I'm a born and raised Houstonian and I hate the construction, the hot humid summers, and the traffic. Why would I be upset if someone else felt the same. \ud83e\udd37
\nHouston is a hot, humid, ugly as hell sh*thole and I\u2019ll die on that hill. But the people, food, culture and lifestyle are otherworldly and make Houston one of the best, most unforgettable places. And even though I live on the other side of the world now, Houston will always have a special place in my heart.
\nI\u2019d disagree on lifestyle but you are spot on with the people, food, and culture. I\u2019ve traveled to 45 of the 50 states and I haven\u2019t found a city, or state, that has the food or culture Houston has.
\n\nI hate it here, but it sure is nice to be able to crave any food and find a local restaurant that absolutely kills it on quality, authenticity, and service. Couple that with some of the best neighbors I\u2019ve ever had at multiple different homes and it makes it hard to leave.
\nYes, you are correct. When I said lifestyle, I meant attitude, or something to describe the way people from Houston (for the most part) are laid back, friendly, welcoming of all cultures. I don\u2019t get to speak English often where I live, so I forget words a lot.
\nHunter S Thompson said it best\u2026
\n\n\u201dHouston is a cruel, crazy town on a filthy city in East Texas with no zoning laws and a culture of sex, money and violence. It\u2019s a shabby, sprawling metropolis ruled by brazen women, crooked cops, and pansexual cowboys who live by the code of the west - which can mean just about anything you need it to in a pinch\u201d
\n\nI first saw that quote at Free Press Summer Fest in 2015. On that day, I got a selfie with Annise Parker after she stepped on my hand inside a tent. I heard \u201cInternational Players Anthem\u201d performed live, backed by a live band (The Suffers), and saw that quote on a big screen next to the main stage at sunset.
\n\nI stayed 10 ft from the stage for hours to see Ben Harper, St. Vincent, The Decembrists, and Weezer. My new friends next to me gave me a couple of hits from a blunt before the Weezer set.
\n\nThat\u2019s as romantic as it\u2019s been for me in over 10 years.
\n\nAlso, Free Press was held in a giant parking lot because Eleanor Tinsley flooded with 50 ft of water on Memorial Day. I paid an extra $100 to get a pass for the tents after I had three beers and thought I would die.
\n\nWhen I got home that night, I passed out on the floor after taking my shoes off and woke up to my cat licking my arm because it\u2019s was saltier than a potato chip.
\n\nI\u2019ve been here for 10 years, and I\u2019ve been talking about moving for 9.5 of them.
\n\nAs recently as December, I was thinking about moving to New York until I did the math. Between taxes and rent, I can just fly up for a weekend a month and stay in a nice hotel, bouncing around to whatever neighborhood I feel like.
\n\nHouston is home now.
\nI'd argue Summer Fest is a good example of why the haters have a point. It's been gone now for years and replaced with... nothing. Meanwhile, cities 1/5 our size (Louisville, Memphis, SLC, not to mention Austin, SF, Chicago, Seattle) host comparable annual festivals with great lineups every year.
\nBut why do promoters insist on doing outdoor festival type concerts here in July and August?
\nThe people who ran FPSF also ran Day for Night in December\u2014 thats the festival I think would have been a game changer. The weather is usually great, and there\u2019s no risk of heatstroke or hurricanes. Plus I can\u2019t think of many major winter music festivals, and it\u2019s a time of year when people have more opportunity to travel due to holidays/academic calendars.
\nI'd go to a music festival in December for sure.
\nremember the year that cold front came through? that light up bubble ball tent was destroyed as the harsh rain and wind tore through the event. for a bit, we were all smooshed up as best we could to hide from the rain until it passed and aphex twin came to our rescue.
\nSo truuuuue. They would be better off doing it in mid 70s December weather!!!!
\nThat's not fair to us! Where is our culture of sex?!?!
\nRichmond Ave and Bissonnet St
\nThe only Richmond that crosses Bissonnet is Old Richmond out in Alief, and if that's what you're talking about the city is doomed, DOOOMED!!
\nThank you. Who in their right mind would enjoy living in a city with dirty air, dirty streets, that feels sticky all the time except when it\u2019s raining?
\n\nLook, as someone who was born and raised in Houston, I used to love it and would defend it to the death. Then, I moved, and saw how other cities operated, and it made me realize how much Houston sucks. I take no joy in this.
\nYeah this is it. Lived in Houston for a long ass time and was always defending Houston. Now? Would never go back.
\n\ud83d\udcaf\ud83e\udd17
\nFound the true Houstonian! You\u2019re in good company here. Don\u2019t even get me started on the sprawl and lack of public transit network/car dependence compared to other cities this size.
\nAnyone who doesn't hate the insane traffic and horrible weather is sus in my book.
\n\nI've been here for 20+ years (transplant) and noticed the traffic situation finally crept up to the level of LA/NYC right before the pandemic.
\n\nThe humidity has always sucked, but we have WAY FEWER cold snap days now. When we get them, they're worse.
\nSame. I\u2019m only still here because of the handful of people I love enough to make tolerating the place worth it.
\nHouston is an acquired taste. I personally love it. The ingrained multiculturalism above all. But I\u2019m not going to be an apologist about the lack of walkability, no public transit, humidity, etc. They suck and if you say otherwise I question your objectivity.
