The Best Places to Live in Texas in 2021
Which spots in Texas are the best?
Even if you know what part of Texas you want to call home, you may still need a little help deciding which city or metro area to put down roots. Within the largest state by area in the contiguous U.S., you've got plenty of options. Of the 150 most populous metro areas in the U.S., Texas is home to 10 of them. We've compiled the details from the Best Places to Live in the U.S. rankings -- determined by factors such as the local job market, affordability, average commute time and desirability -- to help you decide which major metro area in the Lone Star State is best for you.
Best Places 2021-2022 Rank: 140
Metro Population: 421,666
Median Home Value: $131,467*
Average Annual Salary: $35,050
This city on the southern tip of Texas borders Mexico and touches the Gulf of Mexico, making it a destination for many vacationers looking to enjoy the beaches of South Padre Island. However, with a declining population due to net migration and an average annual salary $18,000 below the national average of $53,490, Brownsville finds itself at No. 140 out of 150 on the overall Best Places to Live ranking, placing it last on this list.
(*The median home price for Brownsville was not available, so median home value is listed.)
Best Places 2021-2022 Rank: 139
Metro Population: 855,176
Median Home Price: $219,733
Average Annual Salary: $37,530
McAllen may not be on the beach, but its location on the southern border of Texas with Mexico makes it a popular destination for many retirees embracing the snowbird life and moving south for the winter. While McAllen struggles with high unemployment and more people moving away than to the area like Brownsville, U.S. residents find it to be a slightly more desirable place to live, according to a SurveyMonkey analysis of more than 3,600 people asking where they would prefer to live out of the metro areas on the Best Places to Live list.
Best Places 2021-2022 Rank: 131
Metro Population: 840,477
Median Home Price: $203,064
Average Annual Salary: $40,460
On the westernmost edge of Texas, El Paso ranks No. 42 out of the 150 most populous metro areas in the U.S. for its low property crime and murder rates. Despite that, a declining population due to net migration and low average annual salary contribute to El Paso's rank at No. 131 on the Best Places to Live list. Having decreased by 3.07% between 2015 and 2019 due to net migration, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, El Paso's population is the fifth-fastest declining out of the 150 places on the list.
Best Places 2021-2022 Rank: 129
Metro Population: 428,548
Median Home Value: $189,464*
Average Annual Salary: $44,540
Home of one of the largest shipping ports in the U.S., Corpus Christi has seen slight growth in population due to net migration -- 0.85% between 2015 and 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Corpus Christi residents also have a short morning commute to work, with an average of just 20.2 minutes from door to door, making it the sixth-shortest commute out of the 150 most populous metro areas in the U.S.
(*The median home price for Corpus Christi was not available, so median home value is listed.)
Best Places 2021-2022 Rank: 124
Metro Population: 395,174
Median Home Value: $144,855*
Average Annual Salary: $48,830
Close to Louisiana, Beaumont takes the No. 124 spot in the overall Best Places to Live ranking. Beaumont residents have a higher average annual salary than McAllen or Brownsville at $48,830 and a lower cost of living -- spending just 21.07% of their household income on mortgage payments, rent and property taxes. Beaumont's population remained fairly flat between 2015 and 2019 due to net migration and saw a decrease of 0.79%.
(*The median home price for Beaumont was not available, so median home value is listed.)
Best Places 2021-2022 Rank: 114
Metro Population: 444,716
Median Home Price: $160,950
Average Annual Salary: $45,190
Home to the U.S. Army's Fort Hood military base, Killeen is a relatively affordable metro area, with residents spending 22.98% of the median annual household income on living expenses. When it comes to people moving into and out of the area, Killeen grew slightly between 2015 and 2019: The metro area population increased by 1.64% during this time due to net migration, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Best Places 2021-2022 Rank: 75
Metro Population: 2,468,193
Median Home Price: $282,218
Average Annual Salary: $47,220
Founded in 1718, San Antonio is the No. 4 best place to live in Texas. People are flocking to the city for its low cost of living and healthy job market, among other reasons. Between 2015 and 2019, the San Antonio metro area population grew by 5.02% due to net migration. San Antonio's average monthly unemployment rate in 2020 was 7.3%, below the national average rate of 8.1%. Though, the average annual salary, at $47,220, is below the national average of $53,490.
Best Places 2021-2022 Rank: 39
Metro Population: 6,884,138
Median Home Price: $319,339
Average Annual Salary: $54,490
The second-largest metro area in Texas, Houston ranks No. 39 on the overall Best Places to Live list, thanks in part to its rapid population growth due to net migration, relatively low cost of living and flourishing job market. Houston residents also make more money than those in many other areas of the state, with an average annual salary of $54,490. Houston area residents spend 22.85% of the area median household income on housing expenses.
Best Places 2021-2022 Rank: 37
Metro Population: 7,320,663
Median Home Price: $341,464
Average Annual Salary: $53,800
With a slightly larger population than Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth also benefits from a high average annual salary, strong job market and relatively low cost of living. With a median home price of $341,464, homebuyers in the area should expect higher prices than many other parts of Texas. The Dallas-Fort Worth area also ranks 39th out of the 150 metro areas on the Best Places to Live list for desirability. Many people are acting on that desire and moving to Dallas-Fort Worth, as the metro area's population grew by 4.87% between 2015 and 2019 due to net migration.
Best Places 2021-2022 Rank: 5
Metro Population: 2,114,441
Median Home Price: $377,693
Average Annual Salary: $55,190
It's no surprise that the state's capital city takes the top spot in Texas, ranking third on the overall Best Places to Live list. Austin has emerged as a major tech hub in the U.S. in recent years, serving as a more affordable option for tech startups and major companies seeking an alternative to Silicon Valley. The area's rapid growth has increased the cost of living, however, which contributed to its fall to No. 5 after ranking No. 1 spot on the Best Places to Live list in 2017, 2018 and 2019, and No. 3 in 2020. Still, residents spend just over 23.25% of the median household income on living expenses.
Here are the 10 best places to live in Texas:
-- Austin.
-- Dallas-Fort Worth.
-- Houston.
-- San Antonio.
-- Killeen.
-- Beaumont.
-- Corpus Christi.
-- El Paso.
-- McAllen.
-- Brownsville.
