Sacramento to Houston or Dallas (Austin: transplants, lease, tornadoes)

[Joy74]

What city has the worst weather in regard to humidity. How difficult would it be to adjust? What is traffic like in each city? Does the affordability make up for the severe weather systems in the areas? Is the diversity similar to Sacramento? An info would be great.

[Willsson]

Joy, the winner definitely is Houston for humidity but in no way is the weather the 'worst'. Like anywhere, it's just the weather and has it's benefits and well as draw backs. Had it not been for that weather, there might never have been an AstroDome. The 'adjustability' is entirely up to you. Some transplants like it, some don't, apparently plenty in the 'like' column as evidenced by Houston's growth. In contrast, Dallas gets hot and dry. The temp gets higher with some humidity.

I would suggest neither is more diverse but that Houston's diversity is more widespread than that of Dallas.

[SunnyTXsmile]

Humidity provides air moisture for better skin, thereby reducing wrinkles, or so the beauty articles will tell you.

[goodtymes70]

Houston has the most humidity, the Dallas area has almost the same weather as Sacramento, with exception to the lack of night time cooling in the summer months.

Traffic is a little worse in Houston, but not much. It's important to try and live closer to your work or within acceptable commute time. If you move then you could always do a 6 month lease until you find work then move.
Both areas are very widespread metros so traffic is heavy during rush hours.

Diversity is wide ranging in both areas. Houston is most diverse. Houston has many more Asians than DFW. Both areas are very diverse as most of Texas is heavy Hispanic and White....Houston, Dallas and East Texas have large Black populations, but still much smaller in numbers compared to Hispanics and Whites.

The severe weather systems are rare. Oklahoma and Kansas get lot's of tornadoes during in storm season, but in Texas not near as much as OK and KS. Texas is the 2nd most populated state in the USA so there doesn't seem much concern for the 25+million living here.

[Metro Matt]

Originally Posted by Joy74

What city has the worst weather in regard to humidity. How difficult would it be to adjust? What is traffic like in each city? Does the affordability make up for the severe weather systems in the areas? Is the diversity similar to Sacramento? An info would be great.

Austin is the most similiar city to Sacramento. Its like Texas' version of Sacramento. They look so much alike with the river, hills, & even the skyline. They are both state capitals around the same size.

Houston & Dallas are more like LA.

The humidity in Houston will be the worse, though Dallas & especially Austin can get pretty humid too.

Diversity wise Houston can't be matched by any other city in Texas, or the South for that matter. Dallas is diverse, but it ain't no Houston.

Austin's diversity is Chinese & Indian due to the large tech industry there.

[Sunderpig2]

I agree with the above post - which is very accurate - and agree that Houston would be the hardest to adjust to (weather and humidity wise). Austin would be the most like Sacramento, in a number of ways.

Although prominent factors often get hyped in the name of "affordability" - such as no income tax and lower housing costs - there are other areas that are mostly ignored or kept quiet. Property taxes are very high, and health care costs will continue rising due to poor air quality and water quality, just to name a few.

[slo1318]

^^good points

Really Houston is much worse for high humidity, but both cities will feel significantly hotter than Sacramento

[sxrckr]

Humidity goes like this (most to least) .... Houston>Austin>DFW. Although the difference is not HUGE, as none are near desert. The average difference between Austin and Houston is just about 10%. All have similar heat index readings in the summer, much hotter than Sacramento.

ALL have bad traffic. All have good diversity, though Houston is the most "international."

All have periodic severe weather.... severe thunderstorms, tornadoes (DFW, sometimes outlying areas of Austin), hurricanes (Houston.)

Coming from Sacramento, you will find Austin to be the most similar, but still quite a bit different than California.

[Johnhw2]

You cant go wrong with either Dallas or Houston compared to CA. Houston is much more humid than Dallas and both are more so than Sac. The economy is good here and the cost of living compared to CA is much lower and more than makes up for the weather. Both are diverse and integrated with people from all over the globe or all nationalities living here for a good reason. So yes even someone from CA can manage to live here and be happy despite the weather

[Joy74]

Thank you all for the great responses. I'm leaning toward Dallas, but I know it's best to visit each city.