One of the most significant decisions that we all must make in our lives is deciding where we want to live. In fact, there really aren’t many decisions quite as consequential as that one. This difficult decision requires you to take a long hard look at your interests, desires, and professional goals. Finding a place to live that offers the right balance to cover all of these bases can be quite challenging, but it doesn’t have to be daunting. In this video, we’ll be making the case for why we think Texas is one of the best states to live in the 2020s.
The Lone Star State is a popular destination for young professionals, students, working families, and retirees to move to for a variety of solid reasons. Some reasons why thousands of people each year are moving to Texas include it’s warm climate, lack of income tax, and ample employment opportunities.
Texas is, quite simply, the place to be. On average, more than 500 people a day are moving to the state.
If you’ve never been to Texas before or simply aren’t that familiar with it’s various cities, you might be curious as to which ones are the most suitable for new residents looking to leave their old states behind. Figuring out where in Texas to move is a big decision, but hopefully, after watching this video, you’ll have a better idea of which Texas cities tick all of your boxes.
Viewcation Presents: The Best Places To Live In Texas.
Brownsville
The Brownsville-Harlingen metropolitan area can be found in the southeastern corner of the state. The city of Brownsville borders Matamoros, Mexico, and is just about an hour away from South Padre Island, a popular tourist destination among both Texans and out-of-state travelers.
The city is famous for being the home of SpaceX, which as of 2022, is it’s biggest employer with more than 1,600 employees. Other industries represented in the area include agriculture and international trade.
The median income in Brownsville and the estimated cost of living are less than other cities in the state. Because of this, Brownsville is a very affordable place for young families to call home.
Amarillo
This city happens to be the most significant economic hub in the Texas panhandle. It’s conveniently located along I-40 and is known for it’s meatpacking and agricultural industries. That being said, the city isn’t all about cowboys and the “Old West” image that Texas is commonly associated with.
Several major companies call Amarillo home. Some of the city’s largest employers include the Bell Helicopter plant, Tyson Foods, and the Pantex Nuclear Weapons Facility.
Outdoor lovers will appreciate the sublime Palo Duro Canyon State Park, which happens to be the country’s second-largest canyon after the Grand Canyon.
Fort Worth
Fort Worth is known for being a beautiful oasis in North Texas. Much like it’s sister-city, Dallas, Fort Worth is a bustling metropolis, but unlike Dallas, it’s crime rate is lower than the national average, and housing is very affordable.
Fort Worth is home to one of Texas’s top universities, Texas Christian University. Every year TCU’s football team is ranked as one of the top 25 teams in the nation. Additionally, Fort Worth is known for hosting the world’s largest and oldest indoor rodeo.
Plano
Plano is by far the greenest and most prosperous suburban towns in Texas. The city’s superb park system is one of it’s biggest draws. In fact, more than 75% of residents live within a ten-minute stroll from a park.
Of all the places highlighted in this video, Plano has the highest quality of life rating. Locals enjoy benefits like low violent crime rates, high median income, and short commute times. Dallas is just a short drive due south of Plano, and most of the town’s residents regularly go there to enjoy the theaters, museums, restaurants, and other attractions that the big city has to offer.
El Paso
El Paso is a city that sits along the Mexican-American border in eastern Texas. Across the border is the notoriously dangerous city of Ciudad Juarez, but don’t let that be a deterrent, as El Paso has one of the lowest violent crime rates in America.
The city’s nickname, Sun City, stems from it’s year-round dry, sunny, desert climate. Since the weather is so nice all the time, El Paso is particularly popular among outdoor lovers who enjoy activities like hiking, camping, cycling, climbing, and motorsports.
Speaking of sports, El Paso is home to a minor league baseball team as well as the teams over at the University of Texas El Paso.
McAllen
A short drive from Brownsville is the town of McAllen. Thousands of Texans flock to this southern town along the Rio Grande Valley to escape colder climates. And yes, before you ask, it does snow in some parts of Texas.
Every year when the winter birds make their way out to McAllen, the town experiences a massive boost to it’s economy, making this a location that offers an excellent quality of life.
