Should you’re planning on shifting to Texas, add these cities to your listing.
Texas is massive. Massive landscapes and massive cities outline the southern state, together with a southern tradition that values progress and custom. This distinctive mixture has helped create sprawling cities stuffed with brilliant lights and innovation adjoining to huge prairies the place ranchers have farmed for generations.
These qualities have attracted folks to the state for years: Texas was among the many quickest rising states within the U.S. from 2010-2020, and remains to be rising quickly as folks search for sunshine and affordability. Most individuals are shifting to the state’s massive city facilities, like Austin, Dallas, and Houston.
Due to its dimension, Texas’ panorama varies extensively from one finish to the opposite. There are woodlands to the east, marshes within the south, mountains and desert to the west, and hundreds of miles of rolling prairies within the middle and north.
Texas’ local weather can be very various. Western Texas sees dry, sunny climate for a lot of the yr, with extremely popular summers. Central and Northern Texas expertise a windy, temperate local weather. As you progress east, the local weather turns into wetter and extra humid, particularly within the far east. All the Gulf Coast sees an enormous quantity of rain yearly, primarily from tropical storms.
Importantly, excessive climate is frequent in Texas. It sees the best variety of tornadoes within the U.S. (normally within the central and northern plains), is very liable to flooding, wildfires, and drought, and generally sees tropical storms and extended warmth waves.
So, which cities within the Lone Star State are the most effective? On this Redfin article, we’ve uncovered the most effective locations to reside in Texas, rating them on qualities similar to affordability, navigability, and variety of facilities. Yow will discover extra details about our methodology right here or on the backside of the article.
One of the best locations to reside in Texas
Fort Value, TX
San Antonio, TX
Austin, TX
Dallas, TX
Houston, TX
El Paso, TX
Denton, TX
Richardson, TX
School Station, TX
Plano, TX
1. Fort Value, TX
Inhabitants:978,468Median Sale Value:$357,000Median Lease Value:$1,280Average Commute Time:26.9 minutesUnemployment Price:3.9%
Constructed across the fertile banks of the West Fork Trinity River, Fort Value tops our listing as the most effective place to reside in Texas. Comparatively inexpensive housing prices, loads of job alternatives, and a gradual economic system helped earn the town prime marks. Cattle ranching and oil drilling have formed the town since its founding in 1853, however a various and engaged inhabitants have stored it thriving.
Fort Value is usually thought of a quieter, extra inexpensive various to Dallas the place you keep the big-city facilities and acquire a small-town group really feel. Fort Value’s Downtown neighborhood is a good instance of this: it’s historic, slower paced, and stuffed with locally-owned companies, but additionally has massive points of interest just like the Water Gardens and Conference Middle.
Whereas also known as a part of the bigger Dallas-Fort Value metropolitan space, Fort Value is a world-class metropolis in its personal proper. Practically 1,000,000 folks benefit from the metropolis’s large open areas, distinctive delicacies, and annual occasions. The Botanic and Japanese Gardens at Trinity Park are a must-see. For foodies, Panther Metropolis BBQ, Birria y Taqueria de Cortez, and Swiss Pastry Store are among the many finest native eats. And for those who’re in search of a enjoyable weekend, the Fort Value Inventory Present and Rodeo each winter is iconic.
Nonetheless, minimal public transportation and a fast-growing inhabitants usually results in heavy visitors congestion within the mornings and evenings.
Fort Value properties on the market | Fort Value homes for lease | Fort Value flats for lease
2. San Antonio, TX
Inhabitants:1,495,295Median Sale Value:$315,000Median Lease Value:$1,100Average Commute Time:24.6 minutesUnemployment Price:3.9%
Positioned in Southern Texas, 150 miles from the Gulf Coast, San Antonio is second on our listing. San Antonio is known as the Alamo Metropolis after its most well-known landmark, and manages to mix colonial historical past, agricultural traditions, and fashionable luxuries into one. Together with a really inexpensive value of residing (housing prices are ~30% lower than the nationwide median) and loads of facilities, San Antonio has so much to supply.
