous metropolitan areas,
the city has the third most inexpensive overall cost of living which is 36.6 percent below the average.
For college students:
Coupled with an abundance of cheap apartments and inexpensive living options, the city is great for students. The greater area has over seven community colleges, Texas Southern University, Rice University, and the University of Houston. There are many great living options near all of these campuses so finding
apartments for rent with utilities included near your college of choice will be easy.
The Downtown, Neartown/Montrose and Midtown areas are excellent spots for those going to college or working professionals looking for anything from studio apartments to lofts with its vast array of restaurants, nightlife and the Theater District. In fact, the Theater District boasts some of the best theater culture in the country. With four major venues and a handful of smaller ones ranging from performing arts, cinema, symphonies and operas, this district offers an intense concentration of art, drama and creativity.
For families:
If you are looking for a more family-oriented community that is close to the metropolis, maybe you should consider Pearland, Sugar Land, or Katy. Pearland considered one of the safest area in the region and works very hard to promote community events such as its Crawfish Festival and its nationwide famous high school football team, the Pearland Oilers. In fact, the Pearland Oilers just broke a record for the highest attendance for a high school football game: 54,347!
River Oaks, located west about fifteen minutes from downtown within the Inner Loop, is considered one of the nicest areas for
apartments in Houston. With several country clubs close by and Memorial Park (1,466 acres large!), this is the area that you will want to clue in on if you are looking for upscale apartments with granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances.
And one of the perks of living here is the easy beach access. From downtown, Trinity Bay is less than a forty minute drive away, so no matter what part of town you live in, you can count on being within an hour or less from a day at the beach. On those hot days where the average heat is in the 90s, that beach is crucial. Finding an apartment with central AC should probably be a priority as well!