\nExactly. I am proud of our multiculturalism, and the food & music that comes with that. But lord do we need some proper city planning, public transport, and revitalization efforts to improve quality of life for all houston communities.
\nToo fucking hot to do anything but run to your car and start the ac
\nBut other cities such as Chicago and NYC have that. What separates Houston away from those? As a non Houstonian, I\u2019m genuinely asking. Cheaper to live in I heard. That\u2019s a huge plus. But the driving without many options, is not.
\nHouston is the most diverse city in the us, above Chicago, nyc, la. Also, this is the south. Southern racism is\u2026different. The north believes in community segregation.
\n100% here. As Houstonians, hating Dallas is in our DNA. But their urban planning over the last 10-20 years is so much better than ours. Pocket parks. Walkability in the various areas around the city. Just don\u2019t eat ethnic food there. Damn it sucks.
\nHouston isn\u2019t sexy. You come here for a better lifestyle based on financial factors - you make more money and you spend less on necessities.
\n\nThat\u2019s why it\u2019s Hustletown, There\u2019s no other reason to come here, unless your loved ones are already here, and they probably came here for a better lifestyle.
\nSame. I was once on a spirit airlines flight and the FA was giving a talk about how signing up for a card could get you enough points for a flight.\u00a0
\n\nShe went on to say how you\u2019d still have to pay for your water and to bring a bag on board etc. Her line was \u201cI know who I work for and I\u2019ve made peace with those things\u201d. \u00a0\u00a0
\n\nThat\u2019s how I feel about Houston. I love love love the community and the people. The other stuff I ignore/accept because the community is and multiculturalism is incredible. \u00a0Yes traffic, humidity, weather insecurity. \u00a0\u201cI know where I live and I\u2019ve made peace with those things\u201d.\u00a0
\nSo, you're saying Houston is the Spirit Airlines of major cities. \ud83e\udd26\u200d\u2640\ufe0f
\nI like that it's humid, I have so many tropical plants that love the humidity. \ud83d\ude36\u200d\ud83c\udf2b\ufe0f
\nhey hey zone 10 and our double grow seasons!
\nIt\u2019s also a free sauna if you work in a covered space with open doors as I do.
\nthis is it. probably said same thing on this sub 50 times. I\u2019m from NY first thing people ask me is \u201cwow big change how do you like it?\u201d. I love it, quality of life is much better and it\u2019s a great place to live. i get that it\u2019s ugly and flat. fair. Not a great place to visit but the food scene is elite and there\u2019s elbow room. I couldn\u2019t have the house i have in NYC. 610 is worst road in america fine. traffic and logistics suck in NY too and atleast you can have a car.
\nSimilar situation. It's hard not to compare the cities, especially when they actually have a lot in common (awful traffic, diversity, good to excellent food scene, erratic weather, flat and unattractive, and a bubble of ignorance that is often disguised as pride).
\n\nThere is a trade off of course, which is the affordability, space for homes and parking or development and access to foods not common in NYC (as well as vice versa), taxes, and more freedom to roam.
\nI only lived in Houston as a baby but lived in Katy for most of my life so I don\u2019t really have much to say on public transit but I just moved to Colorado and I hate that it\u2019s so dry here. I never thought I\u2019d say it but I miss being hot and I miss the humidity and I\u2019m sick of the snow already I just want to wear shorts and a tshirt lol but I\u2019m moving back home next year because I\u2019m majorly depressed here
\nWhen I moved to Houston from Colorado I was struck by just how many trees there are here. I had forgotten trees having lived out west for 10 years.
\n\nGive CO 3 years. You\u2019ll get used the the dryness and the homogenous culture.\u00a0
\nYeah I don\u2019t think I can give it three years I\u2019ve not been here that long but I\u2019m majorly depressed and just want to be with my family so I\u2019m gonna at least try to stick out the rest of my lease
\nThats how I felt on the West Coast and Midwest. No fucking humidity and your skin and lips are bone DRY.
\nBest take here.
\n\nI both love and hate Houston. Which is why I both left and will be back.
\n\nThe multiculturalism really is a key characteristic of what makes Houston so great.
\nWe lived in Austin for a bit and the access to the hill country was fantastic. But we are from Houston and to our surprise we opted to move back when given the chance.
\nI objectively advocate for humidity and how it keeps us all looking younger. Go check out the desert a few years and let me know how it goes.
\nMost US cities have the same drawbacks you mention, other than humidity.
\nHouston is an acquired taste, if you don\u2019t like it then acquire some taste \ud83d\udc85\ud83c\udffc
\nPreach. Everywhere has things about it that are great and suck at the same time. I see a lot of people talking about the city like it\u2019s Monrovia.
\nIt makes me rock hard
\nYes
\nPhenomenal
\nI like you
\nNo, don't like him. It will make him harder
\n[deleted]
\nAll of the great things you just mentioned about Houston desperately needs rail connectivity. Otherwise it just feels like a bunch of sleepy suburbs with no pedestrian friendliness.
\nTerribly miss that near-decade of my life during which I could grab a dollar slice at 3am :( the pizza here is so wanting. Bagels as well, only ever hot bagel shop for bagels in Houston, since I was \ud83d\udc76
\n\nRe: art scene, I actually think it\u2019s fantastic. Didn\u2019t appreciate it growing up, but few kids do. The Rothko Chapel is iconic. We have the largest Cy Twombly gallery in the world. The Menil has some great abstract and surrealist pieces, but I\u2019ve never been into realism in painting which is the bulk of MFAH, so to each their own.
