Bayou City boom

Houston tops list of most popular destinations for movers in U.S.

This explains all the traffic.

Sky Noir Photography by Bill Dickinson/Getty Images

Houston has moved up in Penske Truck Rental’s annual ranking of the country’s most popular moving destinations.

In 2021, Houston ranked first among the hottest U.S. moving destinations, Penske says. That’s up from the No. 6 position in 2020.

“It’s not hard to see why Houston is an attractive city for many people. A booming job market combined with low cost of living and sunny weather year-round make Houston a great choice for building a life and raising a family,” says Life Storage, an operator of self-storage facilities.

From 2020 to 2021, the Houston metro area gained 78,220 residents, putting it in third place for numeric population growth among U.S. metros (behind Dallas-Fort Worth and Phoenix, and just ahead of Austin).

Houston shares the Penske top 10 with three other places in Texas:

Sixth-ranked San Antonio, up from No. 9 the previous year.
Seventh-ranked Dallas, up from No. 8 the previous year.
Ninth-ranked Austin, down from No. 4 the previous year.

Penske compiles the annual list by analyzing one-way consumer truck rental reservations made over a 12-month span.

Houston and its big-city counterparts in Texas continue to see their populations swell for a number of reasons, including warm weather, no state income tax, relatively low housing costs, and plentiful job opportunities. From 2010 to 2020, Texas posted the third largest population increase (15.9 percent) among the states, with Utah ranked first and Idaho ranked second, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

“There are lots of places in America with jobs and lower climate risks or jobs and racial diversity, but if you want all three, Texas will take care of you best,” The New York Times noted in 2021.

U-Haul, another provider of moving trucks, ranked Texas as the No. 1 destination for DIY movers in 2021.

rankings lists

improving emancipation park

Historic Houston park's renovated cultural center completes $18.5M project

People at the Cultural Center at Emancipation Park opening.

Photo courtesy of Darryl Howard Photography.

Third Ward residents got to see the new Cultural Center as part of National Night Out.

Historic Third Ward now has an equally historic, newly-renovated third space in the form of the Cultural Center at Emancipation Park. The Emancipation Park Conservancy officially opened it for the public on Tuesday, October 6, as part of the National Night Out campaign, a community-building initiative designed to bring together neighborhoods and the law enforcement officers that serve them.

“Emancipation Park has always been a place where the Third Ward community comes together to celebrate, connect, and create memories,” said Corey Wilson, president and CEO of EPC. “The completion of the Cultural Center will create even more opportunities for people to learn, gather, and experience arts and culture. National Night Out is the perfect opportunity to invite the community back into this space and celebrate what’s next for Emancipation Park.”

The renovations to the Cultural Center are part of an $18.5 million investment plan that built on a the success of a $34 million campaign completed in 2017 that has fundamentally revamped the park as a modern neighborhood multi-purpose space and gathering spot. Among the upgrades are walls lined with historic photographs and infographics about the history of Third Ward that offer residents and visitors a chance to understand the rich heritage of the area while also providing venues for classes, workshops, and presentations. Other improvements include a new gift shop and enhanced audio-visual amenities.

Emancipation Park is actually the oldest public park in Houston. It was founded in 1872 by four formerly enslaved persons, including the Reverend Jack Yates. The park was built to host early Juneteenth celebrations and has been a cornerstone of Third Ward ever since.

“Emancipation Park was created by the community, for the community, and that legacy continues to guide its future,” said Ramon Manning, board chair of EPC. “We are excited to open the doors to the renovated Cultural Center and welcome our neighbors to enjoy this special place, make memories, and celebrate all that Emancipation Park means to the Third Ward.”

Funding for the Cultural Center's renovation comes from Houston Endowment; The Brown Foundation, Inc.; Wortham Foundation; Shell; O’Quinn Foundation; Claire and Joe Greenberg; Sarah and Doug Foshee; Melvyn and Cyvia Wolff Family Fun; Sara and Bill Morgan; and Carla Knobloch. The Jacqueline W. Bostic Stage was added to the park last year as a performance space thanks to support from the Kinder Foundation.

Photo courtesy of Darryl Howard Photography.

Third Ward residents got to see the new Cultural Center as part of National Night Out.

emancipation park parks openings