Corpus Christi is a coastal city in the southern part of Texas.
It is a city that borders the Gulf of Mexico. The name is Latin and was from the Spanish explorer who discovered the place sometime in the 1500s. Its name, translated in English, means Body of Christ.
The city is famous for its pristine beaches. It is also popular for its many tourist attractions, sunny beach parks, island escapes, and outdoor activities.
Some popular outdoor activities are surfing, sailing, and kiteboarding.
Corpus Christi has a strong port economy.
It has a low cost of living. It also has an excellent public education system. Both make the city a magnet for those who want to move.
With its fun activities and many attractive features, it is no wonder people refer to the city as Sparkling City by the Sea.
Life in Corpus Christi is perfect.
However, there may also be disadvantages to moving here.
And this is why I am here. I will discuss the many advantages and disadvantages of moving to Corpus Christi.
List of Contents
Is Corpus Christi, TX, a good place to live in? The Sparkling City by the Sea
If you are wondering whether Corpus Christi is the city for you, you are in the perfect spot.
For me, Corpus Christi is an excellent place for you to call home. However, several drawbacks could turn you off.
Today, I will discuss these things with you.
Read on and find out more about the city.
The Good Side
Here are the many advantages of living in the Sparkling City by the Sea.
Better Weather
One of the many advantages of living in Corpus Christi is the weather.
The city opens its doors to more than 8 million tourists per year. And the main reason for such a massive number of tourists is the weather in the city.
It enjoys pleasant weather all year round. Also, the city has beautiful scenery tourists cannot ignore. It is home to many beautiful beaches and famous fishing areas.
The residents of Corpus Christi love to spend some time under the sun.
All they have to do is to visit any of the many sandy beaches, play with sand, and engage in watersports.
Yes, there are several watersports available in Corpus Christi.
The most common of them are windsurfing, kayaking, and paddleboarding.
Add, Corpus Christi has beautiful views and sights. The bays are exceptional.
While walking around, even the houses and apartments all go with beautiful views of beaches, museums, parks, bays, and nature reserves.
Good for the Family
Corpus Christi is an ideal place to grow a family.
You can rest assured the city is perfect for you and your kids. It is a family-friendly city that comes with a welcoming, relaxed, and unforgettable atmosphere.
The city is great for your kids. It boasts of high-quality education through its best schools in the country.
The schools in Corpus Christi are above-average. Most of them got ratings as high as seven out of ten.
Also, you and your family will have several things to do all year round. The city has museums, monuments, and parks that will be great for your kids’ learning and growth.
A History-Rich City
I mentioned monuments, parks, and museums that fill the city of Corpus Christi.
All these museums, parks, and monuments allow you to look at the rich history of Corpus Christi.
While living here, you will learn more about the city and its colorful past.
On an ordinary day, passing by places that played a significant role in the city’s history is common.
One such example is the downtown area of Corpus Christi.
Downtown Corpus Christi has several monuments, all of which are historical.
There are also museums here that house artifacts from the many soldiers who defended the city during the war. While here, you can also immerse yourself in the colorful past of the famous singer Selena Quintanilla-Perez.
A museum to her honor is in Corpus Christi. It houses belongings like her awards, signed albums, and even some of her iconic clothes.
A Feast to the Palate
If you love seafood, there is no other place for you to be than in Corpus Christi.
Here, you can have as much seafood as you want.
Living here and not eating seafood is a mortal sin.
As soon as you are in the city, feast on the vast array of fresh and local seafood. Most of the locals catch them from the area.
Also, Corpus Christi is a diverse city. And because of the diversity, it presents several varieties of flavors from all corners of the globe.
Here, there will always be something to satisfy your palate.
The city has it whether you crave Mexican, Italian, or Asian food. It also has African food, Middle Eastern, and a lot more.
A Diverse Community
Earlier, I mentioned that Corpus Christi is a diverse city.
The city is home to several communities. And these communities are so diverse you will immediately feel at home here.
Recent numbers show that the city has about 63% Hispanic or Latino. About 29% of its population is white, 2% are Asians, and 4% are African Americans.
The Bad Side
Living in Corpus Christi is a beautiful experience. However, life here is not about sunflowers and rainbows.
There are a few things here that may turn you off.
And so, before you decide to move here, you may want to read the following.
Weather Fluctuations
One of the few things you have to check before moving here is the fluctuation in weather.
The weather fluctuations can perhaps be one of the significant turn-offs in Corpus Christi.
