With two million inhabitants from a variety of cultures, Houston is the fourth largest city in the United States. The city supports modern industries, boasts lush vegetation, and provides thriving intellectual and cultural environments.

Houston is an international city that is a deader in the arts, education, and health care. The same vision and entrepreneurial spirit that made Houston the energy capital of the world has given rise to global companies in a wide array of industries. On top of all the "big city benefits," Houston's cost of living and housing costs are significantly lower than is found in many other large urban areas.

Toss out any images of dusty, flat plains, because Houston is full of trees and boasts 32,000 acres of parks, public green space, and open water. Filling your free time will be a breeze, since the city offers an abundance of recreational activities, restaurants, shopping, cultural performances, entertainment, and sporting events. When considering factors such as cost of living, jobs, education, climate, crime, arts, and recreation, Forbes.com ranked Houston as the 3rd best city in the country for young professionals, based on a variety of criteria: where Ivy League graduates settle 10 years after graduation; number of Forbes 400 best big companies and 200 best small companies; median salary data; and number of residents between the ages of 20 and 35 (2008).

Baylor College of Medicine is situated in one of the most attractive areas of Houston. Located five miles south of downtown, the Texas Medical Center adjoins the landscapes of Hermann Park, Rice University, and Rice Village Shopping Center. The Medical Center's northern perimeter borders the Museum District, which offers more than 15 outstanding art, historic, and science museums, including the Contemporary Art Museum, The Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Health Museum, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

Houston Highlights:

• Low cost of living and affordable housing
• No state or local income taxes
• Expanding economy in diverse industries
• Multicultural population of more than 2.2 million
• More than 30 colleges and universities
• Average temperature of 68 degrees
• Permanent ballet, opera, symphony, and theater companies
• An "urban forest" with 307 parks
• NASA's Johnson Space Center
• World's eighth largest port in terms of shipping tonnage
• 3,000 restaurants serving every type of cuisine
• Shopping galore
• Professional and college sports, including the Astros, Rockets, Comets, Aeros, Texans and Dynamo
• Nearby beaches and lakes