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We’re Bellhop. We help people move, including into – and out of – Texas. If you’re searching for liberal cities in Texas, we’ve got you covered with this short guide.
Less concerned with politics? We also put together a guide on the best places to live in Texas. If you’re looking to move to Texas, that’s also a good place for you to start.
Basics of Living in Texas
Texas, the Lone Star State, is known for country music, mouthwatering Tex-Mex cuisine, and being one of the largest US cities by both landmass and population, and it doesn’t show any signs of slowing down anytime soon.
Why Tons of People are Moving to Texas
In 2022, Texas became home to 30m people for the first time in its history, or almost 1/10th of the entire US population. In 2020, that number was only 20.94 million. In a little over 20 years, then, the population grew by more than 50%.
Why is this? A majority of people moving to Texas from California, where they’ve been priced out of the housing market and pay hefty taxes. In 2021, 110,000 people moved from California to Texas, or about 300 people a day. A major draw for Texas is its lack of income tax, while still offering great weather, plenty of economic opportunities, and a diverse culture.
With that said, Texas is known across the nation as being Republican – and that’s how pop culture typically portrays citizens of the Lone Star State: gun-loving and overwhelmingly red. After all, in the 2020 election, Trump beat Biden by over 600,000 votes.
However, despite that, the data paints a different picture. According to Pew Research Center, the split between Republicans and Democrats in Texas is roughly even, with about 40% of adults identifying as either right-leaning or left-leaning.
Liberals looking to move to Texas might be pleasantly surprised to find that most major cities are actually majority Democratic.
What Does Liberal Mean to You?
The term “liberal,” depending on its context, could mean different things to different people. Let’s define exactly what liberal means to you so that we can approach the problem appropriately. Many people assume that “liberal” refers to politics (progressive, Democratic, not Republican) but for some, it may represent inclusiveness, accepting people of all ethnic backgrounds and political stripes, an emphasis on environmentalism, or support for LGBTQ+ rights.
Houston
Houston is one of the most diverse cities in the United States. While it used to be a Republican stronghold, today Houston is one of the most liberal cities in the state. The University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs looked at “every November General Election since 2000 (11 total elections), the two-party presidential vote from 2000 to 2020, and the 2018 U.S. Senate race (7 total elections)” and compiled a visualization of how the neighborhoods in and around the Houston metro have shifted over the past 20 years.
If you’re thinking about moving to Houston, it can help you find the best suburbs in Houston.
LGBTQ+ Rights Celebrated Annually with Major Parades
Houston emphasizes the LGBTQ+ community, having elected Annise Parker, the city’s first openly gay mayor, in 2009. The Houston Pride Festival is also one of the largest in the country, hosted every year around June in the Montrose neighborhood. If you’re looking for somewhere where LGBTQ+ people are accepted and celebrated, Houston could be a good move.
Austin
Austin is also a progressive stronghold in Texas. Austin is home to about 1 million Texans, making it the fourth largest city in Texas and the 11th largest city in the United States. The entire Austin metro area, which includes Auston, Pflugerville, Leander, and Georgetown is home to about 2.5 million. With a lower cost of living than many tech cities and year-round good weather, Austin is a go-to choice for young professionals and progressives.
Austin’s Progressive Stance on Big Box Stores, Third-Largest LGBTQ+ Population, and More
Austin has a liberal take on the expansion of big business and the dominance of big box stores. The slogan, “Keep Austin Weird,” was promoted in 2020 to help bring attention to the small businesses that help make Austin what it is.
Similar to Houston, Austin also has a major gay pride parade. In 2022, the turnout for the Austin Pride Parade, which took place on Congress Avenue, was roughly 400,000, making it one of the largest pride parades in the country. There are a variety of gay bars in the downtown area, as well, including Highland Lounge, Oilcan Harry’s, and The Iron Bear. Additionally, according to the Williams Institute, between 100k-118k of the greater Austin population (of 2.5m) identifies as LGBTQ+, making it third in the United States, behind just Portland and San Francisco.
Corpus Christi
On the flipside, if big metropolitan cities aren’t really your thing, Corpus Christi is a smaller liberal city on the coast of Texas. Located on the east coast, about ~100 miles south of San Antonio and ~210 miles southwest of Houston, Corpus Christi is home to about ~350,000 people.
Although there’s more of an even split between Republicans and Democrats in Corpus Christi, many political commentators believe that the area is trending Democratic as it continues to grow. Additionally, liberal means different things to different people, and Corpus Christi – since it has that even split of Democrats and Republicans – is more inclusive to a variety of political opinions.
Environmental Aims: Environmental Strategic Initiatives, RESTORE Act, and More…
The City of Corpus Christi aims to improve the distribution of natural resources through ESIs, “Environmental Strategic Initiatives,” which improve air quality and water quality.
Since it’s located so close to the coast, Corpus Christi residents typically have more of an outdoors bend, which makes them more environmentally inclined. If you’re looking for people who also share that same desire for more environmentally friendly policies, you’ll find plenty of people to connect with in Corpus Christi.
Denton
Denton has more of a college vibe than the other cities on this list. With two major universities, the University of North Texas and Texas Woman’s University, Denton has a progressive spirit that’s fueled by a younger population. It’s proximity to Dallas makes sure that you have world-class amenities with more of a small-town feel.
Denton’s annual pride festival highlights and celebrates civic acceptance of all different types of people – and the colleges play a big role in promoting a more inclusive environment for liberals.
Feminism Buoyed by College Atmosphere
Texas Woman’s University is the largest public university in the nation that’s primarily for women (although the university is ~11% male, as well). Obviously, with such a focus on educating women in healthcare, business, education, and more, the city has a focus on feminism. They have a variety of groups aimed at promoting women’s rights, including Denton Woman’s Club, Denton Feminist Queer and Collective, and more.
If you’re a feminist looking for a place to move in Texas, Denton could be a good option due to its concentration of people with similar views and aims.
San Marcos
San Marcos is home to Texas State University, making it much more of a college town than some of the other cities on this list (with the exception of Denton, of course).
In the 2020 election, votes in San Marcos / Hays County primarily voted for Joe Biden, with a ~54.5% to 43.6% split between Biden and Trump. Traditionally, though, during many presidential elections, San Marcos has actually skewed Republican. Accordingly, if you’re looking for the highest proportion of liberals, living closer to Texas State University is your safest bet.
Texas State University: Diverse Student Population with Diverse Views
Texas State University is one of the more diverse universities in the United States. With 40% of the student population being Hispanic, 10% African American, and another 40% as white, there are plenty of different cultures with different views, which contribute to an atmosphere of growth and inclusivity.
That’s It – Top Five Liberal Cities in Texas
Despite the general purview in pop culture that Texas is overwhelmingly conservative and Republican, the actual numbers show that Texas is much more moderate than many would expect.
There is also no shortage of progressive policies and movements in Texas. Green initiatives, for example, are at the forefront of many citizens’ minds. Texas actually produces more alternative energy from wind and solar than any other state, 2.5 times more than California. That means that Texas is the leader in renewable energy in the entire United States. With a major pride parade in every city on this list, the data seems to point to shifting demographics in most major metros, with the liberal population continuing to grow.
If you’re a liberal thinking about moving to Texas, we hope that you found this information useful in your search for a city that you’ll love. We help coordinate moves all across the Texas area and beyond, so if you’re looking for someone to help you move, we’ve got your back.
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