\nMenil-Rothko is one of the most serenely wonderful slices of any city I\u2019ve been in anywhere on the planet.
\nHave you been to NY Deli? I don\u2019t think you\u2019ll be disappointed by their bagels
\nNew Yorker here. It's fine for Houston. Extremely mid for NY standards.
\n\nIt's very similar to most NY dominant items: pizza, Italian anything, Greek, Jewish, Polish, etc. Just happy there is an option, but it won't fulfill the void we have.
\n\nBefore the downvotes begin, just know the very same role reversal can happen for Houstonians over there: BBQ, Tex-Mex or just Mexican food in general, Cajun anything, Vietnamese, is going to be available but will pale in comparison to what's here.
\nBrothers Pizza has authentic pizza they\u2019re Italian and it\u2019s family owned
\nI miss Brother\u2019s. Closest thing to NY Pizza I had in Texas. Now I live in the middle of nowhere Colorado and we have decent pizza but not NY style deliciousness
\nIt is justified.
\nYap it is justified\u2026.
\n\nBut construction is going on everywhere a large city is\u2026
\n\nAnd hot humid summers\u2026 well welcome to the south\u2026..
\nHouston is a love it or hate it city. Not for everyone, and I get it.
\nSometimes it\u2019s a love it and hate it city! This place perplexes me
\nI got this love-hate thing for Houston. Hate the weather and traffic. Love the food options.
\n\nBut for the people who hate Houston because it's not like the city they came from (especially things that made them move in the first place), fuck 'em. They can go back.
\nthey have a point. Combine the reasons you mentioned with complete lack of walkability, poor public transit, zero historic charm, no interesting geography, general ugliness and trashy nature of the city, I get it.
\nThank you for saying most of the things I was thinking. Add to it the crime rate and how many people have been seemingly randomly shot at and killed.
\nYea, though on crime statistics, I think we're pretty much middle of the road compared to other US cities, which still isn't great. The things I mentioned, we are in the bottom 10% of major cities.
\nConsidering we're the 3th largest city in the US, I thknk middle of the road is not too-too bad
\nYea, I meant in per capita crime rates. Also, we're 4th in population. I keep hearing 3rd, but Chicago is a bigger city, and bigger metro area.
\nHave only lived here 2 years and it\u2019s incredible to me how basically everyday I hear about someone being shot\u2026.. and that\u2019s coming from someone\u2019s who\u2019s lived in Chicago their whole life lol
\nIt depends of the area and neighborhood. People get shot every day , everywhere . It sounds awful but it\u2019s true . But some areas are worse than others . Of course , that means that mortgage or rent will be higher . It\u2019s up to you want you want and your finances can afford .
\nwhat other city outside the northeast is walkable? Houston inside the loop has fantastic parks (memorial and buffalo bayou). The bayou trails are awesome - go use them.
\nPeople are entitled to their opinions. And if they gave Houston an honest and fair chance with an open mind and they end up hating the city, then I have no qualms with that person.
\n\nHowever, someone who hates on Houston because of some of the less salient issues (weather, being in Texas, potential crime) and have barely lived here, then in my opinion, their opinion means very little.
\n\nNo city is perfect, least of all Houston. But considering all of its flaws and draws, I wouldn\u2019t imagine living anywhere else.
\nI've lived here for 25 years, and the weather is absolutely a salient issue. And I say that as someone who really does love a lot about this city.
\nReddit is chock full of haters and complainers. Personally I stay away from people like that. I tend to ignore them here.
\nHey look. A fellow adult
\nI mean, I was born and raised here and those are the three main things I hate about the city.\u00a0But I'll say this, whenever the weather is actually nice I'd rather be nowhere else. We have some of the most laid back and down to earth residents out of any city that I've gone to.
\n\nI've had people come and visit that have never been to Houston before, and they had negative initial thoughts about it. But when I would take them to really cool places like Axelrad, Truck Yard, or various places in The Heights, they were extremely surprised by how awesome it was. They're also always surprised with just how massive of a city it is.
\n\nHouston is definitely not a touristy city, and if you don't really know where to go, then I'm not surprised if you think it's crap. We aren't like most cities, you can't just go to our downtown and expect there to be a lot of nightlife and fun. You have to know the pockets to visit.
\n\nTo people that have never really experienced houston, I sort of describe it like New York. But instead of having boroughs, we have various sections/neighborhoods that all have their own unique vibe and identity. New York has Queens, The Bronx, Manhattan, etc. Houston has Midtown, Montrose, The Heights, etc.
\nHouston is a confederacy of neighborhoods
\nOf course, I totally get it - the weather and construction sucks, and the traffic is the worst. But The people in Houston are awesome - we have a lot of scientists and engineers, and the art scene is amazing. And we have people from all over the world, so we have absolutely the best restaurants. Most of the people in Houston are kind and want to make the world a better place. I've lived in a lot of places, but Houston is where my heart is and will always. be,
\nThe humid summers do suck, though.
\nI\u2019ve been a a huge Houston supporter for a long time. But these last few years have been hard to see the positives. The weather is awful, we\u2019ve lived through too many natural \u201cdisasters\u201d, politics are awful, urban planning is backwards, the car/highway focused culture is getting to be too much, there\u2019s no downtown, there are legitimate safety concerns and honestly it\u2019s hard to keep a good social life here bc everyone is stressed.
