Houston Texas is the fourth largest city in terms of population in the US (census-estimated 2014 population of 2.239 million) and is the biggest city in the southern US and Texas. Often referred to as “Space City” as its home to NASA, or “Bayou City” for its proximity to the Buffalo Bayou, it’s known to locals as simply “H-Town”. Houston is on track as the most diverse city in the US with a growing population and booming economic growth.
In Houston, you can eat fried chicken like Beyoncé at Frenchies, “Save a Horse” at the largest Rodeo in the world, and get more bang for your buck than in any other major city in the US.
Read on to find out more about what makes Houston such a unique place to live and work.
Working in Houston
Industry
Houston is also known as “The Energy Capital of the World” since there are more than 5,000 energy related firms in Houston. In fact, the energy industry as a whole makes up 40% of the economy in Houston. Headquarters for oil and gas exploration and production companies, as well as pipeline and transportation establishments, means that many of your friends and neighbors are likely employed in this field here in Houston.
Along with Energy, Healthcare is booming business in Houston. Home to the largest medical center in the world, the Texas Medical Center has more than 100k employees and is the single largest employer in Houston. This massive healthcare center (a city in its own right) includes 21 hospitals, eight academic and research institutions, and 50 total related organizations.
According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, the education and health services industry added 10,900 jobs from January 2016 to January 2017. This was the second-largest annual employment gain among the local supersectors. Hospitals alone added more than 3,000 jobs in this sector, so this is good news for any healthcare professional seeking employment in Houston.
Another huge contributor to the economy is the Houston Ship Channel, which is part of the Port of Houston, and one of the busiest seaports in the US. The Houston Ship Channel contributes close to a million jobs in Texas.
With all of these booming industry sectors in Houston, it should come as no surprise that the Bureau of Labor Statistics recently reported that the city’s leisure and hospitality industry added 10,300 jobs from January 2016 to January 2017. This 3.4% rate of local job growth is much higher than the 1.9% national increase. These gains were concentrated in food services and drinking places, adding 8,200 jobs during the period.
Also, entrepreneurs, take note: Houston is exceptionally business friendly and is the only major US city without zoning laws. This lack of conventional zoning has tremendous advantages for developers but does contribute to the urban sprawl of the cities makeup.
Employers to note
There are quite a few employers to note in Houston, including 26 Fortune 500 companies that are headquartered here. Many of these are from the oil and gas industry like such as Conoco Phillips, Marathon Oil, Sysco, Apache, Halliburton, and many more.
If Houston sounds familiar, it might be because you’ve been watching some space movies like Apollo 13 where they’re always calling Houston to tell them about a problem. That’s because Houston is home to The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Did you know…?
20 feet below Houston’s downtown streets lay a system of tunnels more than six miles long. The tunnels connect 95 city blocks, and the amenity is primarily enjoyed by the downtown office population and tourists. The tunnel also has gift shops, newsstands, banks, technology centers, flower shops, copy centers, dry cleaners, and food courts.
Browse jobs in Houston.
Living in Houston
Life in Houston
Houston has a lot to offer its residents with excellent job prospects, low cost of living, and one of the youngest and most diverse populations in the country.
Recent Census data shows that Houston has surpassed New York as the most racially and ethnically diverse large metropolitan area in the US, with one in five being foreign born and more than 90 languages spoken here.
Interestingly, the median age in Houston is just 33 years old with 25% under the age of 20. With these demographics, it comes as no surprise that Houston is full of delicious food (more than 11,000 restaurants), art and museums, and a great nightlife scene.
The city also boasts 370 developed parks and over 200 greenspaces and esplanades, a total of over 50 thousand acres of land—all of which you can enjoy on any of the 204 days of sunshine that the city averages annually.
Sports fans will fit right in at “H-Town”, as the city has quite a few major league teams to cheer on. These teams include the Houston Texans, Houston Astros, Houston Dynamos, and the Houston Rockets.
Transportation in Houston
Getting around in Houston can be a bit of a challenge, as the city is spread out (making it less than ideal for walking) and it seems that 90% of residents own a car and drive themselves to work. 20% of residents report a commute of 45 minutes or more. Because of this, most residents recommend living as close to work as possible to lessen the painful commute.
Though the residents here seem to be attached to their cars, there are some alternatives available. This includes a light rail system connecting downtown to midtown and the Museum District, the Medical Center, Rice University and NRG Par. There is also an improving bus system and over 160 miles of dedicated bikeways with a bicycle sharing system known as Houston B-Cycle.
House prices in Houston
According to Zillow, the median price of homes currently listed in Houston is $309,900, and the median rent price in Houston is $1,500. Since the economy is on the rise, the house prices are also expected to climb.
Education in Houston
The largest school district in the Houston area is the Houston Independent School District (HISD). HISD is ranked as the nation’s seventh largest district, with 288 schools.
Houston also boasts more than 40 colleges, universities, and institutions with an offering of higher education options to suit all interests. Among these is one of the country’s best undergraduate schools, Rice University, which is ranked 18th nationally, with particularly strong programs in applied sciences.
By all accounts, Houston is a global city that is truly thriving and well worth checking out. Peruse jobs in Houston and see for yourself.
