Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Ok, that's pretty much the only reason I'd have a reservation about moving to the Houston area is the weather, namely the humidity. How bad is it, really? What months of the year do you really notice it? Is it something your body adapts to? It can't be THAT bad, right, because over 1.9 million people call the Houston met area home? If I could afford a home with a pool, would that make much difference? Just trying to get an idea, hope some locals can chime in and give feedback! Thanks in advance.
Ok, that's pretty much the only reason I'd have a reservation about moving to the Houston area is the weather, namely the humidity. How bad is it, really? What months of the year do you really notice it? Is it something your body adapts to? It can't be THAT bad, right, because over 1.9 million people call the Houston met area home? If I could afford a home with a pool, would that make much difference? Just trying to get an idea, hope some locals can chime in and give feedback! Thanks in advance.
Yes, it does depend on what you are used to but frankly the humidity is terrible. Really it's the heat: the capacity of air to hold energy which is greatly influenced by humidity. Water in the form of vapor holds heat very well and it is obviously controlled by the temps. Rarely do you hear people complaining of the humidity in Seattle even though it is very high, but it's so cool no one says anything.
The reason so many people live in Houston is not necessarily because they love the heat, bugs, and horrible traffic--it's because of the jobs! There is a ton of jobs there so people move where they can work.
I lived in Houston for 5 years and hated it. On the positive side, there is a ton of things to do, a million restaurants to choose from, and you can get just about anything you want. It's all there. But the sticky, disgusting heat that doesn't go away from March to the end of October was awful. All you get is 95 and humid every single day.
I suppose a pool would help but you would have to sit in it all the time. And besides, pools are a pain in the butt to maintain.
I'm in Connecticut now for a reason. I grew up in Idaho, didn't like the extreme cold, ended up in Texas for 10 years, didn't like the heat, and in a round a bout way, found my way up here. It's not too cold, not too hot--at least compared to the places I've been. The average high temperature in the July is 81. Nice huh?
Move there if you must but also realize there are ridiculous traffic jams, horrible air to breathe (sticky crap that sticks to your windshield every morning) , cockroaches the size of small cats, lovely fire ants that prevent any type of lawn activity, and crime that could land you in the ground.
We moved to Houston from SE TN about a year ago. TN can be fairly muggy, but Houston is nearly unbearable. It feels like you have to swim through the air outside. If you don't mind high electric bills, your car has great AC and you don't actually have to go outside much, you should be fine with the humidity.
Thanks for the responses! I guess some people really hate the humidity, and most seem to put up with it, i.e. Sugar Land just voted third best place in US to live. I don't know yet which group I'll fall into yet! Thanks again.
Let me be honest: the humidity in Houston is like living in Hell...only WORSE! Moved from Chicago, took my body about 3 years to acclimate....and, after about 10 years, didn't pay that much attention to it anymore. Again, you won't melt, but it will take you awhile to get used to it. You will eventually...or you'll leave.
Second, YES, there ARE millions of restaurants in Houston. Look at any study and it seems as if Houston is just loaded with restaurants. Unfortunately, the restaurants are ALL--and I do mean ALL--FRANCHISES. So, if loading up your arteries with Wendy's, Burger King, McDonalds and other crap is your thing, you'll be in hog heaven. If you are a foodie, you can forget Houston and it's zillion suckhole restaurants.
I took my kid out to eat every night because I worked like 60 hours a week. If you want a decent, balanced meal--and not at IHOP or Denny's--it is hard to find if you want to stay under the $25 mark. And I am not kidding.
I lived there over 20 years and just left a couple years ago, so I have some really good working knowledge of the food there.
However, start hitting the Mexican Taquerias and get used to Mexican food. We found some excellent ones. Also, they have many Vietnamese who have immigrated to Houston (similar climate as in Vietnam), and there are some great Vietnamese restaurants there. You will learn to go foreign and exotic if you want a good meal.
A few good barbeque places, too. But, in general, if you want great restaurants you move to Chicago, San Francisco, NYC.
Let me be honest: the humidity in Houston is like living in Hell...only WORSE! Moved from Chicago, took my body about 3 years to acclimate....and, after about 10 years, didn't pay that much attention to it anymore. Again, you won't melt, but it will take you awhile to get used to it. You will eventually...or you'll leave.
Second, YES, there ARE millions of restaurants in Houston. Look at any study and it seems as if Houston is just loaded with restaurants. Unfortunately, the restaurants are ALL--and I do mean ALL--FRANCHISES. So, if loading up your arteries with Wendy's, Burger King, McDonalds and other crap is your thing, you'll be in hog heaven. If you are a foodie, you can forget Houston and it's zillion suckhole restaurants.
I took my kid out to eat every night because I worked like 60 hours a week. If you want a decent, balanced meal--and not at IHOP or Denny's--it is hard to find if you want to stay under the $25 mark. And I am not kidding.
I lived there over 20 years and just left a couple years ago, so I have some really good working knowledge of the food there.
However, start hitting the Mexican Taquerias and get used to Mexican food. We found some excellent ones. Also, they have many Vietnamese who have immigrated to Houston (similar climate as in Vietnam), and there are some great Vietnamese restaurants there. You will learn to go foreign and exotic if you want a good meal.
A few good barbeque places, too. But, in general, if you want great restaurants you move to Chicago, San Francisco, NYC.
