Moving to Spring Texas – Will you Love or Hate it

Moving to Spring Texas and wondering whether you will LOVE or HATE it here? I’ve lived in Spring Texas for 20+ years and there are definitely things I love and things I hate about Spring.

The TOP 5 THINGS I HATE about living in Spring Texas are:

1. Traffic – Spring Texas can be considered a suburb of Houston Texas which is the 4th largest city in the United States. We have traffic and it doesn’t matter what time of the day, day of the week or day of the month, you will need to deal with traffic when you live in Spring.  We have traffic on our major interstates, the toll roads, and the side roads.  I hate traffic with a passion which is why I do by best to plan my road trips for the non-peak drive times and for the non-school times.  You are going to have to learn to deal with traffic and to be patient on the roads when you live in Spring. My best productivity hack for driving is to listen to YouTube Videos and Podcasts.
2. Humidity – Spring Texas doesn’t have a dry heat like Arizona. The heat is a wet, sticky and sweaty heat. During the months of June – September the humidity levels are 70+ percent. The humidity takes the energy out of you and you feel like you are going to melt. As your blood thins out over the years making it through the sticky summer months gets easier. Pro tip is don’t leave the house without water during the summer months. Stay hydrated by drinking water even when you are not thirsty.
3. High Property Tax Rates – Texas does not have a state income tax. In exchange for not having a state income tax, we have high property taxes which is how we fund our local services and our schools. The real estate tax rates in Spring range from 1.6% – 3.6% before any tax exemptions. The tax rates vary by subdivision / neighborhood. The newer the subdivision the higher the tax rate.
4. No Four Seasons – I joke but I’m half serious when I say that I think Spring Texas only has two seasons – hot and hotter. We don’t really have a winter as it rarely snows in Spring Texas. Spring and Fall brings cooler temperatures.  A lot of our trees our evergreen which means they stay green year round.  We have a small portion of trees that turn colors and lose their leaves. I love the four seasons but unfortunately we don’t get four seasons in Spring.
5. Cost of Water – During the summer months, our water bill can be as high as our electricity bill. We are a small household of 2 and we are not competing for greenest yard on the block but our water bill can be $120 – $140 during the summer months.

The TOP 5 THINGS I LOVE about living in Spring Texas are:

1. Low Cost of Living – I love the low cost of living in Spring Texas. Our utilities are 3% below the national average. Our food and grocery are 4% below the national average. Our healthcare is 8% below the national average. Our housing cost is 16% below the national average. Since housing is typically a person’s biggest monthly expense are low housing costs is the main driver behind the increase in relocation buyers in our area. People from Utah, California, New York, and Washington are relocating to Texas because of the high housing costs in their areas.  Our gas is 19% below the national average. The national average for a gallon of regular unleaded gas is $3.30 and in Spring Texas a gallon of regular unleaded gas is $2.65.
2. Weather – I love the warmer temperatures in Spring Texas. Our average high temperatures during the summer are in the low to mid 90s.  In the winter our average low temperatures are in the low to mid 40s. We rarely receive snow or ice. I’ve found it’s much easier to drive in heat and humidity than snow and ice.
3. No State Income Tax – Texas is one of nine states that have no state income tax. The tax rate in my homestate of Illinois is 4.95%. When I moved to Texas, I felt like I received an instant wage increase.
4. Food – Texas owns the bragging rights on BBQ and some of the state’s best BBQ is found right in Old Town Spring at Corkscrew BBQ. Their BBQ has won over the taste buds of numerous panelists landing them on prestigious lists including “TOP 50 Best BBQ in Texas”. Houston is the most ethnic diverse city in the US. Since Spring could be considered a suburb of Houston, we have an ethnic diverse population which brings lots of different foods to explore, taste, and enjoy.  When I’m in the mood for juicy, sizzling on the plate fajitas, Pappasitos is where I head. Branch out to a different and full of flavor taco at Torchy’s Tacos. Make sure to ask for the Secret Menu and order from the rotating, off menu tacos. Grab a Gyro at the Greek restaurant of Olive Oil. Dine on the weekend and stay for the belly dancing and the breaking of plates. A feast for your eyes and your stomach awaits you at Bloofin Sushi which is my favorite spot for the freshest fish. Their focus is on the fish and less on the rice.
5. Location – I love the convenient location of Spring Texas. Spring has numerous festivals, shopping, and restaurants to enjoy but its proximity allows you to experience so much more. Within 15 to 20 minutes you can get up to the Woodlands for a night out on the Waterway or to attend a concert at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. It’s only a 30 minute drive to the IAH airport where direct flights to numerous domestic and international destinations await you. A 35 minute drive gets me into downtown Houston to enjoy a Rockets game or an Astros game or a Texans game or I can enjoy the afternoon at one of Houston’s many renowned museums in the museum district. When I’m in need of some relaxing beach time, I drive an 1.5 for a weekend of sun on Galveston’s beaches. Galveston is also home to numerous cruise lines. A three hour drive gets me to the three very different cities of Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas Texas. Spring’s convenient location makes it easy to explore and learn.

Guide to the Best of Spring Texas