Like some of the other spots featured in this video, McAllen borders Mexico. It’s known for having year-round sunshine and winter temps that hover around 80 degrees.
If you do visit or move to McAllen, you’ve got to try the street tacos at one of the city’s many taquerias. Trust us, after one bite, you’ll never want to eat at a sit-down Tex-Mex restaurant ever again.
Austin
Austin is a distinctly different kind of Texas city that greatly values it’s residents’ individuality. For years, Austin’s slogan has been “Keep Austin Weird”, and we’ve got to say, that it still lives up to that ideal.
Austin is located deep in the heart of Texas. The city serves as the seat of the Texas State Government, and historically it’s been an epicenter of industry, culture, political movements, and social change.
Austin is one of the greenest urban regions in Texas. It’s full of parks and open spaces, making it the perfect place to live if you like spending most of your free time outdoors.
Foodies flock to Austin like moths to a porch light. According to Wallethub, Austin is the best spot in the state for food and ranks highly on the top foodie locations in the country as well. Pretty much anywhere you look, you can find world-class dining options, but even most of the smaller, less flashy establishments serve up amazing grub that will tickle your taste buds without breaking the bank.
Frisco
This Texas City has the fastest-growing metro area in the state. Why? Well, it has the highest median household income in the state, with the average household raking in a little under $130,000 a year.
Another reason why Frisco residents love their city is that it has the lowest violent crime rate in all of the cities featured in this video, making it one of the safest cities in Texas to live. If a strong economy, great job prospects, and safety are high priorities for you and your family, then Frisco just may be the right city for you!
Corpus Christi
If living seaside sounds like it’s up your alley, then Corpus Christi might be worth looking into. The city is located along the Gulf of Mexico. It has numerous pristine beaches that are perfect for working on your tan, enjoying a morning jog, or spending a relaxing day with the family splashing about and building sand castles.
Corpus Christi is home to Padre Island National Seashore as well as the Texas State Aquarium and one of the nation’s most strategic Naval air stations. The city is also known for being very historically significant.
The population is only about 317,000, and the median home price is $342,490. Average income per resident is roughly $48,000, and thanks to it’s booming economy, there are ample high-paying job opportunities available.
Beaumont
Located in the southeastern corner of Texas with the heel of the so-called Louisiana boot just miles away, Beaumont is one of the best places in Texas to call home. The city has the reputation of being the museum capital of Texas. There are more than a dozen museums in the area for residents and out-of-towners alike to enjoy, including the Texas Fire Museum.
Beaumont is a coastal city with the 10th largest population in the state. The city boasts incredibly low housing costs, making it a particularly attractive for prospective new residents. Unfortunately, the crime rates are higher than the national average. That being said, there are many neighborhoods in Beaumont that are considered to be safe.
Round Rock
Just north of Austin, Round Rock has experienced extremely high population growth in the last few years. Residents on average earn $80,000 a year working in jobs that are mostly related to the tech industry. Notably, Dell Technologies selected Round Rock when building their headquarters. Dell is one of the largest employers in the area, with over 157,000 employees.
If you want to live near Austin but don’t want to have to do deal with the traffic, congestion, and high housing rates of the city, this suburb is a great place to lay down roots.
San Antonio
This South Texas city is famous for being the home of the Alamo. The city is the perfect blend of Texan and Mexican cultures, serving as a melting pot that provides us a with a glimpse into the future of the state.
San Antonio, like Austin, is considered to be one of the biggest foodie cities in the state. Whether you’re looking for authentic Mexican food or some of the best barbecue in the nation, San Antonio has you covered.
The city is quite affordable compared to similarly sized US cities. In fact, San Antonio takes great pide in itself for being the most affordable metropolitan areas in the state.
Well that about wraps up our rundown of the best places to live in Texas.
Did any of the towns and cities that we just covered stand out to you? If you could live anywhere in Texas, where would you choose? And can you think of any other places in the Lone Star state that prospective new residents should look into? Let us know in the comments, and as always, happy travels!