Texasno income tax, 6th highest property tax, median home $340K
R+14 · Moderate tax burden · COL index 97
0%
Income Tax
447
Violent Crime / 100K
76.3
Life Expectancy
$340K
Median Home
$1,050
Childcare / Mo
Texas in plain English
Worth knowing before you move to Texas
Texas has no income tax and no estate tax, and its constitution prohibits an income tax without a statewide vote. Property taxes are among the highest in the country and are the main source of local school funding; the 2023 legislature raised the homestead exemption to $100,000 to offset that. Homeowner insurance costs are high along the Gulf coast and rising statewide after hail and freeze events. The grid is independent of the rest of the country.
What Texas taxes, and what it doesn't
Texas has no state income tax. Wages, retirement withdrawals and investment income are untouched at the state level, which puts it in a group of 9 states with Alaska, Florida, Nevada and 5 others.
Property tax runs 1.60% of home value a year, roughly $5,440 on the state's median home of $340K. The national effective rate is about 1.10%, and Texas has the 6th highest rate of the 50 states.
Combined state and local sales tax averages 8.19%, the 14th highest in the country (the state portion is 6.25%).
For retirees: Social Security benefits are not taxed, pension income is fully exempt, and there is no estate or inheritance tax.
Housing and the cost of living in Texas
Texas's cost of living index is 97, where 100 is the national average; that is the 25th cheapest of the 50 states.
The median home costs $340K, 12% above the national figure and the 24th lowest among the states. A two-bedroom rents for about $1,600 a month.
Carrying costs matter as much as the price: home insurance averages $3,200 a year, flood coverage adds about $900 where it is needed, car insurance runs $2,140.
Budget $145 a month for electricity and gas, $480 a month in groceries for two, $1,050 a month for full-time infant care.
Safety, health and schools
Violent crime is 447 incidents per 100,000 residents in the FBI's 2023 Crime Data Explorer figures, above the median state (387); Texas is the 16th most violent of the 50 by that measure. Property crime is 2,478 per 100,000.
Life expectancy is 76.3 years (County Health Rankings 2024). 18.4% of residents have no health insurance, and the state has not expanded Medicaid. The Commonwealth Fund's 2023 scorecard ranks Texas's health system 36th of 50.
Education Week's 2023 Quality Counts report ranks K-12 schools 36th in the country, and the state runs a school-choice voucher program.
Politics, guns and social policy
Politically, Texas is a solidly Republican state that went to Trump by 14 points in 2024.
On guns, no permit is required to carry a concealed handgun, and Giffords grades the state's gun laws F.
Abortion is banned with narrow exceptions. Marijuana is medical only. Texas is a right-to-work state, and the minimum wage is $7.25 an hour.
Climate, risk and getting around
Natural disaster risk is very high. The main hazards are hurricane, tornado, flood. Annual average air quality index is 43 (under 50 is good).
Texas has a major hub airport, with about 200 nonstop destinations from its busiest airport.
Written from the figures on this page. Rankings compare the 50 states. Sources and years are listed with each figure below.
Largest counties in Texas
State Profile
Taxes
Sources: state revenue departments · Tax Foundation 2026 · income-tax brackets 2026
▾
Taxes
Sources: state revenue departments · Tax Foundation 2026 · income-tax brackets 2026
Income Tax
Property Tax
~$5,440/yr on median home
Sales Tax
Social Security
Pension / IRA
Estate Tax
Inheritance Tax
Capital Gains
Housing & Cost of Living
Sources: Zillow · Census ACS · iii.org and state insurers 2026 · WRLURI 2018 · Census 2024 (HOA)
▾
Housing & Cost of Living
Sources: Zillow · Census ACS · iii.org and state insurers 2026 · WRLURI 2018 · Census 2024 (HOA)
Price Level vs US (BEA)
Near US average (100)
Mortgages 90+ Days Late
FHFA, latest quarter
Cost of Living Index
National avg = 100
Median Home Price
Median Rent (2BR)
Home Insurance
Well above national avg (~$1,900/yr)
Flood Insurance
Homestead Exemption
Home equity protected from creditors
Asset Protection
Homes in HOAs
HOAs are common (Census ACS 2024)
Zoning Restrictiveness
Middle of the pack (Wharton WRLURI 2018)
Short-Term Rentals (Airbnb)
No statewide preemption statute; courts have limited some retroactive bans; city-by-city rules.
