17 Best Places to Live in Texas

With the growing age, more and more people want to relocate to newer surroundings for newer experiences, and those thinking of progressing with a growing economy can mark Texas at the topmost position on their lists as there are many best places to live in Texas.

But Texas has more welcoming factors as well, as it is a huge state, and stands second out of all of the U.S. states in terms of both area and population. It is home to around 30 million residents, providing excellent job opportunities with a high quality of life.

Once you have let yourself be allured to the beauty of Texas, now is the time to decide, where in Texas? And for that, here is a list of the best places to live in Texas for you to choose from, according to your comfort, for moving into this state.

For excursion enthusiasts, who want to explore different national parks in Texas, you can explore the best 11 National Parks in Texas.

The 17 Best Places to Live in Texas 

1. San Antonio

The second largest city in the Southern United States is San Antonio, known for its relaxing way of life. It is also one of the most affordable places out of other Texas cities, with a population of around 1.5 million residents, making it the second-most populous city in the state.

San Antonio has a good blend of Hispanic culture and Spanish colonial missions, whilst hosting a variety of historical monuments.

Attractions like the Alamo, SeaWorld, Riverwalk, etc. and jerks of amazing Mexican food, attract around 40 million tourists every year, making the city a lively place to reside in.

Residents can enjoy the magnificent waterfall walkways for an early morning jog or some exciting night-outs. It is also one of the fastest-growing cities in the country with major industries from healthcare, aerospace, and IT taking charge.

The city has a good road situation, allowing lesser commute times, and has great connectivity with other major cities.

This is the perfect choice for those looking for the taste of a major city, but with the expenditure of a smaller town making it one of the best places to live in Texas.

2. Fort Worth

Also called the Funky town, Fort Worth is a vibrant city. Its job opportunities, hospitality, and culture have managed to attract many young professionals and families to relocate here.

Unlike other major cities, Fort Worth can give you a taste of the true western culture, with Ranchers and cowboys strolling around and if you want to learn even more about them, there is the National Cowgirl Museum.

Fort Worth is at a rapidly growing stage, allowing you to be a part of a progressive community. It has low crime rates and low living costs, along with a decent school system. It also hosts various higher education options, bringing students to settle in the city, making it a great choice out of the other best places to live in Texas.

Even though the housing options in this city are vibrant, you have a lot to choose from. There are bungalows, high-rise apartments, ranch-style homes, condos, and townhomes, all waiting to let the keys drop into your hands at the best prices possible.

3. El Paso

It is one of the most affordable cities in Texas, and also the closest city to Mexico, at 9 miles from the Mexican border.

El Paso is situated close to the Rio Grande River and has a splash of Hispanic culture and traditions, with excellent parks and food.

An important reason for the place being more affordable is the low median household income, amounting to around $45,000 annually, but attention from entrepreneurs and other businesses has managed to skyrocket the median housing price from $137,000 to $177,000.

Although El Paso is a great addition to the list of best places to live in Texas, those with job profiles requiring frequent travel to other cities might have the urge to skip this, as the closest large Texas city is San Antonio, which is around an 8-hour drive.

El Paso has extreme weather, as it is situated mostly around a desert. Even though rains are scarce, the storms can turn into flash floods in a blink.

The crime rates of El Paso are extremely low, making it a welcoming city for families looking for a quiet way of life. Every district has a unique feel, and the city also has lively bars with live music to keep the nightlife a buzz.

4. Corpus Christi

If you are looking for something off-beat as compared to other Texas cities, Corpus Christi should be your go-to. The city has a peaceful bay with breezes of island life and great affordability.

Corpus Christi offers chill and relaxing vibes without the lack of ever feeling that there is nothing to do. The city hosts an excellent park system, thanks to which over three fourth of the population lives within 10 minute walk of any public park.

With rents of around $1,000, and a median household income of around $55,000, Corpus Christi provides great value. The city is most popular with petroleum, military, and tourism industries, accompanied by a vibrant nightlife to spend your earnings on.

One of the most alluring features of choosing this city is getting the opportunity to live near the waterfront in Texas, that too in a city where people come to spend their vacations, all that at affordable housing costs.

5. Austin

Looking for a trendier and more premier experience, Austin has its doors open. The capital city of the state of Texas, is the second most populous state capital city in the country, with around a million residents.

For foodies, Austin hosts one of the best foods in Texas, offering world-class cuisine. Austinites have made the city dubbed as the music capital of the world, as it is able to draw in a great lifestyle and alluring young professionals, an excellent choice out of the other best places to live in Texas.

Austin has a good job market, that is expected to grow a lot further within the next decade, drawing a bright future for the city. All these delicacies come with an average house price rising over half a million dollars, with rents averaging around $1,900.

If you got the pocket, or the enthusiasm for growth and a fun-loving lifestyle, this Live Music Capital of the world should be your choice, also talked about as the next Silicon Valley, as it draws a good amount of attention from the people of California.

