The Honest Guide To Making The Move
Every year, thousands of families leave their home state of California, New York, Illinois, and others for the space, the value, and the no-state-income-tax reality of North Texas. For some its a job relocation or transfer and for others its their budget getting too tight. The move is bigger than a home search. It is schools, cost of living, culture, weather, and a hundred questions nobody back home can answer honestly. This is where those answers live, told straight, one home state at a time
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Where Are You Moving From?
Pick the state you're leaving for a straight, no-spin breakdown of what the move to North Texas actually looks like.
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The Texas Move, No Matter Where You’re From
No State Income Tax
Texas doesn’t tax your paycheck, your retirement, or your business profits. For a lot of families relocating here, that alone is the equivalent of a raise the day they arrive.
Your Dollar Buys More Home
In most of the country, a mid-six-figure budget buys a starter home. Across North Texas, the same money often buys a larger, newer home in a master-planned community with strong schools, from Denton and Melissa in the north down through Dallas–Fort Worth and into Ellis County.
A Job Market That’s Still Growing
Major employers keep moving headquarters and expansions into the metroplex, which means the growth here isn’t a rumor, it’s payroll. North Texas alone is home to over 650 corporate headquarters. That’s part of what keeps housing demand and long-term value strong.
The Honest Tradeoffs
It gets hot, property taxes run higher than some states expect, and HOA culture is real in the newer suburbs. Even so, most families find they are still saving money when they move here, but you deserve to hear it straight before you pack.
Where People Are Landing
Most relocation buyers aren’t picking a dot on a map, they’re looking for the version of their old life that costs less and breathes easier. Families wanting master-planned, California-style suburbs gravitate to Prosper, Frisco, and McKinney. Buyers who want land and space head south into Ellis County. I personally guide relocation buyers through that entire corridor, from Denton and Melissa in the north, through Dallas–Fort Worth, and down into Ellis County. I don’t hand you off to a stranger. I show you the homes myself.
The Six Most Popular North Texas Areas for Relocation
Below are the six North Texas areas transplants gravitate to most, each one a different answer to the same question: what kind of life are you moving toward?
Frisco/Prosper Area
Often chosen by families upgrading from expensive coastal suburbs who want it all: master-planned neighborhoods, top-ranked schools, and the corporate corridor that brought companies like Toyota and PGA of America to town. If you’re leaving Orange County or the Bay Area and want your new life to feel like a step up, you start here.
McKinney/Plano Area
Often chosen by buyers who want Frisco’s amenities with more character and a friendlier price. Historic downtown McKinney charm, Plano’s established job base, and the “Naperville with newer houses” feel that Chicago and Midwest transplants gravitate to instantly.
Waxahachie Area
Often chosen by buyers who want land, space, and small-town Texas roots without losing reach to the metroplex. Historic downtown, room to breathe, and more home for your money down I-35E. This is my home ground, and the area I know block by block.
Arlington Area
Often chosen by buyers who want to live in the center of everything. Dead between Dallas and Fort Worth, home to the stadiums and the entertainment district, with a huge job base and real value still on the table. The pick for people who don’t want to choose a side of the metroplex.
Forney Area
Often chosen by buyers who want the most house for their money on the fast-growing east side. Newer construction, quick access back into Dallas, and a value equation that’s pulling families out I-20 before the rest of the market catches on.
Cleburne Area
Often chosen by buyers who want real Texas, land, a slower pace, and prices that still make sense, on the western edge of the metroplex. The pick for people leaving high-cost states who want acreage and authenticity without a two-hour commute.
FAQ: Relocating To Texas
Common Questions From Out-of-State Buyers
Is it really cheaper to live in North Texas?
For most people relocating from high-cost states, yes, but the honest answer has two parts. Texas has no state income tax, which functions like an immediate raise. Home prices per square foot run well below coastal markets, so the same budget buys more house. The tradeoff is property taxes, which run higher here than many states expect. Factor all three together and most transplants still come out ahead, but you should run your own numbers, not just the headline.
Does Texas really have no state income tax?
Correct. Texas does not tax personal income, retirement income, or business profits at the state level. The state funds itself largely through property and sales taxes instead, which is why property taxes are higher. For high earners leaving states with steep income taxes, this is often the single biggest financial driver of the move.
How is the North Texas job market?
Strong and still growing. Major employers have continued relocating headquarters and expanding operations across the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, which sustains housing demand and long-term property value. That corporate growth is a big reason relocation traffic into the area has stayed high.
What are property taxes like in North Texas?
Higher than buyers from many states anticipate, and they deserve a real conversation before you buy, not a surprise at closing. Rates vary by city, county, school district, and any special taxing districts tied to a specific community. The right move is to price taxes into your monthly budget from day one so the number you fall in love with is the number you can actually afford.
Where do most people moving to North Texas end up?
It depends on what they’re chasing. Buyers who want master-planned neighborhoods and top-rated schools tend toward the northern corridor around Frisco, Prosper, and McKinney. Buyers who want land, space, and small-town roots head south into Ellis County or west toward Cleburne. Value-focused buyers often look east toward Forney. The area section above breaks down the most popular landing spots.
How hot does it actually get, and what’s the weather like?
Summers are genuinely hot, with stretches of triple-digit days, so that’s worth knowing before you move. In exchange, winters are mild and short, and the region sees far less snow and ice than northern states. Most transplants adjust quickly, but going in with clear expectations beats being surprised in August.
Do I need to visit before I buy, or can I relocate remotely?
Plenty of relocation buyers start the process entirely from out of state and visit once they’ve narrowed their options, and that works well with the right guidance. The key is having someone local who can be your eyes on the ground, tour homes, read neighborhoods honestly, and keep you from making an expensive decision off listing photos alone.
Do you help buyers relocating from any state?
Yes. Whether or not there’s a full published guide for your specific state, the fundamentals of the move are the same, and the process starts with a conversation about where you’re coming from and what you’re looking for. Tell me your situation and I’ll build the roadmap.
Bobby Franklin
Realtor®
Serving DFW | Ellis County
16 Northgate Dr. Ste 100
Waxahachie, TX 75165
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