Not true. There are plenty of good restaurants that are not chains in Houston. Admittedly there are a lot of chains there but it's just like anywhere else. Maybe you spent way too much time at lower-priced restaurants...
I traveled here a lot last summer in preparation for my new position in Houston. My wife and I actually moved here from Memphis in January this year. After spending most of last summer here, and now it is almost August, I can tell you that Memphis, TN has just as much humidity and just as much heat as Houston. The difference is that here in Houston, there is always a breeze. In July and August, Memphis is opressively hot and humid, with absolutely no wind at all. Houston isn't as bad as the residents like to say it is, trust me on this one...
Yes, the humidity is awful in Houston. You will notice it mostly between the end of May through September. During this time it seems unbearable; however, a/c exists EVERYWHERE. I go from work, into my car, into any store, complete an errand, or establishment and the a/c is cranked. In fact, my inlaws visited from Europe last summer for 4 months and they actually commented that Houston was not hot (yes, I chuckled). Their exposure to the "real outdoors" was in the morning and late evenings. My husband and I jog every morning (early) without a problem. So yes, it's hot, but where is it not extremely hot in the summer, specifically in the South? Heck, my sister lives in Rancho Mirage, CA. where it's currently 120 degrees.
To comment on the individual regarding the overage of franchises in Houston, I would like to add that I'm originally from Chicago, too, and feel the food in Houston is excellent but you can't pay Wal-Mart prices and expect Neiman Marcus quality. Any city in the U.S. is bombarded with franchises. If someone is looking for less than $25 to feed a family every day then go to the inner city areas off of Hillcroft area where you can get delicious Persian, Indian, Chinese, etc. food for $5-$6 per person and it's JUST LIKE any dive in NY or Chicago where you walk in and are surprisingly happy by the quality. My husband and I haven't been to a franchise in years. When guests visit from Chicago, NY,and CA, they cannot wait to visit our excellent restaurants like Americas, Mark's Restaurant, the Bank, Vic and Anthony's, Capital Grille, Tony's, etc.(the list is endless on top quality restaurants). There is NO PLACE in Chicago, San Francisco, or NY that exceeds the quality and pricing as the places I mentioned above.
Peace
My husband and I also work over 60 hrs per week and take the extra step to cook for our kids so they do not have to be poisoned by cheap restaurants.
Yes, Houston is humid and hot during the summer. Most people deal with it. You'll appreciate it in the winter with low 35 degree temperatures instead of frozen-rock-solid 15 degree ice storms. There cannot be many places in the southern half of this country where you can run or jog during the middle of the day anyway. If you are into outdoors activities such as hiking, camping, etc, you should be fine and enjoy it just the same as anywhere else.
There is so much more to the city than it's heat. I disagree with the gentlemen stating that Houston only has chain/franchise restaurants. There are many locally owned restaurants; off the top of my head: Mama's Cafe, Chachos, Beaudreaux's, Bayou City Seafood, Prince's Diner, Myti Burger, Capiltal Grille, Nikos Nikos Greek, The Breakfast Club, Indias, Hobbit Cafe, Frenches Fried Chicken and so much more. The restaurant business is a successful one in Houston. Many locally owned businesses have the market to open 2 or 3 additional locations. That's a blessing, not a curse. Thank God for their prosperity! Houston is very well known for it's great restaurants. The cost is about what you would find in any city such as Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York or New Orleans.
I've traveled quite a bit and Houston is my favorite city in the country (despite the heat). I love the slow, southern feel meets big city life. I especially love the diversity of ethnicies (Asian, African American, Cacassion, Jamiacan, Caribbean, African, of course Hispanics). Downtown Houston has come along way in it's entertainment venues. There's plenty to do every weekend. Not to mention, it's near to the ocean (45 mintues) and to the Texas hillcountry outside of Austin (3 hours). The theatre and museum districts are some of the best in the country as well! The live music scene is pretty good too! There are a range of excellent bands from Texas blues, alternative rock, underground hiphop, country, bluegrass, funk, jazz, latin, salsa and on.
The cost of living is one of the lowest in the country for a city it's size and the job diversity is great. Whether you are in engineering, the medical industry, communications, marketing, education, etc., you'll do fine finding a good quality job, even for designers like myself.
I could on and on, but I'm stopping here. Unless you've lived well in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Miami, Las Vegas or San Francisco, you really don't have much to say about the 4th largest city in the country with so much to offer, Houston.
Location: East Texas, with the Clan of the Cave Bear
3,266 posts, read 5,632,596 times
Reputation: 4763
Very nice reply Michelle. Now, I grew up in S.E. Texas so I guess I'm "acclimated" to the humidity. I only notice it 4 months or so a year and then it is not constant.....especially if you're in the northern / northwestern 'burbs. The onshore breeze in the summer is the cause of the good air movement then (summer). From November until May the humidity is not even an issue (to me). I did notice that all those that responded negatively were transient Texans. Yes, there is humidity and heat........you're on the ocean and closer to the Equator than anywhere else in the US except Florida AND basically at sea level ....... comes with the territory........just like I learned to accept 6 months of WINTER when I lived in Maine (it's what I expected!).
There are plenty of ways to adapt......and a pool helps (in ground) you'll just dry off slower! Good luck! Common sense will let you adapt and life will be good in many ways!
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Honey, you won't melt...BUT
I think the City of Houston is great!
