We all have different ideas and choices of places we would want to live. Even couples have different opinions on the best place to live. You might prefer a place that is close to an ocean or a location with magnificent scenery where monkeys hop from tree to tree. In contrast, your partner might like an area with a glorious blue sky, a moderate bubbling creek, and the chirping of a solitary bird.
The beauty of the United States is that you can relocate to any place you want without any impediments, and you have a variety of options to choose from. One of those options is Texas, a state that has many beautiful cities, a robust economy, Texas cheap average electric bills, and warm weather that is ideal for outdoor activities. At the heart of this great state are the rugged hills, prairies, forests, coastlines, deserts, and grasslands for you to enjoy. The Lone Star state is also home to several fortune 500 companies dealing with Agriculture, energy, biochemicals, Computers, petrochemicals, and Aerospace.
What are the best towns to live in Texas
With all these beautiful things that Texas offers, coupled with its expansiveness, it can be quite challenging to choose a place to settle. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here is a list of the best places to stay or live in Texas.
Austin
Austin is among the fastest-developing cities in the US, and it is arguably the best place to live in the US, especially for young professionals. Over the past couple of years, people have come to appreciate Austin as a unique, liberal, and weird/quirky city at the center of a somewhat conservative state. The city has a sumptuous food scene, numerous music venues, and outdoor recreation activities. It hosts the Austin City Limits (ACL) and South by Southwest (SXSW) music festivals every year. As a matter of fact, the city is popularly known for its live music and has the largest music venues than any other place in the country.
Apart from music, Austin has some weird but beautiful vibes, and hence the slogan ‘keep Austin weird.’ It is the tiny blue independent dot in the vast sea of red that represents the state of Texas. The non-restrictive Austin culture provides the perfect environment for creativity and innovations that are witnessed in arts, music, and in the fast-growing tech companies. In fact, Austin has been listed by Forbes as the city with the potential of becoming the next silicon valley.
Additionally, it has numerous walking and biking paths, hundreds of yoga studios, never-ending hiking trails, and ambitious entrepreneurs who are looking to build the next multi-billion company. It is the positive music vibes and weird but interesting Austin culture that puts it top of our list of the best places to live in Texas.
Houston
Another exciting place to live in is Texas’s largest city and the country’s second-largest city, Houston. With a population that is slightly over 2 million, Houston is home to some of the famous sports teams such as the Astros, the Texans, and the Rockets. The museum district in itself attracts close to 7 million people to Houston every year. Tourism sites aside, what are the other things that make Houston so attractive that made over 2 million people decide to live here?
Well, there are several things, the main one being the opportunity that Houston offers. Houston is one of the cities that has the highest number of fortune 500 companies only second after New York. Some of the companies present in Houston include; EOG partners, Kinder Morgan, Waste Management Inc, Halliburton, Plains All American Pipeline, Enterprise Products Partners, ConocoPhillips, Sysco Phillips 66 and the list goes on.
The opportunities combined with the affordable cost of living in contrast to other big cities make Houston an easy choice for most professionals. For example, the average price for a rental house in Houston is approximately $1500. This might look expensive but if compared with other cities such as Los Angeles ($3200), New York ($2995), and Chicago ($1750), you will agree that it is quite reasonable.
But what truly makes Houston the best place to live in, is its diversity, thanks majorly to the 14 universities that have attracted students from all the world. The city is said to host over 150 nationalities which makes it a real melting pot. It is this diversity that makes Houston vibrant and lively.
Dallas
It won’t be right not to include Dallas in this list of the best places to live in Texas. As the third-largest city in the state, Dallas has a median home value of around $226,145. It has been recognized by Forbes, as one of the best cities in the United States for retirees together with San Antonio. One of the things that make Dallas the best place to live is its affordability. If you compared Dallas with the other cities in the country, you will realize that it is a less expensive city to live in. It is also centrally placed making it easy to get into a plane and fly west or east for business or visiting a friend or family.
Moreover, the weather in Dallas is just perfect. The heat can be a bit intense during the summer, but unlike most parts of the country, the city experiences mild winter and plenty of sunshine all year round.
If you are a foodie person, you will definitely fall in love with Dallas. The city is reported to have more restaurants than New York and with the diverse culture, you can enjoy different cuisines every day. And just like Houston, Dallas has quite a number of companies in the Fortune 500 companies list. It also has a fair share of a billionaire – around 18 of them.
San Antonio
San Antonio has a population of around 1.5 million people and a population growth rate of 12.4%. It is popularly known as the “biggest small town in Texas”. If you are looking for a place that will draw you away from the hustle and bustle of the city, then San Antonio is the right place for you – thanks to its vacation-like atmosphere and slow-paced nature. It also has plenty of attractive features such as its rich history, the old San Fernando Cathedral, and San Antonio’s Botanical garden. Most people are attracted to San Antonio because of the blissful river walk and its rich history.
Apart from having some of the best tourist attraction sites in Texas, San Antonio offers four major things; healthy living options, affordability, access to travel, and entertainment. It has also some exceptional recreational and outdoor activities such as hiking and walking trails, cultural heritage, and scenic sites. All these features combined together makes San Antonio an ideal place for retirees and those people who prefer a more laid back lifestyle and a serene atmosphere.