6. Dallas

Dallas is one of the safest cities.

It is one of the best places to live in Texas, with highly sought-after neighbourhoods. This city has something for everyone, serving an excellent buffet of things to work upon. Big city, bigger everything.

The city offers great connectivity within itself, thanks to DART, i.e., the Dallas Area Rapid Transit, which has different coloured train lines, moving throughout the metropolis. With the construction of the Dallas International Airport, it has also become of great industrial and financial significance.

Being part of such an outstanding community, one would not have to shed a bigger pocket to meet the expenses, with average house prices for rental going around $1,500 to $2,500.

The city has a good number of museums and is often talked about together with Fort Worth as the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex.

Being the economic centre of Texas, Dallas is of great importance. All these factors, like affordability, good job market, diverse cuisine, and large population, should be able to help you settle into this city, and is one of the best places to live in Texas.

7. Arlington

Less than half an hour of drive from both Dallas and Fort Worth is the city of Arlington, located in Tarrant County. It offers chains of retail and restaurants to explore, and also is the home to the University of Texas.

The city honours around half a million residents, with 4,700 acres of parks for them to explore. For sports enthusiasts, there are tennis courts, basketball courts, and park trails, to help you not give reasons to have to move out of the city.

The city boasts all big city amenities, as well as the AT&T stadium, which is home to the Dallas Cowboys. So many activities to participate in, and a decent job market helps attract many college students, making it one of the best places to live in Texas.

The Median income of a household here is around $60,000, and a typical home value of around $300,000 – $400,000, Arlington happens to be a charming city and one of the best places to live in Texas to choose from to relocate.

8. Laredo

Laredo borders Mexico and is situated in Southern Texas and has a rich heritage. There are around 250,000 residents living in Laredo, and the cost of living is quite low, with affordable housing.

The median household income is around $40,000, and streets offer authentic Mexican food to entertain your taste buds. Most of the economy of the city is based on international trade with Mexico, as it is situated very close to manufacturers in Northern Mexico.

Good quality of life, and a semi-arid climate, make Laredo a decent choice to be on the list of best places to live in Texas for those with lighter pockets, providing the perfect value and is one of the safest cities.

9. Amarillo

The Northernmost major city of Texas, and also the largest city in the Texas Panhandle is Amarillo. Also called the yellow city, based on its meaning in Spanish. The city has a population of around 200,000 residents and is one of the most affordable cities on our list.

Median household income averaging around $50,000 and still average house prices around $150,000, makes it a city of excellent value. Earlier mostly a ranching town, but now is composed of various types of condos, apartment complexes, and townhouses.

It is also well connected to Texas Tech University, thanks to quick access to highways like Interstate 40, also known as Route 66.

With a beautiful semi-arid climate in hot Texas, with colder winters and drier summer temperatures, it is one of the best places to live in Texas.

10. Lubbock

Just around two hours south of Amarillo, is the city of Lubbock, in north Texas, where around 250,000 residents live. Like Amarillo, it is another great affordable city with one of the most pocket-friendly median housing prices.

The median household income of residents of Lubbock is around $50,000 and the median housing price of $131,000, hence rents and mortgages are easy payoffs. Per cent of population growth around the decade has been around 12.6%.

Originally Lubbock was created to accommodate Texas Tech university, and most of the economic benefits of the city are related to this institution. The university is very prestigious and even hosts a law and medical school within itself.

The city is also one of the largest producers of wine grapes in the state, and also has an array of friendly activities, like live music and art, along with delicious eats to explore.

11. Frisco

Frisco is one of the safest cities and the city with one of the least violent crime rates.

It is one of the fastest-growing cities with a decade of population growth of around 71% and is considered one of the best places to live in Texas.

Frisco is a city with a perfect blend of wealth and safety, which makes the Frisco population a part of a prosperous suburb, situated around 25 miles from the Dallas Fort Worth international airport.

The median household income in Frisco is one of the highest, raking in around $125,000 annually, and thus the median house rate has also risen up to around the $340,000 mark, even though the population of this city is just over the 200,000 mark.

Frisco is a great city to relocate to, with a great park system, rapidly increasing job market, quality schools, and affordable living as compared to the higher median household income.

12. Midland

The Oil Capital of Texas is located in the Permian Basin in Midland. The city is a part of Western Texas and it being the only city that is away from major metropolitan areas, makes it a unique pick.

The major industries in this city are tied to Natural gas and lucrative oil reserves, drilled for profits. Midland has also been home to presidents and a vibrant arts community.

Midland also takes you to meet the Texan Cowboy lifestyle, by making you stumble around cacti, roadrunners, coyotes, etc.

The city is home to around 132,000 residents, with a median house price of around $200,000. Midland is one of the best cities to settle in if you are looking for a place in West Texas.

