The City of Houston, the largest city in Texas and the fourth largest city in the United States, is located on the coastal prairies of southeast Texas and is home to a diverse array of industries and cultures. Houston is located in Harris County, the nation's third-most populous county.  The Houston region, officially designated as the Houston - Sugar Land - Baytown Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), comprises Harris County and nine other counties: Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Liberty, Montgomery, San Jacinto and Waller. 

The Houston MSA has a population of 5.5 million, making it the sixth-largest metropolitan area in the nation; combined with its zone of extraterritorial jurisdiction, an area extending five miles beyond the city’s boundary, the city controls 1,906 square miles.  The most urbanized portions of the Houston area are in Harris County, the southern part of Montgomery County and the eastern section of Fort Bend County.  Houston is home to the eighth largest port in the world and is in close proximity to Mexico, a key trading partner. It has a temperate climate and an affordable cost of living. The cost of living is about 12% lower than the United States average and overall housing costs are 27% lower than the national average.