The weather is always lovely here. However, it can rain one minute and be sunny the next second.
These changes can happen in a span of a few minutes. That is why the weather here can sometimes confuse people.
The Crime Rates
Like in many cities, you will find that Corpus Christi has several low-income areas. These areas are where you usually get high crime rates and an increasing number of gang violence incidents.
The issue is severe enough to drive away some people who want to move here.
Of course, there are parts of Corpus Christi that are also safe. However, the few crime hotspots dirty the city’s overall reputation.
As to the recent numbers, the South Side has fewer crimes than the other areas.
What is the cost of living in Corpus Christi, TX? The Perfect Place to Buy a House
The overall cost of living in Corpus Christi is cheaper. The city is 16.9% more affordable than the national average.
The Good Side
One of the many advantages of living in Corpus Christi is the lower cost.
The prices of housing here are more affordable compared to the national average.
As of the latest prices, housing costs in Corpus Christi are lower than the national average by 37.8%. This price equates to an estimated US$188,500 median home cost. The number is lower than the country’s median rate of US$291,700.
The cost of food and groceries, and transportation are also more affordable than the national average.
Food and groceries are 7.2% cheaper than the national average. The cost of transportation is lower by 20.3%.
The Bad Side
Now, two other commodities are more expensive than the national average.
These are the costs of healthcare and utilities.
Both of these commodities are 1.1% higher than the national average. The variance is not that significant to create a dent in your pocket.
However, if your utilization of these two commodities goes beyond the usual, they can put a hole in your pocket.
In summary, the cost of living in Corpus Christi is cheaper than in most cities.
All you have to do is watch for your utility and healthcare costs to ensure you do not exceed your needs.
As for your healthcare costs, this can be a wake-up call for you to take care of yourself.
Overall, living here is an advantage.
Why work in Corpus Christi? Income Tax No More!
Working in Corpus Christi has several advantages. One of these advantages is the absence of any income tax. Also, the cost of living is lower than in other major cities. Your monthly salary will go a long way here.
The Good Side
There are several advantages to working in Corpus Christi.
Here, we will discuss more of them.
An Affordable Living
In Corpus Christi, you will always maximize your dollars because of the lower cost of living.
The city will never disappoint you regarding its cost of living. Recent numbers show that the cost of living in Corpus Christi ranks 15th in the whole country. This ranking is based on which cities have a lower cost of living.
Also, Corpus Christi ranks second in Texas regarding the most affordable cities.
As you already know, the cheaper commodities include housing, food, and transportation.
The Absence of Income Taxes
Corpus Christi is in Texas. And as you already know, Texas does not collect income taxes from its residents.
As such, you ensure that your salary goes a long way. You can save your extra cash for more essential commodities.
Decreasing Unemployment
Regarding unemployment, Corpus Christi sits higher than the national average. The numbers may not look good.
However, in the past few years, we saw a decrease in the city’s unemployment rate.
As of this writing, the unemployment rate in Corpus Christi is still lower than the national average. However, it grew by 0.3% in the previous year. And it was consistent in the years before that.
If the growth continues, we will indeed have more jobs and fewer unemployed residents in the years to come.
The Bad Side
On the other hand, there are considerations that you should look out for before moving to Corpus Christi.
Read on to find out more.
Low Salary
If there is one thing that should concern you with working in Corpus Christi, it is the low salary.
The average income of a resident is about US$25,200 per year. This amount is lower than the US average of US$28,555 per year.
Also, the median household income of a resident is lower than the national average.
The national average sits at US$53,482 per year. The median household income of a resident here only amounts to US$49,675 per year.
The cost of living in Corpus Christi may be lower than in most major cities. However, the average income of those working here is also lower than the national average.
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If you are thinking of whether to move to Corpus Christi or not, my advice is to go ahead and try.
The city is one of the best places you could ever live in. Several thousand call Corpus Christi home. And for most of those who live here, life is fantastic.
In Corpus Christi, food is abundant. The job market is decent and grows every year. The growth may not amount to much compared to other cities, but it is growing.
Also, the cost of living is lower than in most cities in the country. Finally, you get to have pretty nice weather all year round. There may be fluctuations, but the weather here will never be an issue if you get through this hurdle.
Besides, the city has excellent outdoor activities for your picking.
You will have many attractions. You get to have delicious food, a city rich in history, and a diverse community that makes you feel at home, regardless of race, gender, or age.
Are you moving to Corpus Christi?
Let me know.