Moving from St. Louis to Houston?
St. Louis to Houston — MO 4.95% to TX 0% saves $4,950/yr, housing 21% pricier, energy/medical.
- 800 mi Distance
- 12 hr Drive time
- -21% lower Home prices
- $4,950/yr Tax savings on $100K
St. Louis-to-Houston is tax + career move. MO 4.95% → TX 0% saves $4,950/yr. Housing 21% pricier ($215K → $260K), COL 8% higher. Pull: TMC (largest medical complex), Energy Capital, NASA Johnson Space Center, no winter. Boeing Defense (STL) → NASA bridge.
Why people move from St. Louis to Houston.
- TX 0% income tax replaces MO 4.95% — saves $4,950/year on $100K
- Texas Medical Center — largest medical complex worldwide
- Energy Capital — Exxon, Chevron, ConocoPhillips
- NASA Johnson Space Center + aerospace (Boeing Defense bridge)
- Port of Houston (largest US port)
- No more STL winter (snow eliminated)
- Housing only 21% pricier (modest)
- Diverse food scene
The money side of MO → TX.
St. Louis
- Median home$215,000
- Income tax4.95% (MO top)
- Cost index89
Houston
- Median home$260,000
- Income tax0% (TX)
- Cost index96
Things you'll want to know about your new city.
Bookmark this page — these are the icons of Houston, organized by what kind of day you're planning.
Outdoors & Recreation
- Discovery Green — 12-acre downtown park; ice skating in winter
- Buffalo Bayou Park — 160-acre linear park; kayaking, biking, art installations
Culture & Arts
- Museum of Fine Arts Houston (MFAH) — Sixth-largest museum in US; James Turrell Skyspace
- The Menil Collection — Free private collection; renowned 20th-century works
- Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo — March; world's largest rodeo and concert series
- Minute Maid Park (Astros) — Retractable-roof MLB stadium
Family-Friendly
- Space Center Houston — NASA Johnson Space Center visitor center; Mission Control tour
- Houston Museum of Natural Science — Cockrell Butterfly Center, Hall of Paleontology
- Hermann Park / Houston Zoo — 445-acre park; 55-acre zoo
- Galveston Island (50 min south) — Beach, Pleasure Pier, historic Strand district
Houston's essential restaurants.
The dining list every Houston resident knows by heart. Save the spots, work through them.
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Pappas Bros. Steakhouse Steakhouse Galleria
Classic Houston steakhouse
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Crawfish & Noodles Vietnamese-Cajun Bellaire/Chinatown
Viet-Cajun crawfish — a Houston original cuisine
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Ninfa's on Navigation Tex-Mex East End
Original 1973 Ninfa's; invented fajitas (claim)
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Truth BBQ BBQ Midtown
Brisket comparable to Austin's Franklin (some say better)
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Underbelly Hospitality (multiple) Various Multiple
Chris Shepherd's restaurant group; James Beard winner
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Killen's BBQ (Pearland) BBQ Pearland
Ronnie Killen's flagship BBQ
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Xochi Mexican Downtown
Hugo Ortega's Oaxacan-focused; James Beard winner
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March Mediterranean tasting Montrose
Felipe Riccio's tasting menu; Michelin star
Best Houston neighborhoods for St. Louis transplants.
Mapped to the St. Louis neighborhoods that probably feel like home to you.
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The Heights
If Central West End was your vibe — walkable historic, restaurants
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Montrose
If The Grove was your speed — walkable, art, restaurants
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Memorial
If Clayton was your goal — wooded, top schools
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Sugar Land (suburb)
If Chesterfield was your model — master-planned, top schools
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Katy (suburb)
If Town & Country was your model — affordable, top schools
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EaDo / East Downtown
If Soulard was your scene — warehouses, breweries, BBQ
What daily life feels like in Houston.
Climate
Humid subtropical (effectively coastal). Hot, humid summers (78-95°F, June-Sept). Mild winters (45-65°F, occasional freeze). Hurricane season June-November (Harvey 2017 was catastrophic). 204 sun days/year.
- Summer78-94°F
- Winter45-65°F
- Sun days/yr204
- Rainfall53 inches
Walkability
- Walk Score47/100
- Transit Score36/100
- Bike Score51/100
Houston is car-dependent — most errands require driving.
Outdoors & Recreation
- Buffalo Bayou Park — 160 acres of linear park, kayaking, biking
- Memorial Park — 1,500-acre urban park; Seymour Lieberman Trail
- Galveston Island — beach access (50 min south)
- Brazos Bend State Park — alligators, hiking (1 hr southwest)
- Sam Houston National Forest (1 hr north) — hiking, kayaking
- Houston Bayou system — paddling Buffalo, White Oak, Brays bayous
What changes about your daily life.
- Housing 21% pricier — modest increase
- COL 8% higher
- MO 4.95% becomes TX 0% — $4,950/yr savings
- Climate flips humid continental to humid subtropical — gain 90°F+ summers
- Property taxes higher (TX 1.6-2.3% vs MO 1.0%)
- Hurricane risk arrives (Gulf Coast)
- MetroLink → METRO (similar)
- Sports — gain Texans/Astros/Rockets, lose Cardinals/Blues
How to drive there.
What it takes to move 800 miles.
- Full-service (3BR)$4,200-$7,800
- Container/PODS$3,000-$5,200
- DIY (26-ft truck)$2,200-$4,000
- Best monthsOct-Apr (avoid hurricane season)
- Lead time6-8 weeks ahead
USDOT-registered.
Moving from St. Louis to Houston: FAQ.
Boeing Defense STL to Houston?
Strong bridge. Boeing has Houston/Clear Lake operations supporting NASA + commercial space. Many STL Boeing engineers transfer to Houston aerospace ops. Spaceflight industry growing.
Express Scripts/Centene to Houston?
Decent fit. Houston has growing healthcare admin (TMC operations, MD Anderson admin). Insurance and PBM experience translates. Career pivot to healthcare delivery common.
Let's find the right interstate mover for your St. Louis-to-Houston move.
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