\n\nWe\u2019re looking to leave soon.
\nHouston gets a lot of hate, deservedly so. But, there are aspects, like the diversity, food, museums, etc. that can go toe to toe with any city.
\nAre they wrong though??
\nIt\u2019s a weird thing to hate Houston when Dallas is just right up there.
\nI was in Houston for 2 weeks at the beginning of January for work, I fell in love with the city, traffic and all. Great food/music scene.. had to come up to Plano/Dallas.. i might quit my job here and move back to Houston.. Dallas can suck a D..
\nYou fell in love with the traffic??? What kind of animal are you ???
\nOk, maybe not the traffic. I misspoke lol (but I'm originally from NYC and grew up with traffic) and coming from SFL I'm used to humidity.
\nfrom a small town in btween Houston and Dallas. Houston has more opportunities for everyone, same stuff as Dallas, but Dallas there's just something that feels kind of off but it gives me a feeling I don't belong as weird as that is. Houston moved here 3 years ago and I absoutley love it here can't say at the moment I see myself anywhere else unless I come across a huge amount of money lol.
\nMy wife moved here 8 years ago. We\u2019re moving out this year.
\n\nReasons were leaving:\nHeat\nTexas politics\nInfrastructure bullshit
\n\nThings we will miss:\nThe diversity\nThe restaurants\nThe people (so nice)\nHEB/Central Market
\n\nNeither of these are complete lists, and there are more things in the \u201cthings we\u2019ll miss\u201d category than the reasons to leave, but the reasons to leave far outweigh the things we\u2019ll miss.
\n\nI love this city. Been here practically my whole life. It took marrying someone from not here to see the flaws and why it\u2019s important to get out. 4 seasons would be really nice but man, I\u2019m gonna miss a lot.
\nCompared to LA, Chicago, and NYC, yea, Houston sucks ass but try staying a week in places like Orlando or Salt Lake City and you\u2019ll be ready to hit the first flight out of there back to Houston.
\nDon't care what they think.
\nPeople in Houston hate Houston. But if someone not from Houston criticizes Houston in front of Houstonians it gets ugly. Houstonians are all family in that regard.
\nHouston sucks
\n\u201cSay what you will about Houston but the food and restaurants there are incredible, and easily the best of any Texas city.\u201d
\nThat\u2019s the song I want sang to keep prices in check
\nI don't care...That's their opinion...
\nWe\u2019re moving to the Houston area from Oklahoma for my husband\u2019s job and almost everyone here says they hate Houston. & it\u2019s a passionate hate. Even family members that I know for a fact have never been there- except for maybe the airport. I\u2019ve been to Houston. I didn\u2019t hate it at all. & Oklahoma isn\u2019t anything to write home about.
\nI definitely understand other opinions on Houston, but for me personally there are ways to make it so that Houston is tolerable at its worst times
\nI would say they haven\u2019t lived in the right area of Houston then or have only lived in the suburbs. Growing up I hated \u201cHouston\u201d but really ever only lived in the suburbs. Now I love it. I will probably leave because of the state politics and ever growing threat of climate change. But I love Houston for many reasons.
\nMy boss, who frequently travels in from London, is a huge fan of Houston. He does often mention the heat, yet he makes it a point to lay out by the pool whenever he gets the chance. I've seen him come into the office with a sunburn, joking that it must have burned right through his clothes and suit jacket.
\n\nDespite his wealth and connections to royalty back in the UK, he\u2019s quite down-to-earth. When he visits Houston each year for the rodeo, he loves to challenge me to find unique food experiences. I make sure to take him for brisk car rides, to shoot guns, and he enjoys events like the Rodeo\u2019s mutton busting and kids riding calves - uh no Davd they - oh nevermind. He often calls his wife late at night in the UK to share his excitement, even if she wishes he would let her sleep!
\n\nOne of the things I appreciate most is his observation that even the affluent folks here are genuinely nice. I hold him in high regard, as he\u2019s a true leader in our industry, and I eagerly anticipate his arrival in a couple of weeks. He usually asks for recommendations on the best places for giant biscuits and gravy, Malaysian food, Thali, Indian, Korean, Cuban, or Indonesian cuisine.
\n\nHe may be a small man, but he has a big appetite for both food and new experiences, and it\u2019s wonderful to have someone like him as a cheerleader for our city. With his enthusiasm, he truly helps showcase the greatness of Houston to others around the world. Maybe these conscious objectors need to head to the border.
\nI hate it
\nI think people whose biggest complaint is the weather are dumb\u2014 our weather is no secret.
\n\nThe folks who just moved here and complain about the traffic are poor researchers and decision makers\u2014 every city dweller will tell you that living close to work is the move and that\u2019s actually affordable here for someone moving here for work. I have no sympathy for them.
\n\nThe folks that complain about the culture or food are obviously bots or trolls. Or raging racists. Or former basement dwellers mad that they have to live on sunlight levels now.
\n\nI\u2019m from here but my parents left when everyone lost their jobs in the 80s. I grew up in NY, then got dumped into Appalachia as a high school kid. Got out of there at 16 and went to college. Lived in Philly and the Philly metro, Seattle, and Portland as an adult. I left the west coast after realizing I didn\u2019t want to work 3 jobs to barely live. Got a job here, bought a car and moved in July 11 years ago. From that first wet flannel hug from the outdoors, it felt like I was home again.
