Moving to Houston for a new job, a fresh start, or to live closer to friends and family? No matter the reason, starting off fresh in a new city can feel exciting and revitalizing, but it can also become overwhelming and daunting. Managing a move is hard enough without the added difficulty of finding and building the community that will make this new city feel like home.
At AptAmigo, we don’t just know the luxury apartment market, we also take the time to truly get to know the locals and the scenes in the communities we love and serve. Below, we listed some first steps you can take to meet new people and build new connections as you start settling into Space City.
Related to How to Meet People in Houston: Tour Houston Like a Local
What Are the Locals in Houston Like?
With over 2.3 million residents, Houston ranks as the fourth-largest city in the United States and the largest city in the entire Lone Star State. Therefore, it is pretty hard, even impossible, to generalize what local Houstonians are like. That said, one positive part of Houston’s culture continues to hold true through its period of population growth: despite the size of the city, people from Houston are known for their hospitality and their friendliness, especially towards newcomers. Another positive characteristic that results from the large size of this city is that people from every walk of life live here. With so much diversity comes diverse offerings in terms of community. In short, your people are here; you just have to find them.
Where & How to Meet People in Houston
Online Resources for Making Friends in Houston
There are a million ways to meet people and build strong relationships in Houston, some of which (like those listed below) you can start doing even before you move.
- Bumble BFF: Bumble BFF is a spin-off of the incredibly popular dating app. This time, however, they put their powerful and effective algorithm to work building friendships instead of romantic relationships.
- Volunteer: While this option, of course, can be done in person, VolunteerMatch hosts a variety of online volunteer opportunities for those in the Houston, Texas area and beyond.
- Facebook: Say what you will about the platform and the direction of Meta, Facebook groups still remain the go-to source for finding and building location-specific communities.
Making Friends in Houston in Real Life
Once on the ground, many people, especially extroverts, prefer in-person interactions. Here are some of the many options for connecting with like-minded people in this city.
- Houston Meetups: While they do have a virtual component, Meetup is a trending (and trendy) way to organize community events and gatherings.
- Coffee or Beer: Or both? The plentiful Coffee shops and bars in Houston are great places to find lively conversation and libations.
- Parks: Houston built an extensive and well-loved park system. Whether you like taking your dog for a walk, eating a picnic lunch, listening to live music, or simply soaking up the sun, you will meet others interested in the same activity in a park near you.
- Book Clubs: If reading makes you happy, consider one of the many book clubs in your neck of the woods. Online sites like Between The Covers and Bookclubs make it even easier to connect with other bookworms in your area.
Looking for Love in Houston (or Not)
Dating apps are one of the preferred ways to meet a partner in Houston. Of these, some of the most popular among locals include Tinder, Bumble, Zoosk, OkCupid, and Grindr, in that order. For a slightly different option, eventbrite publishes a long list of online and in-person singles events happening throughout Houston.
For traditionalists, you might frequent the numerous bars, cafes, and events where you may just strike up a conversation with your soon-to-be special someone. The key is to get out and find activities you enjoy in Houston as a way to connect with others who hold similar interests.
Finding Your Houston Neighborhood
Houston is rapidly growing and changing. While some neighborhoods retain their historic charm, others modernize at an amazing rate. As with any big city, some neighborhoods teem with restaurants and fast-paced nightlife. Parks and green spaces fill other neighborhoods, and others still surround museums and universities. The right neighborhood for you depends on your lifestyle. Whatever that looks like, AptAmigo is here to help you discover the perfect place.
How to Find Your Houston Apartment
Finding the right community starts with finding the right home. Reach out to one of our talented and knowledgeable Locators at AptAmigo to start the process of finding your dream apartment. We’ll take the time to get to know you, match you with great apartments that meet your needs, schedule tours, and even help you with the paperwork. All you need to do is get out and start enjoying all the wonderful people, places, and activities happening around Houston right now.
Up Next: Free Houston Apartment Locators
Melanie Robinson is a writer and poet from Texas. You can learn more about her and her copywriting business on her website.
