Considering moving to Beaumont, Texas? Nicknamed Boomtown for its rapid growth after the 1901 discovery of a large oil reserve nearby, Beaumont remains a great place to live and work! Here are some of the pros and cons of living in Beaumont.
Pros of Living in Beaumont
Beaumont residents enjoy an affordable cost of living, numerous employment opportunities, a city full of diversity, and much more! Check out these pros of living in Beaumont.
Pro: Affordable Southern Living
If you’re looking to settle down in an affordable Southern city, Beaumont may be right for you! Beaumont’s cost of living is in line with the Texas average, and 8% lower than the national average. Housing is particularly affordable, with Beaumont’s home prices sitting at 33% lower than the national average, and rental rates at 9% lower. Beaumont residents also benefit from Texas’ lack of individual income tax, meaning you’ll save more every year during tax season. Additionally, the city of Beaumont is booming with billions worth of activity in current and planned industrial projects, as well as heavy involvement in the oil and gas industries.
Pro: Beaumont’s Employment Opportunities
Finding a job in Beaumont is made easier by all the career options this dynamic city presents. Some of the main industries in the area are healthcare, construction, and manufacturing, which makes sense since Beaumont is an oil giant with plenty of business growth. Work in the oil and gas industries at companies like ExxonMobil and ENGlobal Corporation. Look for manufacturing jobs at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and Helena Laboratories Corporation. Find Beaumont healthcare employment at local CHRISTUS Southeast Texas – St. Elizabeth Hospital and Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas. Or consider positions from other major employers such as Beaumont Independent School District or the City of Beaumont itself.
Pro: A Diverse City
Beaumont is a very diverse city with multiple ethnicities and cultures filling out the population. The city of Beaumont’s residents are mostly Black, white, Hispanic or Latino, and Asian, and influences from all these people can be seen around Boomtown! See productions like Wizard of Oz and Beehive from a theater with diversity at their core—Beaumont Community Players. Admire sculptures by Felix “Fox” Harris, Mexican folk art, and pieces by local artists first displayed during the Cafe Arts Series at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. Discover Beaumont’s beautiful murals, many of which represent the city’s diversity or depict impactful people of color such as Frida Kahlo and Barbara Lynn. Celebrate Cajun cuisine and culture as well as French and Creole traditions with parades, a carnival, delicious food, and more at Beaumont Mardi Gras. And try new foods at great Beaumont restaurants including authentic Mexican cuisine at Tacos La Bamba, Southern home cooking at Black-owned Rosie’s Soul Food, and Japanese dishes at Kikko Ramen & Poke.
Pro: Tons of Outdoor Recreation
Nature and adventure lovers will find an array of enjoyable outdoor activities in Beaumont! Hang out on sandy beaches, go camping, and kayak along the Neches River. Stroll the boardwalks, learn about the area’s ecosystems at the Wetlands Education Center, and see birds like pelicans, egrets, and ibis at Cattail Marsh Scenic Wetlands & Boardwalk. Paddle in canoes, go fishing, and spot wildlife such as river otters, alligator snapping turtles, and leopard frogs along Cooks Lake to Scatterman Paddling Trail. Visit the 9/11 Memorial, walk the paths lined with themed gardens and native plants, and step inside the conservatory to see more flowers and water features at Beaumont Botanical Gardens. Go horseback riding, play a round of golf, or try your hand at archery at Tyrrell Park. Or interact with animals like alligators, tortoises, and donkeys, take a swamp boat tour, and meet the stars of the TV show Texas Gator Savers at Gator Country Adventure Park.
Pro: Family-Friendly Activities in Beaumont
With all the fun things to do in Beaumont, your whole family will find something to love. Go bowling, join a league, and munch on snacks like onion rings and mini corn dogs at Star Bowling Bar & Grill. Take golf lessons, practice your swing both indoors and out, or play virtual carnival games and zombie dodgeball at 5 Under Golf Center. Play mini golf, mine for gemstones and fossils, or try the Sailor’s Quest VR 5D Simulator at Colorado Canyon. Roller skate, play arcade games, and host a themed party at Manning’s Texas on Wheels Roller Skating Rink. Browse fresh produce, baked goods, and hand-made soaps at the Beaumont Farmers Market, and bring your kids along for the Storytime hosted by the Beaumont Library. Or attend the rodeo, take a camel or pony ride, and zip around on carnival rides every spring at the South Texas State Fair.