Warning: Insurance Market Stress
TWIA (coastal insurer of last resort) at record ~280K policies and $117B exposure, up from 185K in 2020. Get an insurance quote before you buy here.
Crime & Safety
Sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023 · SafeHome registry counts 2025 · HUD PIT 2024
▾
Crime & Safety
Sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023 · SafeHome registry counts 2025 · HUD PIT 2024
Violent Crime Rate
Near national avg
Property Crime Rate
Near national avg
Traffic Fatality Rate
Registered Sex Offenders
Above the state median (SafeHome 2025)
Homeless Population
Low homelessness rate; 44% unsheltered (HUD 2024 PIT)
More on Texas
Healthcare#36 of 50▾
Sources: Commonwealth Fund 2023 · KFF · CDC
State Healthcare Rank
Life Expectancy
Medicaid Expansion
Uninsured Rate
Above national avg (~9%)
EducationK-12 #36 of 50▾
Sources: Education Week 2023 · NCES · state statutes (school choice)
College Completion Rate
College Scorecard, in-state institutions (mean)
Avg College Cost of Attendance
College Scorecard 2024
K-12 Quality Rank
School Choice / Vouchers
HS Graduation Rate
Above national avg (~87%)
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
Near national avg (~16)
Childcare$1,050/mo infant care▾
Sources: Child Care Aware · Census ACS 2022
Avg Infant Care (Full-Time)
Utilities & Daily Costs$145/mo energy▾
Sources: EIA (electricity, weekly gas) · USDA · eGRID 2022
Grid Carbon Intensity
Near US average (~820)
Avg Monthly Energy Bill
Electricity Rate
Below national avg (13¢)
Energy Mix
Avg Monthly Groceries
2-person household, moderate spending
Road Quality Rank
Airports & Travel200+ nonstop routes▾
Sources: FAA · BTS
Nonstop Destinations
From state's primary airport
Major Hub Airport
Top-25 US airport by passengers
Culture & Lifestyle85% urban▾
Sources: Census CBP · Brewers Association 2024 · Pollstar · AANR/TNS · AGA 2024
Urban Population
Highly urban, big city feel
Restaurant Density
Religious Congregations
Pro Sports Teams
NFL + NBA + MLB + NHL + MLS
Major Venues
Stadiums, arenas, amphitheaters (10K+ capacity)
Craft Breweries
1.5/100K residents: Growing
Craft Distilleries
One of the nation's top distillery states
Live Music
Austin Live Music Capital of the World; SXSW; Deep Ellum (Dallas); Houston rap capital; ACL Festival
Transportation$2,140/yr car insurance▾
Sources: NHTSA FARS · FCC · insurance rate surveys 2024 · IIHS helmet laws 2026
Car Insurance (Avg Annual)
Traffic Fatality Rate
Broadband Access
Work From Home
State residents who primarily work from home (ACS)
Social & Legal$7.25/hr minimum wage▾
Sources: Guttmacher · KFF · NCSL · state statutes 2026
Formal Volunteering Rate
AmeriCorps / Census CPS 2023 (US ~28%)
Votes in Local Elections
AmeriCorps / Census CPS 2023
Abortion Access
Near-total ban; SB8 bounty law and trigger law
LGBTQ+ Protections
Marijuana
Minimum Wage
Right to Work
Sports Betting
Casino Gambling
Online Gambling
State Lottery
Only Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino near Eagle Pass. Bingo halls widespread. Licensed horse racing tracks. Sports betting repeatedly blocked in legislature.
Age of Consent
Sex Education
No state sex ed mandate
Nude Beaches & Naturist Clubs
Hippie Hollow (Lake Travis, Austin) · Bluebonnet Nudist Park (Alvord) · Sandpipers Holiday Park
Environment & ClimateAQI 43▾
Sources: EPA AQI · NOAA · FEMA National Risk Index
Air Quality (Annual AQI)
Near national avg
Natural Disaster Risk
Primary Hazards
Politics & Gun LawsR+14 · gun law grade F▾
Sources: OpenElections 2024 · Giffords 2025 · state statutes
2024 Presidential Vote
Gun Laws
Carry Permit
Purchase Permit Required
Carry in Bars
Carry in Restaurants
Carry in Places of Worship
51%-alcohol-revenue businesses prohibited; restaurants and churches allowed unless posted.