\n\nOf all the places I lived, the only one I can say I hated was Appalachia. Fuck that place. It\u2019s beautiful and that\u2019s the only nice thing I can say about it.
\nhigh five
\nThey\u2019re mostly not wrong and there\u2019s still reason to live here.
\nmoved here from Florida (jax) bc bf got a new job... hate it. its an ugly city IMO and the weather is gross.
\nHow is Florida\u2019s humidity compared to Houston\u2019s? Never been to Florida and have always been curious
\nI\u2019m currently in Southwest Florida. The humidity is much milder here. I\u2019d say Miami has humidity levels most similar to Houston.
\nMy year in Orlando begs to differ. I will take Houston's humidity any day of the week.
\nWhy should I care about how other people feel about Houston?
\nI feel fine about myself, I hate traffic , I hate heat. Therefore I hate houston. And yes if I could move I would.
\nI think they\u2019re just not big city people. Every big city I\u2019ve visited has people saying the same things.
\nI was prepared to hate Houston when I moved there. After a few weeks I loved it. So much food, so much to do. It does things big! I loved the Museums, the Parks, the food in Chinatown. It is humid, there is traffic but there is everything.
\nWe have legit problems but a lot of people don\u2019t give it a fair shot or really understand the culture.
\nIt\u2019s not Dallas
\nI literally do not care.
\nLet them lol
\nKeep hating, they\u2019ll leave more room for us.
\nThe construction and traffic are par for the course in any big city. The summers do suck.
\n\nHouston is also maybe the best food city in the country(and by extension, the world). Its museums, culture offerings, and nightlife are all incredibly strong and world-class.
\n\nIf all you do is work, go home, go out to eat/drink at a few places near you and maybe occasionally see a movie, then yeah, there's a lot of places you'd probably be happier in.
\n\nIf you enjoy the things a big city has to offer, you're not going to find the same caliber of those things in any other city at anywhere close the cost of living. And I'd argue the average resident is a bit nicer than a lot it's peers as well.
\nFuck em. Doesn\u2019t change my opinion.\u00a0
\nMy ex hates Houston so much when he moved here. He said the walkability and how he liked the New York atmosphere. However after we got divorced, I asked if he was going to move to New York like he always wanted mind you he got a good chunk of money from the divorce. His response was no I can't afford it. So for everyone who says Houston has all its bad flaws the one thing it does it is affordable to live in and do other things.
\nFuck \u2018em.
\nFuck them
\nPlease don\u2019t move here, traffic is getting even more horrendous by the day \ud83d\ude29
\nIt's tough. I'm from here and love many things like the culture, the food, the parks, the museums, the people.
\n\nI hate all the concrete and no real public transportation.
\n\nI hate that you may have a nice house but it's surrounded by shit neighborhoods unless you have $3,000,000 or more to spend if you're living in Houston city limits.
\n\nThe crime is awful. Went to shit with Katrina and never recovered.
\n\nNot a single mayor since Bill White has managed to sync the stop lights downtown.
\nIm not from Houston and moved to houston almost 2 years ago and I hate Houston\u2019s traffic, constant construction, rude drivers who show middle fingers and overtake and drive crazy. Cant wait to move out of Houston.
\n\nBut i still love Houston\u2019s food scene. Will miss it
\nI think it's reasonable. Houston is not an easy place to love.
\n\nIt's almost my 9th year living here. And i think i may finally reach the last stage: acceptance. I'm no longer feel like crying whenever i thought about how terrible Houston is.
\nI don\u2019t really care. I\u2019ve lived elsewhere and there\u2019s pros and cons to anywhere.
\nBorn and raised in Houston and I hate the ones who love it unconditionally more than those who hate it.
\nHouston is horrible. I've found a job elsewhere and will be moving in a couple months. I left when I was 18 for school and came back about 5 years ago because my whole family is here. It's even worse than when I was growing up. Job prospects and cheapish living are why people are here, and the cheap living is debatable now. Literally everything else (except food and diversity) absolutely suck here.
\nZero impact on my life, people are entitled to their opinions, but why care what other people think.
\nfuck them, houston's awesome.
\nIf you grew up elsewhere Houston takes time to adjust to. I\u2019ve lived all over the country. It took me awhile to make it to Houston and also took me awhile to adjust. Sure it has its caveats but what place doesn\u2019t? It has amazing food because of the diversity of our population. The urban sprawl causes its own correlated issues but it\u2019s still better than living like bees stacked on top of each other like in New York. We have plenty to offer. Texas in general has so much. We have beaches and hiking just a trip away. We have lots of room for hobbies and activities. Lately the climate has been a lot more like colorado with multiple seasons within a day or two.
\n\nTraffic gives you time to think or explore alternate routes. The humidity and heat force you to go inside and sit ya high strung ass down to reflect and focus on what\u2019s important haha.
\nI grew up overseas and have lived in every region of this country - though Houston was my first time living in the South. Took me no time to adjust because a) a lot of America isn\u2019t as chock full of amenities like you have here and b) it wasn\u2019t all homogenous which is a lot of America.
