16 Pros and Cons of Living in Corpus Christi, TX (2024)

Are you considering moving very far south to Corpus Christi, Texas?

If so, you’re considering a city with more than meets the eye.

You may have visited before and enjoyed the ocean, nightlife, and attractions, but visiting is quite different from living in a location.

Like with living in any destination, there are a variety of pros and cons that you must weigh before making the big move seaside.

Keep reading to learn more about the pros and cons of living in Corpus Christi, TX!

Pros of Living in Corpus Christi, TX

While many pros exist to living in this city, the most persuasive include:

1. Countless Activities

While plenty of family-friendly activities in Corpus Christi are available to meet all preferences (more on this later), you can find a variety of entertainment options as a solo or couple.

The beach and ocean are obviously at the of the things to do list, but Texas State Aquarium and The Art Museum of South Texas are local favorites, with rotating exhibitions.

Also, the USS Lexington Museum is a relic of the military past, Whataburger Field is a great place to catch a ballgame, and the Corpus Christi Downtown Seawall is a beautiful place for a picnic and to listen to the ocean crash against the shore.

2. Deep History

The city is chock full of history due to its participation in various wars.

When visiting downtown, you will come across countless historical monuments.

Step inside a museum to find artifacts from those soldiers who defended Texas and Corpus Christi’s borders against invaders.

This seaside city also ties significantly to Selena Quintanilla-Perez, so her museum gives insight into the late singer’s life, including signed albums, iconic outfits, and countless awards.

If you don’t know who she is, visit the Selena Museum during your next trip.

3. Diverse Population

Many Corpus Christi visitors become permanent residents, so the city continues to grow rapidly.

In the 2019 Census, the city’s population comprised 63.2% Hispanic, 29.5% white, 4.1% Black, 2.3% Asian, and 1.7% of two races or greater.

This means that Corpus Christi is one of the most diverse populations in Texas, proving that the area is welcoming to all.

4. Endless Delicious Food Options

Due to Corpus Christi’s diverse population, you have your food choice from various delicious ethnic restaurants.

The food scene in this city is excellent compared to its size, with a diversity of flavors around every corner.

Historically Corpus has been known for its fresh and renowned seafood offerings and Mexican food.

However, the city offers a variety of other types, including Italian, Asian, and Mediterranean.

5. Excellent Entertainment Options

Although Corpus Christi doesn’t boast the professional sports, nightlife, or other entertainment choices of cities like Dallas or Houston, it has plenty of charming local entertainment options.

Of course, the ocean is a major part of these choices, including the summertime boardwalk fair, catching and cooking your caught fish at the pier, and dolphin tours, to name a few.

As a result, you can find an exciting entertainment opportunity for every taste in Corpus.

6. Family-Friendly Feel

One of the reasons you may be relocating to Corpus Christi is because it’s been rumored to be a wonderful place to raise a family.

The rumors are true since the city is unforgettable and welcoming with plenty of family-friendly year-round activities.

With endless miles of beaches, families can spend weeks on the water enjoying jet skiing, snorkeling, surfing, or kicking back on the beach.

In addition to the natural activities, Corpus Christi hosts plenty of museums, monuments, and parks.

7. Reasonable Cost of Living

One of the best aspects of living in Corpus Christi is that the area is decently affordable, especially compared to other Texas cities.

Those with excellent job prospects can stretch their money further in Corpus Christi and purchase large, seaside homes.

The city also has plenty available for those searching for more bargain housing.

One point to highlight is that the city balances low rental and housing costs with utilities and healthcare cost more aligned with the national U.S. average.

Even with these higher costs, Corpus Christi is approximately 20% cheaper than the national average.

8. Stunning Environment

Visit Corpus Christi once, and you will understand why this advantage exists.

The sights and views along the bay are breathtaking, especially with a diversity of birds scattered along the coastline.

Best of all, living in Corpus Christi doesn’t matter where you live; the downtown beach is only a short drive away.