A defining characteristic of San Antonio is its meals scene. The truth is, it’is a UNESCO Artistic Metropolis of Gastronomy, giving credence to the town’s various inhabitants and excellent delicacies. Barbecue and Mexican meals is world-class, after all, however there’s a lot extra. Nice choices can be found in any respect value factors, too. San Taco, Shiro Japanese Bistro, and Dough Pizzeria Napoletana are among the many finest.
Stunning parks and trails are a little bit of a hidden gem in San Antonio. Greater than 240 fields, swimming pools, and services are scattered all through the town, with Pearsall Park, Southside Lions Park, and Phil Hardberger Park among the many hottest. You possibly can’t miss the long-lasting River Stroll, both. And simply outdoors metropolis limits, you may see Authorities Canyon and Pure Bridge Caverns, dwelling to forested trails and underground live shows.
San Antonio properties on the market | San Antonio homes for lease | San Antonio flats for lease
3. Austin, TX
Inhabitants:979,882Median Sale Value:$443,000Median Lease Value:$1,420Average Commute Time:24 minutesUnemployment Price:3.2%
An hour and a half northeast of San Antonio, Austin is a historic and stylish hub of expertise, tradition, and schooling.
Referred to as the Reside Music Capital of the World, hundreds of thousands of individuals flock to Austin yearly for its music, highlighted by the South by Southwest and Austin Metropolis Limits festivals. However that’s simply the tip of the musical iceberg; greater than 250 music venues (plus the airport) host reveals year-round. Some bands will even skip the formalities and simply arrange on a nook downtown.
Importantly, Austin has been the poster youngster of progress prior to now few a long time, and actually took off through the pandemic housing increase. The following housing frenzy led Austin to be a nationwide hotspot, including wealth, jobs, and new communities seemingly in a single day. What was already a hip vacation spot grew to become famend nationwide.
Partly because of the progress, home costs in Austin rose from $309,000 in January 2020 to $555,000 in April 2022. Sadly, the rise priced some homebuyers out of the town, and continues to affect locals. Austin has seen massive value drops and inhabitants decline just lately, with lease costs falling for nearly two years straight.
Even with the entire current adjustments, the Texas capital manages to stay to its “Keep Austin Weird” slogan. Eat breakfast tacos, float down the river with mates, and see your favourite band at a bar. In Austin, the world is your oyster.
Austin properties on the market | Austin homes for lease | Austin flats for lease
4. Dallas, TX
Inhabitants:1,302,868Median Sale Value:$419,000Median Lease Value:$1,455Average Commute Time:26 minutesUnemployment Price:3.4%
Dallas is available in at quantity 4 on our listing of the most effective locations to reside in Texas. Sitting adjoining to Fort Value, Dallas is thought for its soccer, cowboy tradition, glamorous downtown, and nice barbecue. Dallas is usually pricier than Fort Value, however each sit beneath the nationwide median home and rental costs. Loads of folks have been profiting from the affordability just lately, too; the world noticed the biggest inhabitants progress of all U.S. metros in 2023.
Folks of all ages may have loads to do in Dallas. The Nice Wolf Lodge, Six Flags in Arlington, and the Dallas Zoo are good for weekend enjoyable, whereas 180 miles of pedestrian trails make for straightforward recreation. Dozens of historic landmarks dot the town’s gridded streets, too, like Founder’s Plaza, the Outdated Pink Museum and Courthouse, Outdated Metropolis Park, and Degolyer Home & Gardens.
And you may’t miss the meals, whether or not it’s Tex-Mex or good ol’ barbecue. Avila’s, Hutchins BBQ, and Maple and Motor provide a number of the finest delicacies the town has to supply.
Be certain to contemplate the local weather earlier than making the transfer. Just like many different Texas cities, Dallas summers might be unbearably scorching and really stormy. However a light, sunny local weather the remainder of the yr is a good tradeoff for locals, good for having fun with sporting occasions, consuming outside, or having fun with one in every of 410 metropolis parks.