\n\nI have lived in SoCal and as gorgeous as it was there, the people here are far more amazing.\u00a0
\n\nAnd of course the cost of living.\u00a0
\nMy problem is when they don\u2019t even try to like it. Like don\u2019t say \u201cHouston doesn\u2019t have x\u201d until you\u2019ve actually tried it. Do I hate the weather and the traffic? Yes I do. Would I enjoy living somewhere else? Also yes haha but I hate when people hate on it and it\u2019s just because they live in the burbs.
\nThey\u2019ve never been here or are stuck in the burbs\u2026. Or outside 610. I agree it sucks out there. I\u2019m being serious, I prob would hate Houston.\u00a0
\ni love myself
\nI love the culture, I was raised here, and I will never not have a soft spot for this city, but the piss poor public transit, and uglyness combined with the weather really makes me want to leave and never move back.
\nLike any City I've lived in, the other good and the bad.\u00a0\u00a0
\n\nHouston itself has a lot of negatives, to spread out, traffic, climate, no walkable cities, I could go on.\u00a0
\n\nOn the flip side there's lots to do here.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0
\n\nBut I see both positives and negatives, but I would lie if I said I did not think Houston was the worst city I lived in even with all the above.\u00a0 Doesn't mean it's a bad place it's just not for me
\nNo! Only I get to hate Houston
\nIf you dont work/you don't eat. If you don't grind/you don't shine. I love that about this city. You've gotta get out there and get it yourself. Find and explore things that you're onto and even things that you're not. There's so many things to do here, but ppl aren't willing to explore and get out of their comfort zone. They are not wrong about the humidity and traffic, but you've gotta make the best of what you've got. You're already here.
\nIt depends. If it's a fair complaint, I've got some too, and they're probably the same ones! But if it's something hyperbolic, like "It's only ugly sprawl!" or "Houston gets devastated by hurricanes every year!" I roll my eyes. Depending on my mood and whatever else I've got going on, I'll either rebut them with facts or scroll on by.
\n\nI stay in Houston for reasons other than love, so I certainly don't expect other folks to love it when I myself have mixed feelings. But making up reasons to not like a place is pretty silly, since anyplace you go in the world, there are legit reasons why it might not be your cup of tea. It calls your dislike into question if you feel like you have to make shit up.
\nI mean they're usually right a lot of the time. I totally understand the critiques and hate for it but at the same time, I do have a soft spot for Houston and I've been here all my life.
\nThey complain about traffic. I tell them don't hate Houston b/c you don't know how to drive in a city. When I moved to Htown, Houston had only one loop. I saw a lot of changes in my 3 plus decades there.
\n\nThey complain about humidity. You didn't know that going in? Yeah it is horribly humid. My skin loved it. Summers were brutal but the other seasons were pretty great.
\n\nI love Houston. That's my town. I had the best neighbors, kids had good schools. We exposed our kids to culture, diversity, traveling (by this I mean camping in some pretty great places in Texas).
\n\nWe got the Rockets, the Texans, the Astros, The Skeeters, U of H. We seriously need a train going to all suburbs but it is what it is. Voters have voted it down too many times, Houston grew too fast, other reasons I'm sure.
\n\nAs a friend of mine said years ago...."Gimme Texas" and that includes Houston!
\nI get it. The weather here is garbage half the year and the topography is pretty boring.
\nTry lugging around bags in SF or Seattle, I promise you'll hate the hills. I appreciated the flat topography so much more for this reason.
\ni love houston but it has definitely gotten more untenable in recent years, from ercot failures to entire summers without rain to whitmire's reversal of policies that have helped the city be more inclusive (like alternative forms of transport)
\n\nstill, if you don't like it, leave. i hear dallas has plenty of room
\nI'm pretty good with myself.
\nAs one HVAC business owner explained, people come here to work and raise kids, then move away ASAP.
\nAs someone born and raised here\u2026.
\n\n\nTo each their own. If someone really hates it, then I hope at sometime in their life they find a happy place.
\nI lived in Houston during the best years 1981 - 1991 . The crawfish festivals , rodeo , oilers , astros, astrodome and astroworld . But I moved on and I don\u2019t miss the town but I miss the era.
\nI usually hug them and tell them I understand. Southern hospitality and all. I give a lot of hugs here of late.
\n\n\n\nI usually hug them and tell them I understand. Southern hospitality
\n
Wait, I was told this sort of hug is the perfect scenario to say "Bless your heart" ? Am I doing it wrong ?
\nany bad thing houston has, san antonio has it 10x
\nWe have air conditioning for a reason. Be thankful for it. Imagine living leave before air conditioning...
\n\nHouston has a lot of other things that out weigh the cons. Who cares what they think.
\n\nThe heat, humidity, and construction are what they are. Unless people stop moving here the only thing that can change is the construction. Even then, you\u2019ll always have some construction. There are other places similar to Houston in terms of construction. Most people are moving to the sun belt and will have to deal with all three in some regard, just won\u2019t be quite as bad\u2026
\n\nIf you disagree and find that Houston isn\u2019t worth living in, then you can move away. It\u2019s a choice. This is going to sound harsh, but ultimately you might \u201chave\u201d to live here for work or family or whatever, but ultimately you can choose where you live. You might not want to, and you might be heavily incentivized to stay, it might not be what you want to do, but it\u2019s still a choice.
