Houston in the Media
Best Places to Live, Work and Play
(Kiplinger’s Personal Finance – July 2008)
Kiplinger’s Personal Finance called Houston the “Comeback Kid” on this list of the best cities to live, work and play, citing its mixture of energy, aerospace, technology and medical careers available for residents as well as the city’s myriad museums and restaurants. The Houston metro area leads the nation in job growth, and its cost of living stands well below the national average, the magazine said. Houston topped Provo, Utah; Des Moines, Iowa; Sacramento, California; Fayetteville, Arkansas; Austin, Texas; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Boise, Idaho; Omaha, Nebraska; and Raleigh, North Carolina.
Best U.S. City to Earn a Living
(Forbes.com – August 18, 2008)
This ranking heralded Houston’s dynamic business environment, low unemployment and high wages relative to cost of living. Forbes.com called Houston the American business hub for oil and commodities. Houston topped Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Dallas, San Francisco, Pittsburgh, New York, Washington, D.C., Boston, and Minneapolis.
Best City for Your Job
(BusinessWeek – June 12, 2008)
Houston is the best city in the country for workers to find a good job and a high standard of living, according to BusinessWeek. Houston scored high for careers in the oil and gas industry, as well as those in management, medicine, mechanical and civil engineering, finance, marketing, law and information technology. The magazine reported that job seekers in all sorts of careers have started streaming into Houston, where the unemployment rate was 3.8 percent in April, the lowest level in eight years, and where the job growth rate was 2.8 percent.
Best City to Buy a Home
(Forbes.com – July 14, 2008)
Houston held the top position on the Best Cities to Buy a Home list produced by Forbes.com. The city’s booming energy industry and a growing entrepreneurial tech scene contributed to the ranking. Home prices are on the rise by 6.6 percent, and vacant homes have disappeared by 11.3 percent in the last two years, the Web site said. Houston topped Atlanta, Jacksonville, San Francisco, Charlotte, Dallas, San Antonio, Philadelphia, St. Louis and Austin.
Best City for Recent College Grads
(Forbes.com – June 26, 2008)
The list of Best Cities for Recent College Grads belongs to Texas, with Houston nabbing the first spot, followed by Dallas and Austin. Houston’s average starting salary of $44,100, for those with bachelor’s degrees is the second-highest in the nation, and the oil, technology and banking are booming, according to Forbes.com. Houston topped San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Raleigh-Durham, Charlotte, Atlanta, Seattle, Denver, Austin and Dallas.