Dallas properties on the market | Dallas homes for lease | Dallas flats for lease
5. Houston, TX
Inhabitants:2,314,157Median Sale Value:$338,000Median Lease Value:$1,250Average Commute Time:27.3 minutesUnemployment Price:4.2%
Houston, the biggest metropolis in Texas, is subsequent on our listing. The town extends over 600 sq. miles almost to Galveston, and hasn’t stopped rising for many years. It noticed the second-largest inhabitants progress within the nation in 2023, and the bigger metropolitan space has added a million new residents since 2010. Many individuals select to reside in Houston for its financial alternatives and inexpensive value of residing, particularly within the metropolis’s suburbs.
In Houston, a glowing, historic downtown offers approach to a seemingly countless variety of buildings and points of interest. You’ll discover 10,000 eating places, miles of bayous and trails, hundreds of acres of parks, a Area Middle, struggle memorials, ritzy buying districts, and way more.
Oil, pure gasoline, and manufacturing are the foremost industries on the town, however startups and expertise are rising, too. You’ll probably want a automotive to get to work, although, as public transportation and pedestrian entry are usually missing. Consequently, visitors might be very heavy throughout rush hours.
It’s additionally important to contemplate local weather dangers. Because of the metropolis’s large sprawl, very moist local weather, and poor city planning, flooding is frequent and might be excessive. Sizzling, humid summers give approach to robust tropical storms and hurricanes. Thunderstorms are frequent through the spring and summer time, too. Drought has additionally been an everyday incidence prior to now decade. Fall and winter are the most effective seasons in Houston, when gentle climate and loads of sunshine dominate the forecast.
Houston properties on the market | Houston homes for lease | Houston flats for lease
6. El Paso, TX
Inhabitants:678,958Median Sale Value:$264,000Median Lease Value:$955Average Commute Time:23.7 minutesUnemployment Price:3.8%
El Paso, positioned within the Chihuahuan Desert, has a markedly drier, sunnier, hotter local weather than most different cities in Texas. It’s named Solar Metropolis for a purpose, in any case. Nice affordability, loads of open area, and out of doors recreation earned it the quantity six spot on our listing.
The world has been each a railroad and cow city, each legacies of that are nonetheless apparent as we speak. You’ll discover loads of steakhouses, historic grazing lands, and modern-day ranchers with their Stetson hats and spurred boots, in addition to railroad displays on the Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Desert Gardens.
El Paso is nice for many who benefit from the outside. The Rio Grande River supplies loads of alternatives for whitewater rafting, fishing, sunbathing, and extra. Franklin Mountains and Hueco Tanks State Parks are in all probability the preferred spots, although, with amphitheaters, trails, vistas, and extra.
Importantly, El Paso is positioned on the border of Mexico, adjoining to its southern twin, Ciudad Juárez (whose identify was El Paso Del Norte). The 2 cities have been initially based as one, however they have been cut up by the border in 1848. As we speak, the cities have a cordial relationship with each other, with every day life usually cut up between the 2. For instance, it’s commonplace for binational kids to cross the border daily for college.
El Paso properties on the market | El Paso homes for lease | El Paso flats for lease
7. Denton, TX
Inhabitants:158,349Median Sale Value:$387,000Median Lease Value:$1,215Average Commute Time:24.6 minutesUnemployment Price:3.3%
Denton is dwelling to nice meals, quiet neighborhoods, and historic buildings all through its compact structure, together with 41 parks and hundreds of acres of open area. Housing is comparatively inexpensive, too, though dearer than Dallas correct. Generally, a robust economic system, nice faculties, and a steadily rising inhabitants assist make the town a gorgeous place to reside.
Denton has lengthy been a college city with a youthful vibe, dwelling to the College of North Texas (UNT) and Texas Girl’s College (TWU). Greater than 50,000 college students are enrolled throughout the 2 faculties, influencing the town’s tradition and economic system. Schooling is the town’s prime business.
The guts of Denton is the recognizable Denton Sq., dwelling to the historic Denton County Courthouse and a brand new, massive shopping center. As you progress out, you’ll discover suburban neighborhoods, parks, and vigorous group hubs.
Eating places of every type, from black-tie institutions to informal diners, are a neighborhood spotlight. Nonetheless, the town’s music scene could also be its best-kept secret. The Denton Arts and Jazz Competition, Denton Blues Competition, and Make Music Day are annual highlights. UNT’s famend School of Music bolsters the music group, too.
