What to know before you move: cost, market timing, who it fits.
Moving to Texas: the honest read
Texas is the biggest no-income-tax state and the tradeoffs are exactly what you'd expect: property taxes are among the highest in the country (often 2-3% of assessed value, which on a $500K house gets ugly fast), and the state funds itself through that and sales tax. The four metros are functionally different states — Houston (energy, the medical center, the most racially and economically diverse, hurricane and flooding exposure), Dallas-Fort Worth (corporate relocations, finance, the airline hub, sprawl as a way of life), Austin (tech-and-government, expensive now in ways it wasn't a decade ago), and San Antonio (military, healthcare, the most affordable of the big four). Summers run four-plus months above 95, the grid has had real failures (the 2021 winter storm killed hundreds), and home insurance has been repricing hard after recent hail and wind years. The cultural variation across the state is wider than non-Texans usually credit.
If you're considering a move to Alice, TX, the most important variables are the local housing market, the cost structure (taxes, insurance, utilities), and how well the city fits your day-to-day life. This page summarizes the housing market read; pair it with the cost of living page for the full picture.
Alice is a city in Jim Wells County, Texas, with an estimated population of 17,595. The median home value in Alice is $132,186 as of 2026-04, down 5.0% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged -4.9% annual growth, and the market currently sits about 22% below its 5-year peak. The composite momentum score is 22 of 100 (Declining). The market is well off recent highs, and resale liquidity is reduced.
Prices well off recent highs (-22.4% from peak, -5.0% YoY). Resale liquidity is reduced.
Reasons people move here
- Cheap entry point: $132,186 median home is well below the US median of $355k — room to grow without overpaying.
- The data is the data: Alice has at least 5 years of Zillow tracking, full Census identification, and is included in the 2-criteria momentum score on this page.
Things to know first
- 22% off the 5-year peak. That's not a healthy correction — that's a market that ran too far and is still digesting.
- Cooling: -5.0% over the trailing year — momentum has stalled.
- Flat or shrinking population: -0.4% per year. Housing demand has to come from somewhere — verify the source.
- Stagnant long-run trend: -2.5% 10-year price growth plus flat population — appreciation case is weak.
More about Alice
What this move will cost
Real upfront cash to land in Alice, plus what you’ll carry month to month.
Cash to move in (renting)
| Rental | Typical rent | Cash to sign (1st + deposit) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $495/mo | $990 |
| 1-bed | $558/mo | $1,116 |
| 2-bed | $634/mo | $1,268 |
| 3-bed | $773/mo | $1,546 |
If you buy near the local median of $132,186, plan on about $2,300/yr in property tax (~$192/mo) at Texas’s effective rate of 1.74%. Lenders escrow this on top of principal & interest.
Getting your stuff here
| Move size | Local movers (<100 mi) | Long-distance (1,000 mi+) |
|---|---|---|
| 1-bed home | $500–$1,100 | $1,700–$3,700 |
| 2-bed home | $900–$2,000 | $2,800–$6,000 |
| 3-bed home | $1,300–$2,800 | $4,000–$8,500 |
DIY truck rental instead of movers: about $150–$600 local, $1,200–$3,500 one-way long-distance, plus fuel. Ranges are national averages — your quote moves with exact distance, stairs/elevator access, and season (summer is priciest).
Your relocation checklist
The official, no-cost places to handle the paperwork after you decide on Alice.
- Driver’s license & vehicle registrationOpen DMV →
New Texas residents usually have 30–90 days to switch — confirm the exact deadline at the Texas DPS (driver license). - Forward your mailUSPS change of address →
File a USPS change of address ($1.10 identity-verification fee) a week or two before you move. - Register to voteRegister / update →
Update your registration to your new Alice address — the official, no-cost portal routes you to Texas. - Turn on utilitiesFind providers →
Line up electric, gas, water/sewer, trash, and internet to start on move-in day. - Check the school districtLook up by address →
Enrollment is by address — confirm which schools serve the home you’re considering before you sign. - Update your address everywhere elseIRS address change →
Bank, insurance, employer/payroll, IRS, and your state tax agency. Auto and renters/home insurance rates can change with the ZIP.
Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.