Gambling
Hunting & Outdoors2% public land▾
Sources: state wildlife agencies · USFS · BLM · USFWS (May 2026)
Only 2% public land — most hunting is on private ranches or lease clubs. Lease prices can run $500-$2,000/year. White-tail deer population is the largest in the US.
Texas Parks & Wildlife: Official Season Dates ↗Finding nearby venues...
Jobs & Economy4.1% unemployment▾
Sources: BLS QCEW 2024 · BLS JOLTS 2024 · BLS union membership 2025 · Census ACS
Job Openings Rate (JOLTS)
Near US average (~4.5%)
Quits Rate (JOLTS)
Workers quit when they can find better; BLS 2024 average
Job Market
+2.8% job growth · 4.1% unemployment
Top Industries
Tech Jobs
Top tech job market nationally
Healthcare Jobs
Remote Work
Median Household Income
Union Membership
Among the least unionized states (BLS 2025)
Business Climate#13 of 50▾
Sources: Tax Foundation · state filings
Corporate Income Tax
0.75% gross receipts tax applies
LLC Formation Fee
LLC Annual Fee
Business Climate Rank
0.75% franchise tax on gross receipts (0.375% for retail/wholesale); no annual LLC fee if no public info report required
Daily Life$2.94/gal gas▾
Sources: American Pyrotechnics Association · state statutes 2026 · IIHS
Gas Price (Regular)
Well below avg (-0.36 vs national avg)
Consumer Fireworks
Consumer fireworks broadly legal; counties can opt out
Motorcycle Helmet Law
Required under 21 (IIHS 2026)
Weather & Natural Risks96°F avg July▾
Sources: NOAA · NWS Storm Prediction Center · FEMA NRI
Winter Severity
Avg January high: 56°F
Summer Heat
Hot summers
Annual Rainfall
Tornado Risk
Hurricane Risk
Wildfire Risk
Flood Risk
Natural Hazards81/100 danger▾
Sources: USGS · CDC · USDA APHIS · NOAA · FEMA NRI 2023
Venomous Snakes
Spider Hazard
Scorpions
Hurricane Risk
Tornado Risk
Wildfire Risk
Earthquake Risk
Armadillo Leprosy Risk
Danger score is a composite index. Methodology ↗
Veteran Benefits98/100 veteran-friendly▾
Sources: VA.gov · Military.com state guide · Tax Foundation
Veteran-Friendly Score
8.1% of state population are veterans
Property Tax Exemption
100% disabled: full property tax exempt
Military Retirement Pay
Active Duty Pay
VA Facilities Access
Notable Benefits
Explore Texas counties
Income, housing, poverty, healthcare, ranked by county
See your full cost of living in Texas
Housing, taxes, childcare, insurance: all estimated.
Compare Similar States
TX vs PA
Texas vs Pennsylvania
COL 97 vs 97 · No vs 3.07% income tax
Full comparison →
TX vs ID
Texas vs Idaho
COL 97 vs 96 · No vs 5.3% income tax
Full comparison →
TX vs ND
Texas vs North Dakota
COL 97 vs 98 · No vs 2.5% income tax
Full comparison →
TX vs SD
Texas vs South Dakota
COL 97 vs 95 · No vs No income tax
Full comparison →
Texas will change its laws. We'll email you when it does.
One email when Texas changes a tax, gun, cannabis or abortion law. Unsubscribe in one click.
Texas Guides
relocation
Texas Income Migration: Who's Moving In and What They Earn
Texas continues to attract high-earning migrants from California, New York, and Illinois. IRS data s…
relocation
Best Texas Counties to Live In: A Data-Driven Breakdown
Texas has 254 counties, but a handful pull most of the weight when it comes to jobs, schools, safety…
taxes
Texas Franchise Tax: What Business Owners Need to Know
Texas has no corporate income tax, but it does have a franchise tax that catches many business owner…
lifestyle
Texas Hippie Hollow: America's Largest Public Nude Park
Hippie Hollow on Lake Travis is the only legally recognized clothing-optional public park in Texas a…
Data is informational only. Verify with a tax professional, real estate agent, and local sources before making relocation decisions. Crime data: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023. Healthcare: Commonwealth Fund 2023; life expectancy from County Health Rankings 2024. Education: Education Week 2023. Housing: Zillow monthly index and Census ACS 2022. Insurance: rate surveys 2024. Sponsored links marked “Sponsored” may earn a commission. This does not affect our data or rankings.