Best Places to Live in Texas

Known for its food, southern hospitality and football, everything really is bigger in Texas — including the state fair, which is ranked as one of the best in the nation. Even if all of your exes live in Texas, there’s never a shortage of things to do, and the state’s carefree approach to life makes each day a bit more cheerful.

Here's a look at the best places to live in the "Lone Star State."

Austin

With an official slogan of “Live Music Capital of the World," Austin has also adopted an unofficial slogan of “Keep Austin Weird” that refers to the eclectic, liberal lifestyles of many residents. Not only is the city the state capital, it also is home to the University of Texas.

The FBI ranks Austin among the safest major cities in America and the city's robust economy is thriving, propelled by industries such as information technology, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. Best of all? Austin has a thriving entertainment industry and is known for it's widely popular street performers and hallmark events like Austin City Limits, which includes a music festival and creative space for creators across the entertainment industry. 

Tyler

Gracing the east-central part of Texas is Tyler, whose population recently surpassed 100,000, the magic number for national retailers looking to locate to growing communities. Nicknamed “Rose Capital of America” for its long history of producing roses of all colors and types, Tyler also has economic sectors strong in education, energy, food production, healthcare, manufacturing and outdoor recreation. Residents and trucking companies have access to a good transportation network that includes Interstate 20 and U.S. 69.

Denton

A college town with nearly 39,000 students attending the University of North Texas, Denton is also known for live music. The annual Denton Arts and Jazz Festival attracts 200,000 people to Civic Center Park, and Paste Magazine has ranked Denton among the nation's Best Music Scenes. The city has also hosted the North Texas State Fair & Rodeo since 1928.

Houston

The most populated city in Texas and fourth-largest in America, Houston is home to NASA's Johnson Space Center, the Port of Houston and pro sports teams like the Astros, Texans and Rockets. Houston attracts 7 million visitors a year to its Museum District, and as for Fortune 500 headquarters – only New York City has more.

Plano

Cinemark Theatres, Dell Services, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Frito-Lay, HP Enterprise Services, Rent-A-Center and Toyota Motors USA are among the dozens of major corporations headquartered in Plano. The city is ranked among the country's wealthiest by CNN Money, and among the safest by Forbes. For quality of life, two massive open space preserves exist: Bob Woodruff Park and Oak Point Park.

Fort Worth

Known as the “City of Cowboys and Culture,” Fort Worth hosts the world's largest indoor rodeo each year. Cultural sites like Amon Carter Museum, Kimbell Art Museum and the Modern Art Museum grace the city, and college students have their choice of attending top higher education institutions such as Texas Christian University and Texas Wesleyan University.

San Antonio

Home to the five-time NBA champion Spurs, San Antonio welcomes 26 million tourists each year who visit attractions like The Alamo, SeaWorld, Six Flags Fiesta Texas and the River Walk shopping and entertainment district. The city houses a number of U.S. military bases and hosts the long-running annual San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo.

Dallas

Barbecue, Mexican and Tex-Mex are renowned cuisines in Dallas, plus Forbes ranks the city among the best places for business and careers. Dallas accommodates 12 Fortune 500 companies, is home to the bustling Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, and hosts the State Fair of Texas at Fair Park that contributes $350 million to the local economy each year.

Garland

Just northeast of Dallas and part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex is Garland, offering quality of life amenities like six recreation centers, 60 parks, Lake Ray Hubbard and the Spring Creek Forest Preserve. Patty Granville Arts Center features two theaters that seat 720 and 200, while Richland College and Amberton University serve large student populations.

College Station

Post Oak Mall is the largest employer and largest mall in College Station, but the city is perhaps best known for being home to Texas A&M University. The university is well regarded for its research efforts, with its projects funded by top agencies such as NASA, National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation and the Office of Naval Research.

Lubbock

With a nickname of “Hub City,” Lubbock in northwestern Texas is an economic, education, retail and health care center for a multi-county region commonly called the South Plains. Lubbock is also the largest contiguous cotton-growing area in the world, and home to the Texas Tech Red Raiders of the Big 12 Conference.

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