Pro: All Kinds of Performance & Fine Arts
There are a slew of things to do and see on the Beaumont art scene! Connect with a variety of artistic mediums by viewing the permanent collection as well as rotating exhibitions such as Alicia Eggert: All the Light You See at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. Take classes in watercolor and oil painting through the Beaumont Art League, or attend and submit your work to themed art shows like the Neches River Festival Show and Landscape / Seascape / Cityscape. Support local artists at exhibits such as The Art of Mental Health and Shop-o-Rama and local musicians including punk and blues bands, guitar players, and more during Band Nites at The Art Studio Inc. Experience holiday symphonies, classical music composed by Dvorak and Tchaikovsky, and pops orchestra concerts like A Broadway Celebration: Melissa Errico Sings Sondheim with the Symphony of Southeast Texas. Get tickets to dance performances of Alice in Wonderland, The Nutcracker, and The Wizard of Oz at the Beaumont Civic Ballet. And don’t miss dance concerts such as Fall & Recovery as well as plays like The Incredible Fox Sisters and Dangerous Corner from Lamar University’s Department of Theatre & Dance.
Cons of Living in Beaumont
As with any move, relocating to Beaumont also means being aware of the city’s downsides. These are some cons of living in Beaumont.
Con: Safety-Related Concerns
Unfortunately, Beaumont’s crime rate is one of the city’s biggest drawbacks, as it’s 114% higher than the national average, making Beaumont safer than only 3% of U.S. cities. However, by population, Beaumont is a midsized city, and many small cities in the U.S. are included in those statistics. A larger city population usually means more crime simply due to the number of people living there. Additionally, the numbers show that crime is decreasing in Beaumont, and there are also plenty of safer suburbs in the Beaumont area to choose from, including Lumberton, Bridge City, and Vidor. And for residents dealing with crises, there are plenty of Beaumont services and resources that can help.
Con: Fewer Academic Opportunities
Residents find many of Beaumont’s schools to be a little lacking. Beaumont’s main public district, Beaumont Independent School District, has only a 22% proficiency rate in reading. There are also only two colleges in the City of Beaumont, which doesn’t provide a lot of options for older students. Nevertheless, there are some standout schools in Beaumont for students of all ages. For example, Hamshire-Fannett Elementary School has above state average test scores, and Early College High School has higher than average state test scores in English and Biology. There are also highly-ranked private school options—like Legacy Christian Academy and Monsignor Kelly Catholic High School—as well as highly-ranked school districts in Beaumont’s suburbs, including the Hardin-Jefferson Independent School District. And although there are only a couple to choose from, Beaumont’s colleges are top-notch! Find dozens of majors like nursing, criminal justice, and business analytics at Lamar University. Or enroll in programs such as real estate, graphic design, or dental hygiene at Lamar Institute of Technology.
Con: Beaumont’s Population Decline
When people decide to move, it tends to be because of job opportunities, education, lifestyle, and more. Beaumont’s population began dropping in the 1960s and increased during the 1981-82 recession, which took a toll on the oil industry and left many residents without jobs, forcing them to move to find work. But why are people still moving post-recession? The reasons are different for each person, but some include moving for the big city lifestyle, for a more diverse economy, or for more college education and employment opportunities. However, the population of Beaumont is only falling at a rate of about -1.4% per year, and while the state of Texas’s population is growing, Beaumont isn’t alone. Many Texas cities are seeing population decline, including Corpus Christi, San Antonio, and Houston, and Beaumont doesn’t even make the top ten. So, while population decline is something to be aware of, it isn’t a reason for concern.
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This post was originally published 09/18/2020, and last revised on 02/26/2024 with updated information.