Denton properties on the market | Denton homes for lease | Denton flats for lease
8. Richardson, TX
Inhabitants:117,435Median Sale Value:$431,000Median Lease Value:$2,020Average Commute Time:23.9 minutesUnemployment Price:3%
A suburb simply 20 minutes from downtown Dallas, Richardson is the eighth-best place to reside in Texas. Financial stability, an abundance of housing, and scrumptious meals are the town’s fundamental calling playing cards. Housing costs are comparatively costly, although, with sale and rental costs sitting above the nationwide common.
Richardson is finest recognized for its telecommunications business. The truth is, the town is also known as the Telecom Hall because of the focus of firms like AT&T, Cisco, and Texas Devices. This abundance helped transfer the town past a small suburb, and presently makes the world interesting to professionals.
Although Richardson is a comparatively quiet, business-focused suburb, you gained’t simply run out of issues to do. You possibly can play greater than 80 retro video games at Free Play Arcade (not really free), sip a beer from Guitars and Growlers, or see a present on the Eisemann Middle for Performing Arts. Reside music is an enormous deal in Richardson, too.
Richardson properties on the market | Richardson homes for lease | Richardson flats for lease
9. School Station, TX
Inhabitants:125,192Median Sale Value:$320,000Median Lease Value:$1,685Average Commute Time:17.2 minutesUnemployment Price:2.8%
School Station, referred to as The Coronary heart of Aggieland®, is positioned in Central Texas between Dallas, Austin, and Houston. Texas A&M’s flagship campus is located within the coronary heart of the town, round which residential neighborhoods, parks, and different facilities are positioned. The town of Bryan is instantly adjoining, to the northwest. Sturdy schooling and an inexpensive value of residing helped School Station earn a excessive rating.
School Station is effectively and really a university city. Greater than 71,000 Texas A&M college students reside within the metropolis, accounting for effectively over half its inhabitants. Lots of the metropolis’s points of interest are additionally hooked up to the college in a roundabout way. For instance, the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library & Museum, Gary Halter Nature Middle, and The Gardens are all on the campus, however welcome everybody who desires to go to. Past campus limits, you will discover locations just like the City Air Trampoline and Journey Park and BigShots Golf.
Additionally, you will discover loads of eating places on the town beloved by college students and longtime residents alike. The Northgate district is the place you’ll discover most scholar hotspots, together with Nam Cafe and the long-lasting Dixie Rooster, A&M’s favourite watering gap.
School Station properties on the market | School Station homes for lease | School Station flats for lease
10. Plano, TX
Inhabitants:290,190Median Sale Value:$550,000Median Lease Value:$1,815Average Commute Time:25.6 minutesUnemployment Price:2.8%
Plano is a dense suburb of Dallas however has just lately turn into a metropolis in its personal proper. A powerful economic system, excessive incomes, and loads of well-liked facilities assist make Plano an awesome place to reside. It would value fairly a bit extra to purchase a home than surrounding areas, although – almost $150,000 greater than Dallas correct.
Plano noticed a large surge in progress from 1970-2020, rising almost 15x. Because of this booming inhabitants, and a business-friendly surroundings, quite a few Fortune 1000 firms now have headquarters within the metropolis, together with JPMorgan Chase, Financial institution of America, Toyota, Liberty Mutual, and extra. Should you’re seeking to relocate for a profession, Plano will be the place for you.
Hottest facilities on the town are positioned at one in every of many malls, similar to Preston Park Village, Park Pavilion Middle, and Lakeside Market. Different distinctive facilities, just like the Japanese meals and items retailer Mitsuwa Market, might be discovered alongside fundamental boulevards.
Plano properties on the market | Plano homes for lease | Plano flats for lease
Methodology
Redfin’s Greatest Locations to Reside rankings are supposed to assist dwelling searchers make an knowledgeable determination when selecting the place to reside. To aim to measure the general high quality of a metro space, every rating takes into consideration a number of key components, together with entry to healthcare, open out of doors area, navigability, housing developments, employment statistics, earnings, and journey time to work. Solely metros with a inhabitants of 100,000 or larger have been thought of for our Texas listing. Extra details about our methodology might be discovered right here.
Knowledge legitimate April 2025. This text is for informational and academic functions solely.
