A business-friendly climate with relaxed construction regulations and lower labor costs, in addition to a favorable tax structure with no state income tax and lower property taxes, contributes to making Texas housing more affordable.

The median home price in Texas as of October 2023 was $342,400, according to Redfin data. However, prices vary greatly depending on which part of the Texas housing market you're looking in. For instance, the median price in Lubbock was just $245,000, while in buzzy Austin, it was a much higher $545,000.

"Higher mortgage rates deterred some buyers in 2023, but even so, the overall median price of homes in Texas saw only a slight decline, 1.4 percent, compared to 2022, with the majority of metro areas seeing slight median price increases.

The cost of living in Texas is 7% lower than the national average. Housing is 17% lower than the national average, while utilities are 3% higher. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 4% lower than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs 4% lower.