Moving from Maryland to Texas

Maryland has one of the highest combined income tax burdens in the nation, and the savings are substantial. Maryland charges a state income tax of 5.75 percent on most income, with a top rate of 6.5 percent on income above roughly $250,000. On top of that, every Maryland county adds its own local income tax ranging from 2.25 to 3.20 percent — there is no way to avoid it. A Maryland resident in Montgomery County pays a combined 8.95 percent, while those in Howard County pay 9.45 percent and Worcester County hits 9.7 percent. Moving to Texas eliminates all of this. A household earning $150,000 in Montgomery County saves approximately $13,400 annually in income tax alone. At $200,000, that jumps to roughly $17,900. Over five years, a six-figure Maryland household moving to Texas saves $60,000 to $100,000 in income tax.

Texas has one of the largest defense industry footprints in the nation, providing direct career continuity for Maryland's defense workforce. In DFW, Lockheed Martin's Aeronautics headquarters in Fort Worth builds the F-35, and Raytheon, L3Harris, Northrop Grumman, and Bell Textron maintain major operations. San Antonio's Joint Base San Antonio is the DoD's largest joint installation, and the city has become a national hub for cybersecurity operations — directly relevant for professionals from the Fort Meade and NSA corridor. Houston offers aerospace careers through NASA Johnson Space Center and supporting contractors. Texas ranks second nationally in total defense spending, and security clearances transfer seamlessly between states. Many Maryland defense professionals find equivalent or better positions in Texas with significantly lower living costs.

The Baltimore-Washington corridor is a government and defense-driven economy with high costs and congested commutes. Texas metros offer broader economic diversity at lower price points. DFW's economy spans defense, finance, technology, and corporate headquarters with 22 Fortune 500 companies — compared to the DC area's heavy federal dependency. Commute times are comparable at 25 to 40 minutes but feel less stressful on Texas's wider highways versus the Beltway. Cultural amenities are different rather than lesser — Texas has world-class museums, dining, and entertainment, though nothing replicates the Smithsonian's free museum complex. The social pace is warmer and more open in Texas. Housing is the clearest upgrade — your Maryland townhome budget buys a detached house with a yard and garage in virtually any Texas metro.

No, the income tax savings overwhelmingly win. Texas property taxes run 1.6 to 2.2 percent compared to Maryland's roughly 1.0 to 1.1 percent. On a $350,000 Texas home, that is approximately $5,600 to $7,700 per year versus $4,000 to $4,400 on a $400,000 Maryland home. The property tax increase amounts to roughly $1,600 to $3,300 annually. Meanwhile, eliminating Maryland's combined state and county income tax saves $8,600 to $19,400 annually on household incomes of $100,000 to $200,000. The income tax savings exceed the property tax increase by a factor of three to six for most professional households. Additionally, lower home prices mean lower homeowner insurance and potentially a smaller mortgage, further tipping the financial comparison in Texas's favor.

Maryland transplants consistently report missing four things most — Chesapeake Bay crabs and seafood, proximity to Washington DC attractions, the fall foliage season, and the beach access to Ocean City and the Eastern Shore. Fresh blue crabs and Old Bay seasoning are genuinely difficult to replace, though the Gulf Coast provides its own seafood traditions and Houston has excellent crab options. The Smithsonian complex and DC monuments are irreplaceable for free cultural entertainment, but Texas arts districts are more impressive than most Marylanders expect. Fall foliage is milder in Texas without the vibrant New England-style colors Maryland shares. However, transplants universally praise the financial freedom, warmer winters, friendlier communities, and career opportunities that Texas provides in exchange.