13. New Braunfels

Known for the Comal and Guadalupe rivers, the city of New Braunfels is situated at the heart of the Texas Hill Country. Although less known among the other popular tourist destinations in Texas, the city gives life to the German heritage.

New Braunfels reflects in the amazing cuisine the city offers, along with a special mention of the most popular annual event of the city, i.e., Wurst fest. This event lasts for 10 days and manages to barge in a footfall of around 100,000 visitors.

During the decade, the population growth of this city has been more than 50% and clocks in an average house price of $200,000. As compared to housing prices, the median household income is around $71,000, which attracts many young professionals, and the value it provides makes it one of the best places to live in Texas.

This is one of the best places to live in Texas as it helps to provide all requirements of a big city within its city limits, hence not requiring extra travel out of your homes.

14. Killeen

Mostly known as a military town, is a suburban city, that is located in Central Texas, known as Killeen. It is one of the best metro areas in Texas to live in, thanks to the suburban feel it offers at a relatively low median house pricing.

The median house pricing is around $121,500 with a median household income of $50,000. The rental options the city includes vary from luxury apartments to single-family homes, with two-bedroom apartments going for just around $1,300 a month.

The major military installation in Kileen is Fort Hood, hosting over 65,000 soldiers in an area of 214,000 acres, making it one of the biggest military installations in the world. The city is at a great location, being a short drive from both Austin and Dallas.

Residents of Killeen will never be bored thanks to the number of activities they can keep themselves busy with, and there is always movement going on within the city due to the movement of military families, according to their station orders.

15. Irving

15 minutes away from Downtown Dallas, Irving is a popular choice among families and professionals. This makes it a good choice among other large Texan cities, as it gets you the best of both worlds.

The city offers good growth opportunities and offers a good median household income of $61,000 and allows Irving residents to live in houses with a median home value of $165,000. The city has a well-regarded school system and offers safe commutes due to its low crime rates.

The neighbourhoods here are quiet and peaceful, which makes it a really family-friendly place to spend your days at. Young professionals could be attracted to the many companies that give the Irving population profound job opportunities and keeps them busy.

Irving residents enjoy various community events that take place regularly, showcasing music and other entertaining shows, which celebrate the amazing diversity taking place in the city, offering amazing after-work relaxations.

16. McAllen

Situated in the Southern part of the state, in the Rio Grande Valley is the city of McAllen, which is the 5th most populous metropolitan area, and reflects great southern culture. It is just 110 km west of the Gulf of Mexico.

In terms of safety, McAllen is the safest city to live in in Texas and is a perfect choice for people who are more security concerned or families. The city has a population of around 142,000 residents according to the 2020 census, and population growth over the decade is just shy of 10 per cent.

For bird watchers and bird researchers, McAllen could be a decent pick as the city is placed between the migratory pathways of birds between North and South America. Moreover, the city being a border town makes it a great point of a blend for the American and Mexican cultures.

17. Beaumont

Beaumont is situated in southeastern Texas and is regarded as a coastal city in the U.S. State of Texas. It is a blend of suburban and urban vibes and has a sizeable population of around 115,000 residents.

It is a big, small town and offers a handful of entertainment options, with bars and restaurants being the favourite after-hour spots. Beaumont residents are offered a simple life with basic recreation and entertainment options, which are enough to keep things moving.

It is one of the most affordable cities on the list with a comparatively low cost of living and a decent median household income of $50,000, moreover, the city is known as the Museum Capital of Texas. 

Although Beaumont is definitely not known for its crime rates, with scores and ratings reaching the F grade, since it is a coastal area, offering abundant career opportunities, along with being home to Lamar university, this city definitely made up a mark on the list for the best places to live in Texas.

Key Takeaway

Texas is a beautiful state that doesn’t force anything on its residents, offering them variety in everything. Having something for everyone won’t allow you reasons to skip your thoughts of relocating to this state.

With different cultures, interests, and lifestyle options, with a state median household income of around $69,000 and friendly tax laws for entrepreneurs and businesses, to keep the job market active.

The state offers endless opportunities and an active lifestyle, and in the end, it is your choice, where you would like to settle. The article includes the most considerable points that could help you in shortlisting the right place from the list of best places to live in Texas, from the cost of living to cultures and entertainment options, it has covered everything.

FAQs

1. Name the top 7 affordable places to live in Texas.

Ans.7 most affordable places to live in Texas are as follows:

• Brownsville.
• El Paso.
• Galveston.
• Harlingen.
• Lewisville.
• McAllen.
• Temple.

2. Is it cheap to stay in Texas?

Ans. Yes, it is quite cheap to stay in Texas. Texas is one of the cheapest states in the country making the living cost 7 per cent cheaper as compared to other states. 

3. Is Texas worth living in?

Ans. Yes, Texas is worth living in. Texas will welcome you as a warm and tax-friendly state which is definitely for you to stay in.