Welcome to Texas. You're going to love it and you're going to be confused. Here's everything nobody tells you.
Weather
- It WILL be 100+ degrees for 30-60 days straight in summer. This is not an exaggeration.
- Hail storms are real and they WILL damage your car. Get comprehensive auto insurance.
- Tornadoes happen. Download a weather app with push alerts. WFAA is the best local weather.
- "It's a dry heat" — no it's not. DFW humidity is brutal June-August.
- Spring is 2 weeks long. Winter is random.
Driving
- Highway speeds are 75-80+ in reality, regardless of posted limits
- Toll roads are everywhere. Get a TollTag (ntta.org) immediately — cash tolls cost 50% more
- The left lane is for PASSING. Texas drivers will flash you. Move over.
- Frontage roads (service roads) exist on every major highway. Unique to Texas.
- "The 635" is not a thing. It's just "635." Texans don't put "the" before highway numbers.
No State Income Tax (but...)
- Texas has no state income tax. Celebrate.
- But property taxes are 2-3% of home value. On a $400K home that's $8,000-$12,000/year.
- Sales tax is 8.25% (6.25% state + 2% local)
- Energy is deregulated. You CHOOSE your electric provider. More on this below.
Electricity (This is important)
- Go to powertochoose.org to compare plans
- Avoid variable rate plans — get a fixed rate for 12-24 months
- Read the EFL (Electricity Facts Label) — that's where the real price per kWh is
- Summer bills can be $300-500+ for a house. Set the thermostat to 78 and invest in ceiling fans.
- During extreme cold or heat, conserve energy. ERCOT grid strain is real. See: 2021 winter storm.
Food
- Tex-Mex is its own cuisine, not Mexican food. Both are amazing here.
- BBQ brisket is the state religion. Pecan Lodge, Terry Black's, Cattleack are the DFW holy trinity.
- Whataburger is better at 2 AM. This is not debatable.
- H-E-B is the best grocery store you've ever been to. It's expanding into DFW.
- Kolaches are a thing. Try them.
Culture
- Texas politeness is real. People WILL wave at you. Wave back.
- "Yes sir" and "yes ma'am" are standard. Not old-fashioned, just respectful.
- High school football is a cultural event, not just a sport.
- Pickup trucks are not political statements here. They're practical.
- Everything is 30 minutes away. Accept this. DFW is the size of Connecticut.
Source: 6 years of living here after moving from Chicago + every transplant conversation I've ever had