The U.S. Census Bureau reported that in 2017, the average household income was $57,652. However, that might not be sufficient to buy a family home in New York or San Francisco. If desiring a home in the $250,000 price range, you might get a 184 square foot apartment in New York or 208 square feet of living space in San Francisco. But, if insisting on living in the city, consider the state of Texas.

From 2017 to 2018, 200,000 people left NYC. On the other hand, Houston, Austin and Dallas are in the top five U.S. cities with growing populations. A record 97 people moved to Houston during the same years that people left the Big Apple. In Houston, families are able to acquire a 1,204 square foot home for approximately $250,000. The same square footage is priced at approximately $1.58 million in San Francisco and $1.66 million in New York.

Along with affordable housing, Houston has a number of popular attractions. Venture back to the days of the Wild West each March by attending the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Anyone interested in space exploration should take the time to visit the Johnson Space Center and Space Center Houston. See the craft that ventured to outer space. Learn the requirements for becoming an astronaut. The Museum District features the Holocaust Museum, the Houston Museum of Natural Science and the Museum of Fine Arts.

Dallas or Austin

In Dallas, a 1,500 square foot home averages $144,641. Along with affordable housing and big-city amenities, the metropolis has the Dallas Zoo. The 106-acre facility cares for more than 2,000 animals that represent 400 different species. Take a trip to White Rock Lake and the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. The 66-acre oasis displays flowering plants year long. The children’s garden features waterfalls, a treetop walk and a treehouse.

In Austin, a home of similar size costs an average of $270,263. Music lovers make a point of visiting the Austin City Limits studio to hear many different artists perform various music genres. Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy scaling Mount Bonnell. Take the family to the Austin Nature & Science Center, and let the youngsters dig for dinosaur fossils. Learn about the state’s heritage at the Bullock Texas State Historical Museum.