\n\nJust like they have a choice to complain about it or to find the best in Houston. There are a lot of positives about Houston. Sure, there are cons too. You choose to believe what you want about the city.
\n\nMy family, friends, job, community are why I\u2019m here. Food is great. There are good school options. Make the most of it. Compared to most major cities the people are great. Houston is diverse. Find your people. It\u2019ll be worth it.
\nHonestly, valid. I don\u2019t really have a specific reason for why I love it, I just live here
\nI get it, but my people are here and so it\u2019s whatever. But yes, the weather sucks.
\nSo if your people all moved to Georgia would you go there as well?
\nI grew up here and I totally understand the hate. For what Houston is it lacks majorly in what the other cities it's size. For me now it mostly the shitty weather and lack of music.
\nMostly I feel sad for people who live here and hate it. I hope everyone who hates it can escape somehow and get to where they want to go.
\nI dont think about them.
\nI think I am them
\nDowntown high-rise dweller. Walk to everything, amazing food and entertainment. Pick a great group of friends and enjoy things together and travel the world. Houston is what you make it and yes, it has many problems. But it has a lot to offer.
\nEh I don\u2019t really care because it is an acquired taste. Not every city has to deal with our bullshit (humidity, hurricanes, sprawl, transit, I could go on but I\u2019m preaching to the choir). And our civic institutions blow, the mayor is a joke, and the governor openly ridicules us.
\n\nBut - I don\u2019t know, the most genuine people I have ever met live here and they way we help each other to bounce back from a crisis (ex Harvey, \u201821 freeze) just astounding. Wouldn\u2019t live anywhere else\u2026 unless a cat 5 hurricane does make its way up the ship channel. I don\u2019t think anyone would be living here after that.
\nI grew up here. I live south and work north. It is what it is. Most of the guys I work with are from other places. They all have the same complaints I do.
\n2nd generation Houstonian here.
\n\nBit of trivia:
\n\nLargest port (by tonnage) in the U.S.
\n\nKicker >>> it's 35 miles inland.
\nIdk I hate the summer heat but I love Houston.
\nBorn and raised in town and have lived there most of my life however I don\u2019t live there anymore, but I definitely have my fair share of coming across those who dislike it.
\n\nMost of the time when I come across someone who hates Houston they don\u2019t give a reason or it\u2019s usually because of one small thing. I definitely respect the reasonings for not liking the city. No city is perfect and I definitely know Houston is not perfect at all.
\n\nMe myself the biggest things I dislike about it is the heat and humidity, inadequate public system, traffic, and crime.
\nI love/hate Houston. But I could never live in Houston. I've always lived about 30 minutes south of Houston which I think is perfect! I would just hate to go on 610 or 59 all the time. Very glad to only go into Houston for flights and concerts.
\nThe roads here are shit!!!! The way everyone drives is crazy!!!!
\nThere are some that can survive H-town and those that leave. H-town is not for the weak.
\nAt least it\u2019s not Dallas
\nI\u2019ve lived in Harris County my entire life and I\u2019m ready to move out. I\u2019ve had enough of the crime, traffic and people here.
\nWhy would anyone care if I hate Houston and Texas? I grew up here, and I hated it. I left at 15 for college/grad school/postdoc in the northeast and was gone for 16ish years. I am back for a few years with my child to further my career. I love my friends here, but I cannot WAIT to escape again. I would hope that people have more legitimate concerns than worrying about how I feel about a city?
\n\nI cannot relate to people who are in a marriage to a geographic location though. This is similar to how I cannot relate to people who are married to place names. Like who gives a f*** if the name of your elementary school changes? Life is too short. Put the hate energy into something that matters. I volunteer at my son\u2019s school, teach dance, and work with local teens so that I am not 24/7 hating. I suggest volunteering rather than focusing on whether or not someone loves Houston.
\nI'm currently on assignment in south Carolina, but I live in the Med Center.
\n\nHouston food scene is unparalleled in the US except for.maybe the other 3 major cities larger than our own.
\n\nPrices are more or less cheaper and the people are quite diverse.
\n\nOn the other hand, yes, the traffic sucks but that's in any other city. The weather is also oppressive, but most of the southern half of the US is also (on some scale) bad in the summer.
\n\nWhat really annoys me about houston is how spread put it is and how bad the public transportation is.
\n\nWe should have so many trams and rails criss crossing with busses as an interconnecting system between those; but bc houston is home to a lot of oil and energy companies that use that oil/byproducts, it's such a conflict of interest that those same people that benefit from it would rather sit in traffic 2hrs both ways than give in to setting up better transit. Shame really, that would help so many.
\n\nAnyways, out of 10 I give Houston a solid 7.2 on the livability. If the weather were nicer, it would be an easy 8.5
\nI love it here. I love the diversity. I was away for twenty years raising a family up in North Texas and I couldn\u2019t wait to get back here. I even moved back close to where I grew up in SW Houston. It just feels real here. I mean it\u2019s far from perfect but I still love it.
\nWho cares, does it affect you? We all value things differently, so who are we to judge? As long as it isn\u2019t offensive or constant complaining, I\u2019m good with it.
\nI hate it and moved to California. Best decision of my life
\nAccess to MD Anderson when my dad got cancer was the only thing for which I am grateful about being born and raised here.
\nIt\u2019s not picturesque but a great place to work
\nPass the potatoes.
\nI wish they'd leave.