Denton
Denton might not be in the same league as Dallas, Houston, and Austin. In fact, I’ll not be surprised if you’ve never even heard about Denton.
Denton is a city that is located on the outskirts of Dallas and has a population of around 125,000 people. As small as it is, it has made some tremendous progress in its economic development and infrastructure wise. The city hosts two major universities i.e. Texas Women University and the University of Northern Texas. It is these two universities that have brought life to Denton and transformed it into an enlightened and lively community.
Apart from the vibrancy and enlightenment, the universities have also revolutionized the city to a small music paradise. With multiple venues spread all over the city together with the annual Jazz and Art festival that usually attracts well over 225,000 people every year, there is not a single boring day in Denton. It’s even argued that the music atmosphere in Denton rivals that of Nashville and Austin but then, that is a topic for another day.
Having said that, I wouldn’t recommend it to just anyone, if you are looking for a big city, then go for Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas. However, if you are looking for a small city full of life and is close to a big city, then Denton is definitely the right choice for you.
Where is the most affordable place to live in Texas?
There are several affordable places to live in Texas. Below are the six most affordable places in Texas with adequate amenities and strong job markets that not only make them affordable but also the best place to live in.
Pecos
Pecos tops the list of the most affordable places in Lone Star state. It is situated south of the New Mexican border in Reeves county and has a population of around 10,000 people. In 2012, It was reported as one of the fastest-growing towns in the U.S. It has a strong economy and offers a conducive environment for trade and investments. So, if you are looking for a place with an affordable cost of living and plenty of job and investment opportunities, then you should consider Pecos.
Brownsville
Apart from the affordable cost of living, Brownsville is one of those towns that has everything in one – from beaches to Mexican food and perfect weather. Located in the Southernmost part of Texas, Brownsville is among the fast-developing urban areas in the country with the port of Brownsville being the driving force of economic development in Southern Texas.
Despite occupying a prime area on the southern part of the Texas Coast, just close to the Gulf of Mexico, and a short distance away from South Padre Island (a famous tourist destination), the cost of living in Brownsville is still way lower than you would expect. Brownsville cost of living, compared to other Texas Cities is still low. Rental houses are moderately priced just like is the case with other living expenses e.g. food, transport, and utilities. Its median family income is approximately $31,202 and the median home price is $93,607.
Odessa
Odessa is a city in the western part of Texas and is best known for its high-School football and cowboy culture. The city also hosts some amazing features such as the Replica of Stonehenge and the second-largest meteor in the country. It boasts of a diverse economy with an average monthly house rent of roughly $1,160 and a median house price of $103,200. The housing market and real estate make it the ideal place for a family. So, if you are looking for a peaceful and affordable place to raise a family, Odessa is the right city for you. It is also a heaven for those people who love diverse cultural and sporting activities.
Frisco
There is no shortage of activities in Frisco. Located in the outskirts of Dallas, this city is the place to be for those people who love shopping. It has 9 million square feet of dining and retail space for its residents and visitors to enjoy. It is reported to have a median household income of approximately $108,284. It is home to NBA D-league teams, FC Dallas that plays in Major League Soccer, and NHL Dallas Stars. Frisco Superdrome, a banked oval track measuring 250 meters, hosts numerous different cycling races.
Cedar Park
Cedar Park is approximately 17 miles from Austin but life here is less expensive compared to Austin. There are opportunities galore – thanks to the large companies and sports and entertainment centers that spread all over the city. Cedar Park is one of the fastest developing municipalities in the U.S and its economy is by and large driven by companies such as National Oilwell Vargo, Dana Company, and tech-companies such as Fallbrook Technologies and Firefly Space Systems.
What is the safest city in Texas to live in?
Although Texas doesn’t make the list of the safest places to live in the U.S in regards to crime rates, Lone Star State is so expansive that its safest cities report crime rates that places them among the safest in the country. Actually, Texas’ 5 safest cities all report crime rates that are below 0.5 per 1000.
The safest city in Texas is Fulshear which has a crime rate that is 96 percent below the national average. It has a violent rate per capita of 7.2%, non-violent rate per capita of 16.2 per capita and is home to over 10,000 people. A couple of years back, the city had a lower population but due to its closeness to the Houston metro-area, the population has grown gradually to the current 13,790 people and counting. It is situated in Fort Bend County and was once the richest small city in Texas.
Other towns with relatively low crime rates include; Hutto, with 86% below national crime rate, Trophy Club with 78.88 percent below national crime rate, San Elizario with 86.4 percent below national crime rate and Fair Oaks ranch among others.
What is the best small town to live in Texas?
You are probably aware of the big cities like Houston, Austin, San Antonio and Dallas, but what about the small towns that spread across the vast lands of Texas? Have you ever thought of relocating to a quiet place, somewhere in a rural place where the air is still fresh and life is a bit slow-paced?
Here is where I introduce you to Rollingwood, the best small town to live in Texas. It is a small town located around 3 mile to the west of Austin and has a population of 1,569 people. Its median income is $190,795 while the median home value stands at $991, 400.
Other small towns to consider include; Spring Valley Village, Southside Place, Piney Point Valley, Olmos Park and Bunker Hill Village.
