UPDATE: Check out our new 2023 Best Cities to Live in the U.S. list.
| liv score 646 How We Calculate Our Data |
|
|---|---|
| Civics | 57 |
| Demographics | 59 |
| Economy | 58 |
| Education | 66 |
| Health | 58 |
| Housing | 38 |
| Infrastructure | 47 |
#55. Denton, TX
Located on the very tippy top of the DFW metroplex, Denton is a college town through and through, with two universities — University of North Texas and Texas Women’s University — claiming the city as their home. But Denton is setting itself apart from a lot of other college towns around the country, and people can’t seem to get their bags packed quickly enough to relocate. From 2014 to 2018, Denton’s population grew an explosive eight percent, and its household income increased by 36 percent to $86,000.
Besides a healthy and diverse business sector, Denton is full of festivals like the Texas Storytelling Festival and the Arts & Jazz Festival, which brings thousands of people together for free concerts and hundreds of arts and crafts vendors.
Top Industries and Employers: The top industries in Denton are education, healthcare and automotive, with Peterbilt Motors and Texas Health Presbyterian as the top employers.
Best Coffee Shop: West Oak Coffee shop has chill vibes, plus a s’mores drink with an actual roasted marshmallow on top. Coffee date, anyone?
Best Local Beer/Brewery: The Blind Faith Milkshake brew at Denton County Brewing Co is a fan favorite.
Must-Have Meal: Back Dough Donuts at Queenie’s Steakhouse is almost like a speakeasy for dessert — these delicious treats are only available from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. every Friday and Saturday in the alley behind the restaurant. Dessert and an adventurous location? Sign us up.
Best Co-Working Space: Stoke is friendly to freelancers, entrepreneurs and always has plenty of free coffee. They also host special events like FlintConf, which is for freelancers, students and entrepreneurs in every stage of their businesses to learn what resources they need and how to use them to build the best business they possibly can.
Best Meetup Spot (When Meeting Up Is a Thing Again): Bring your own beer or wine to Ironwood Axe Throwing — but maybe do the throwing before throwing back your drinks.
Creative Hub: The College of Visual Art and Design at the University of North Texas has new work displayed in their student gallery every week, which is free and open to the public.
Favorite Weekend Activity: Constructed on a former rail line, the Denton-Katy Trail now is the best spot in town to bike, hike, jog or frolic with your dog.
Free Way to Have Fun: When that Texas sun isn’t beating down, hit the square downtown to peruse local shops and sample the best restaurants in town.
Local Dream Job: Working in the marketing department for Sally Beauty, whose headquarters are located in Denton. (Talking about beauty products all day? Pinch us, please!)
Read More:
7 Reasons to Move to Denton, TX
Why Denton, TX is a Best Place to Live
Best Places to Live in Texas
– Jamie Birdwell-Branson