\nI live in Houston but still hate Houston!
\nDude all these comments on multiculturalism. I mean to me I guess that affects the food choices but beyond that I really don't care who lives here or doesn't, that's the bottom of my care.\u00a0
\n\nWhen I lived in West Plano at the time it was probably like 70% white. Didn't phase me.\u00a0
\n\nI guess if you're non-white That's a bigger issue I've seen a lot of Asian people post here and say it's important to them.\u00a0
\n\nI know when I worked in Plano, black women would talk about wanting to move to Houston for a larger black population.\u00a0
\n\nI agree with the comments you either come here for a lifestyle (be able to own a nice home in a nice area etc) or you're born here.\u00a0
\n\nI do know a lot of international people that have immigrated legally here and somehow or another they've wound up in Houston. Asian, East Asian, most the time they have family that came here first.
\n\nMy grandparents moved here. So I'm second generation born.\u00a0
\n\nMy parents aunts and uncles really didn't move too far from my grandparents when they were alive. One set maybe move like an hour for my grandparents... And the other set maybe moved like 90 minutes.\u00a0
\n\nMy countdown officially started for one year of just saving and focusing on weight loss and rolling out to Orange County California.
\nI\u2019m in my 60s and grew up in Houston. I\u2019m here for one reason alone: I\u2019m attached to a handful of people. It\u2019s beyond me why anyone would move here.
\nI moved from Houston 7 years ago. Have they finished 290 yet?
\nI think Houston is a great place to live. I\u2019d never tell someone to vacation here.\u00a0
\nI moved from Houston when I was 55 yrs old. We moved to Boise where they have four seasons, peaceful mountains not far from us. The people here are good people and the crime is low. I miss Tex Mex and my oldest son and his family. We visit quite often. Shipleys and Whataburger are missed but you learn to live without it. Always feel blessed when we land back in Boise.
\nBorn and raised in Houston. I love my city besides the heat and traffic.
\n\nI grew up with all the different cultures that it was just normal to have friends with different backgrounds. My core friend group for the past 30 years could represent the UN, and it's all because of this city.
\n\nI love that I can meet new people and make friends because our city is always having events.
\nEx: Today, I went to a political town hall, and I ended up talking to two strangers. (different backgrounds than myself) I had a great conversation and was able to help them with some information I had about upcoming political events.
\nLater this evening, I went out to another social event and met up with some new and old friends. The new people I met because of the net.
I love that we have so many outdoor activities. 3rd ward has these bike rides where they play music, and you ride around town in a big group. It's so much fun.
\nWe have so many parks all over the city. Some are really beautiful.
We have concerts, the theatre (small and big productions) , free events at the Miller outdoor theatre, and most suburbs have their own events too.
\n\nThe food. Nuff said. We are the best.
\n\nI could really go on about our city. I'm always finding stuff to do or randomly encountering cool stuff.
\n\nAnyways, I think of all the reasons why I love my city when I hear someone say they hate Houston.
\nI've heard all types of excuses besides the heat and traffic.
\n"There's nothing to do here."\nThat's the biggest lie\n"The people are not friendly. " \nWhat vibes are you giving off? I legit just walked up to some strangers and started talking today. What effort are you putting out? \n"It cost too much to do anything " \nThe library hosts events, neighborhoods host events, joining a walking, running, book club is free.
Hate all you want. Houston might not be for everyone. You can always move to Dallas.
\nThat they\u2019re astute and honest.
\nYo fuck em, they hate us cuz they ain\u2019t us
\nIt\u2019s not Houston , it\u2019s the leadership. Everytime Houston starts to progress in things like infrastructure and growing its corporate and tech scene, the leadership changes and some backwater myopic mayor will come in and undo the urban progress and connectivity made by a previous administration. Houston has got stop shooting itself in the foot. The infrastructure is just not commensurate with being the 4th largest city in the US. It in no way compares with the infrastructure of similar size cities and metros like Toronto, Chicago and Dallas. There could easily be 4 to 5 regional rails connecting Galveston, Katy, Sugar land and Huntsville / Conroe ( to include IAH)to the existing metro light rail infrastructure. The lack of a light rail connect from downtown to the Uptown /Galleria is down right blasphemous!The corporations are relocating to Dallas at a rate of at least 4 times that of Houston due to Dallas infrastructure and its desire to always look to and plan for their future; and its bright! Grow up Houston and get a vision for your future before you don\u2019t have one!
\nI like those people because I am one of them. Houston is a shithole.
\nHouston is a terrible place to be young and single but a solid place to raise a family. Houston is not a city it\u2019s a giant suburb.
\nMiserable people will find something to be miserable about no matter where they live.
\nI agree. I stay because I have to. I don't complain, too much, because I'm well fed.
\nOk, since I didn\u2019t know people hated on Houston when they have a perfectly hate-able city in Dallas.
\n\nSince I didn\u2019t know, it doesn\u2019t currently bother me, and I do not foresee a problem in the future.
\nMeh, that person would hate pretty much every American city that blossomed in the Sunbelt after World War II. Nothing you mentioned is particularly unique to Houston.
\nA lot of people who live in Houston or moved there think Houston is awful city because of the construction and hot humid summers and crowded traffic
\n
A lot of people who live in Houston or moved there think Houston is awful city because of the construction and hot humid summers and crowded traffic
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