Thinking of moving and wondering which are the best places in Texas to live? The sprawling Lone Star State is the second-largest state by both area and population. Warm weather that’s conducive to outdoor activities, a healthy economy, and an exploding food scene (Thrillist ranked Texas #1 for food out of all 50 states in 2018) are just a few things that attract folks to this diverse melting pot. Luckily, Texas has plenty of space so everyone can have some elbow room, and its major metropolitan areas offer something for everyone.
What are our top picks for the best places to live in Texas? It’s four largest cities by population:
- Austin
- Dallas
- San Antonio
- Houston
1. Austin
Texas’ hip, urbane, and progressive capital is one of the fastest-growing large cities in America, and for young professionals, Austin is perhaps the best city to live in Texas.
Austinites keep it weird in the “Live Music Capital of the World” with killer music venues, food scenes, and outdoor recreation opportunities out the wazoo. Home to South by Southwest (SXSW) and Austin City Limits (ACL) music festivals, Austin boasts more live music venues than any other city in the US. You can’t walk far in the birthplace of the breakfast taco without hitting a food truck, happy hour, or brunch spot. Central Texas-style brisket at staples like Franklin Barbecue rules the BBQ scene, while breweries like Austin Beerworks and Hops & Grain Brewing keep the craft beer flowing.
Plenty of pooch-friendly patios offer the perfect place to sip authentic margaritas in the sunshine. Neighborhoods like “Dirty Sixth” downtown, East Austin, South Congress, and Rainey Street were surely designed specifically for bar-hopping.
Situated right across Lady Bird Lake from downtown, Zilker Park offers a green oasis where you can play disc golf, take in some free live music, or cool off in Barton Springs, a natural “blue hole” in the heart of the city. The Barton Creek Greenbelt offers urban hiking, while Lake Travis is best for boating. Dubbed the 360 Bridge, the Pennybacker Bridge Overlook boasts beautiful views of Lake Austin, downtown, and the surrounding Hill Country.
Whether you have holes in your soles or are more well-heeled, Austin’s shopping scene has you covered. Browse boutiques like Allen’s Boots on South Congress Ave., pop some tags at the city’s many (actually good) Goodwill stores, try on trends at The Arboretum, or window shop upscale designers at the ever-growing retail epicenter that is The Domain.
Just south of the Domain, the city’s first pro-sports team, Austin FC, kicks off its inaugural soccer season in the Spring of 2021. Baseball fans can catch a minor league game in nearby Round Rock, while UT Austin keeps Longhorn fans entertained with Division I college sports. Fancy Formula 1 cars zoom around Circuit of the Americas, which also hosts outdoor concerts. The city’s central location makes it easy to drive to any other major Texas city, but to get out of the state, you might as well hop a plane at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
2. Dallas
Next up on our list of best places to live in Texas is Dallas. The “Big D” may be where the “everything’s bigger in Texas” trope originated. It’s a good thing Dallas keeps adding surrounding cities like Arlington to its metropolitan area because ⅓ of Texas transplants choose to call Dallas-Fort Worth home. Over 1 million people have moved to Dallas area neighborhoods over the last decade, making it the fourth-largest metro area in the country.
What’s drawing everyone into this thriving beta+ global city? Its array of pro-sports teams, bullet-proof economy, and the fact that it’s home to the nation’s largest urban arts district are just a few of the many reasons to move to Dallas. Thanks to the Dallas Cowboys, football is the city’s favorite season, but it is also blessed with The Rangers (MLB), Mavericks (NBA), Stars (NHL), plus the FC Dallas Women’s Professional Soccer Team, and even NASCAR events at Texas Motor Speedway.
You may think it’s all oil barons, but the most dominant sectors of the city’s economy are actually defense, financial services, information technology, telecommunications, and transportation. AT&T and Southwest Airlines are 2 of the 9 Fortune 500 companies headquartered within the city limits. Check out our Dallas moving guide for more on what it’s really like to live in this city.
Dallas is also big on culture. The Dallas Arts District’s museums, venues, and galleries take up 68-acres of downtown. The performing and visual arts district houses the Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and Dallas Theatre Center, just to name a few.
With 17 regional malls, the DFW metroplex is also big on consumerism. From the Bishop Arts District’s boutique shops to Highland Park Village’s ritzy array of retail shops and restaurants, there’s no shortage of places to swipe your credit card.
Dallas also boasts more restaurants per capita than any other major US metropolitan area. For Tex-Mex head to Gabriela & Sofia’s in North Dallas, or the fun and kitschy El Vecino in Uptown, where you can enjoy fajitas and margaritas on the balcony. For barbecue, look no further than Pecan Lodge in the heart of the Deep Ellum neighborhood. One of the trendiest neighborhoods for young professionals, Deep Ellum is also home to the first craft brewery in Dallas.
In addition to the longest-running state fair in the country, Dallas offers many outdoor activities, including fishing, skiing, and recreational boating on Lake Lewisville, Lake Ray Hubbard, and White Rock Lake— just a few of the area’s 13 lakes.
Its central location makes for a quick trip (less than four hours) to Austin, Houston, and Oklahoma City. Reach the rest of the country in four hours or less by plane out of Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL), the Southwest Airlines hub, or Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), which serves as American Airlines’ international hub. DFW is the second largest airport by land area in the nation, behind Denver. In true Dallas “bigger is better fashion,” the airport has its own zip code and is literally larger than Manhattan.
3. San Antonio
Often referred to as the “biggest small town in Texas” because of its easy-going, neighborly vibe, the San Antonio-New Braunfels Metro Area. After the Spurs win a big game, everyone beeps their car horns and the city feels like one giant block party.
