Why I Moved To Texas, Part III

The AP (via Yahoo! News) confirms what I've known since 2002 (and suspected since the mid-1980's) -- Texas is a GREAT Place to Live! (And my buddy Raven backhandedly agrees HERE:)

4 Texas Cities Among Top 10 in Growth
Thursday March 27, 9:12 am ET; By Paul J. Weber, Associated Press Writer

DALLAS (AP) -- Four Texas metropolitan areas were among the biggest population gainers as Americans continued their trend of moving to the Sun Belt in 2006 and 2007, according to Census Bureau estimates to be released Thursday.

Dallas-Fort Worth added more than 162,000 residents between July 2006 and July 2007, more than any other metro area. Three other Texas areas -- Houston, Austin and San Antonio -- also cracked the top 10.

Of the 50 fastest-growing metro areas, 27 were in the South and 20 were in the West. Two were in the Midwest, one -- Fayetteville, Ark. -- straddles the South and Midwest and none was in the Northeast. Experts credit much of the growth in the South to relatively strong local economies and housing prices that are among the most affordable in the U.S.

"People are running away from unaffordable housing, from the economic slowdown," said Karl Eschbach, a state demographer in Texas. "I would expect Texas to stay at the top of a slowing game."

According to figures compiled by Eschbach, 16 percent of Americans who moved to other states between July 2006 and July 2007 came to Texas, which led the nation for the second straight year in that category. A report earlier this month by Global Insight found that housing prices in the Dallas area were undervalued by as much as 30 percent.

Sales taxes are relatively low. Gas prices are low due to the proximity of refineries in Houston and Gulf drilling rigs, and food costs are kept low with Texas growing more food than it can use. The Rio Grande valley is one of the best citrus and vegetable growing areas in the U.S., and Texas is traditionally one of the largest cattle-producing states, even if you've never seen a John Wayne movie. While immigrants do have an influence in keeping prices low, that's mostly due to their providing competition to union workers, who can't charge their ridiculously high union wages with the competition from immigrants.

As my friend Raven should know, taxes have a LOT to do with this as well. Her own state of New Hampshire was voted the most liveable state by GQ, in no small part due to it's not having a state income tax.

Just like Texas, Rave -- just like Texas. (Heh.)

~~JD~~