I grew up in Houston, went to college in Pittsburgh (6 years), and now live in NYC (5 years). I've met more close-minded, conservative, shove religion down your throat people in Pittsburgh and New York, than I encountered living in Houston...and I'm a practicing Catholic.
Honestly, I think we just got a bad rep because we are in Texas, but Houston when I lived there and now, is like a larger New York in the sense of industries. It's grown exponentially, the food scene has always been brilliant (we were doing food trucks before the east coast knew what a truck was), the art scene is insane, plus you can always find something to do. Especially in February when the Rodeo is happening.
Just to give a disclaimer, I'm talking about HOUSTON, not the outside areas like Katy, Pearland, Sugarland, Mission Bend, Spring, etc. They'll claim Houston when it's convenient, and give us a bad name.