San Antonio is the second-largest city in Texas (behind Houston) and the seventh-largest city in America. Hispanic residents make up over half of the area’s population, making Spanglish the city’s unofficial language. Many military bases throughout the area house servicemen and women. Joint Base San Antonio primarily serves the Air Force and is one of the largest military bases in the country. The city’s rich history, diversity, and theme parks attract visitors and residents alike.
Remember The Alamo? Republic of Texas soldiers had a last stand against Mexican troops in 1836 in the heart of downtown San Antonio. As a major part of the city’s proud military history, The Alamo is now the most visited historic landmark in the state. Nearby, the River Walk attracts millions of tourists as an urban waterway lined with shops, restaurants, and hotels. (Pro tip: Get margaritas the size of your head at Cafe Ole.)
Another point of interest downtown is the San Fernando Cathedral, the oldest church in the state of Texas and the oldest cathedral in the US. Shop Historic Market Square, or El Mercado, downtown’s Mexican-style outdoor marketplace. No longer a brewery, Pearl Brewery is a popular place to peruse. The marketplace with shops, restaurants, and a farmers’ market takes up 22-acres along the San Antonio River.
Explore San Antonio Missions National Historical Park by bike or ride coasters at Six Flags Fiesta Texas. If you plan on traipsing around SeaWorld San Antonio in the hot sun, buy tickets to cool off at the water park too. Beat the Texas heat in nearby New Braunfels’ Schlitterbahn Waterpark or cool off by floating down the Comal River. Fun fact: New Braunfels is also home to the largest convenience store in the world, Texas’ own Buc-ee’s.
Two beloved Texas chains, Whataburger and H-E-B are both headquartered in San Antonio. Instead of breadbaskets, the city’s best restaurants serve chips and salsa. It’s also home to Bohanan’s, which is arguably the best steakhouse in the meat-centric state. Across the street, see a band at The Aztec Theater. Also located downtown, the historic Majestic Theater hosts live music, comedy, dance performances, and musicals. A venerable cultural oasis in the Texas desert, San Antonio is also home to the outstanding Blue Star arts complex, Gemini Ink literary center, an outstanding children’s museum (The DoSeum), the San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA), the Witte Museum, and the first museum of modern art in Texas, the McNay Art Museum.
Located in one of the city’s coolest neighborhoods, Alamo Heights, the museum houses works by Georgia O’Keefe, Jackson Pollack, and Vincent van Gogh. Alamo Heights is also where you can find the city’s largest public park. The 100+-year-old Brackenridge Park’s nearly 350 acres feature walking/biking trails, fishing, playgrounds, plenty of places for picnicking, the San Antonio Zoo, the San Antonio Botanical Garden and the Japanese Tea Gardens. It even has its own golf course!
4. Houston
Sprawling over 627 square miles, America’s fourth-largest city (by population) has more to offer than NASA and oil. Named after General Sam Houston who helped Texas gain its independence from Mexico, H-town is a growing, ethnically diverse city with a thriving job market, an impressive food scene, affordable cost of living, and plenty to do. Located on the Gulf Coast, The Bayou City also just happens to be Queen Bey’s hometown. If you’re looking to make friends, live inside The Loop (aka Interstate 610), which forms a border between the inner city and surrounding suburbs. If you’re more of the suburb-type, Sugar Land is your new favorite neighborhood.
Green spaces, museums, coffee shops, cocktail bars like Anvil Bar & Refuge, and other hip independent businesses make Montrose one of the city’s trendiest neighborhoods. It’s also the epicenter of Houston’s burgeoning food scene. You can find both BBQ and tacos under one roof at The Pit Room. For world-class dining, Viet-Cajun po-boys, or Czech kolaches, head to the East End neighborhood, which is one of the top five neighborhoods for newcomers. Eight Row Flint, an ice house on Yale Street offers a winning combination of whiskey mash and masa.
Houston boasts over 50,000 acres of park space, including Buffalo Bayou Park and Discovery Green, Memorial Park, the Houston Arboretum, and George Bush Park. Nearby Galveston beach is great for warm-weather getaways.
All three of Houston’s professional sports teams—Rockets (NBA), the Texans (NFL), and the Astros (MLB)—are located downtown. Numerous museums and theaters are also located in the city’s relatively compact downtown. The Theater District is home to the renowned Houston Grand Opera company. The Johnson Space Center, Downtown Aquarium, and the Houston Zoo all offer family fun.
With everything from home furnishings to high-end designers, it’s also the style capital of Texas. Kuhl-Linscomb is a 100,000 square foot “lifestyle emporium,” featuring apothecary, cosmetics, children’s toys, lighting, rugs, books, jewelry, candles, and more. The River Oaks District offers all things luxury, from Hermes and Harry Winston. Stock up on western wear at the Lucchese flagship store in Highland Village. Shop ‘til you drop at the 2.4 million square foot Galleria mall. Saks and Nordstrom anchor the retail behemoth, which is rounded out by upscale designers such as Louis Vuitton and Dior. While Texas enjoys no state income tax, unfortunately, there is sales tax.
Besides oil and gas, aerospace, healthcare, and manufacturing are all major industries that keep the economy in Houston booming. Two major airports make getting out of the city for both domestic and international travel a breeze. George H. Bush Intercontinental Airport (north of the city) is a United Airlines hub and William P. Hobby International Airport serves as a hub for Southwest Airlines.
Think one of these cities is right for you? Search thousands of apartments for rent on Zumper in some of the best places to live in Texas and find the one for you.
Related content