If you choose not to live along the bay, most apartments and homes have beautiful views of areas, including nature reserves, flourishing parks, and beaches.

Cons of Living In Corpus Christi, TX

Like with living in any city, there are an equal number of cons that you must consider before moving, including:

1. Dirty Areas

Unfortunately, many residents of Corpus Christi don’t have home training, so many spots in the city are filled with litter.

Sadly, these litter-filled areas tend to be near the beautiful seashore, making some parts unbearable to enjoy.

This also causes fishing spots to periodically close to pollution and harms marine life.

While not every place is like this, you will be exposed to dirty areas if you move to Corpus Christi.

2. High Crime

One of the negative statistics that Corpus Christi is known for is the high crime rate, which deters many from moving to this city.

Crime Grade gave Corpus Christi a D+ rating for its safety, a combination of violent and property crime rates.

Like any city, not all areas of the city boast high crime, but downtown is one of the most dangerous places in Corpus Christi.

On the other hand, newer neighborhoods, like the South Side, are significantly safer and great for families.

3. High Poverty Rate

A prevalent poverty rate is one of the results of an economy built around government and tourism.

Outside of military and government employment, few other industries exist, which means those working in service or other unskilled positions are at or below the poverty line.

Like in all cities, the higher the poverty rate, the lower taxes to pay for police coverage, and higher crime rates exist, and Corpus Christi is no exception.

4. Lack of Downtown Development

Despite the seemingly endless number of tourists that flock to the city’s beaches and parks during the high summer tourism season, the downtown area of Corpus Christi continues to lack development.

With a downtown situated on Corpus Christi Bay, there are endless opportunities to create new housing, restaurants, bars, and shopping with beautiful views of the water.

But, unfortunately, a lot of this lack of development is driven by the next point, low government spending on the city.

5. Low Government Spending

Although Corpus Christi is home to stunning nature reserves, picturesque coastlines, beautiful parks, and almost eight million tourists annually, the local and state governments continue to have limited spending on the city.

That means the infrastructure is poor, and new development projects aren’t supported.

As a result, corpus Christi is financially overshadowed by much larger Texas cities like Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio.

6. Job Shortages in Niche Industries

One of the major downfalls of the city is the limited employment opportunities, so have a job lined up before relocating to the area.

The largest employer in the city is the Naval Air Station, while other government jobs comprise many of the top 20 employers, including:

• Corpus Christi Army Depot
• Corpus Christi ISD
• Corpus Christi State School
• Dell Mar College
• Nueces County
• Texas A&M at Corpus Christi
• The City of Corpus Christi

Other jobs tend to revolve around healthcare, fabrication, construction, and the service industry to support tourism.

Therefore, if you’re in a tech or artistry field, you should look elsewhere for a new position.

However, with the remote working brought on by the COVID-19 Pandemic, many employees have the freedom to work from anywhere. Remember, sometimes severe weather can result in power outages and internet shortages.

In summary, the shortage of diverse jobs makes the city a difficult location for those who work in specific sectors.

7. Tons of Tourists

Because of the beautiful scenery, the Corpus Christi area welcomes over eight million tourists annually, ballooning the population during the summer.

While this is excellent for the economy, if you’re planning to live in the area, you must become accustomed to a constant ebb and flow of travelers.

That means your favorite beaches will be crowded, with long restaurant lines, heavy traffic, and overcrowded sidewalks.

8. Variable Weather

The weather can become severe at certain periods throughout the year, fluctuating from bright and sunny to rainy and cool.

Given its Gulf of Mexico location, the weather can change drastically each day.

These weather changes can be annoying for many, especially if you cannot stand humidity and high dew points.

In addition to these variations, you will be battling high winds, which is great for kite surfing, but bad for those trying to plan activities.

This con wouldn’t be complete without mentioning hurricane season.

Corpus Christi is often right in the direct path of hurricanes, which can cause massive flooding, damage, and power outages.

Pros and Cons of Living in Corpus Christi, TX – Summary Table