10 best cities in Texas to call home

Texas added more residents than any other state last year, according to U.S. Census trends, and much of that growth is flowing into cities that few Americans talked about a decade ago.

Drive across the state, and you feel it right away. New rooftops stretch across old ranch land. School parking lots fill before 8 a.m. Coffee shops buzz on weekday afternoons with remote workers who once swore they would never leave a major metro. Texas is not just growing. It is reshaping where and how people want to live.

The big skyline cities still matter. Yet the real story lies in places where parks are packed at sunset, graduation rates approach perfection, and homebuilders race to keep up with demand. The best cities to call home in Texas right now share a pattern. They blend safety, schools, jobs, and space in ways that feel practical rather than flashy.

Allen

The hum of sprinklers carries across wide lawns as you walk a shaded trail just after sunrise. In Allen, you notice how easy it feels to step outside. Kids bike past without worry. Parents linger at playgrounds long after dinner.

That sense of calm is backed by hard numbers. DFW Urban Realty ranks Allen as the number one best place to live in Texas for 2026. The same report ranks it the second-safest city in the state. Safety alone would draw families, yet the layout seals the deal.

The study notes that 87 percent of residents live within a ten-minute walk of a park or greenbelt. Green space is not a weekend treat here. It is daily life. That mix of access and peace keeps North Texas suburbs like Allen at the front of relocation demand.

Frisco

Friday night lights glow over packed stadium seats, and you can hear marching bands from blocks away. In Frisco, school pride runs deep, and it shows in the results you see on paper. DFW Urban Realty ranks Frisco second statewide, citing the state’s highest high school graduation rate of 97.7 percent. 

That number is not just a brag line. It reflects a pipeline of prepared students entering colleges and careers. The same report attributes Frisco’s rise to a strong local economy and standout access to health care.

As companies expand across North Texas, families look for proof that their kids will thrive. Frisco answers with data that signals long-term stability and growth.

Plano

Glass office towers catch the late afternoon sun while tree-lined streets sit quite a few miles away. In Plano, you can leave a corporate campus and reach a soccer field in minutes.

Houzeo’s 2026 rankings, reported by Big Realty, place Plano as the number one place to live in Texas. The city carries a median home price of $519,000, a figure that reflects demand rather than hype. Top-rated schools and major corporate headquarters anchor the local economy. That steady job base shapes daily life.

You feel it in busy lunch spots and well-kept neighborhoods. Plano proves that suburban living can still mean strong paychecks and upward paths for professionals who want roots, not just rentals.

Georgetown

Construction crews start early, and by midmorning, the sound of nail guns echoes across new subdivisions. Georgetown feels like a place racing the clock, yet the pace has a clear reason. Kitching and Co., citing U.S. Census data, reports that Georgetown added 45,938 residents between 2020 and 2025. That growth marks a 66.8 percent increase, pushing the population to 114,687.

The firm says it led all U.S. cities in absolute population growth during that span. Located near Austin, Georgetown attracts buyers who want space without sacrificing access to a tech-driven job market.

Master planned communities have turned former open land into full neighborhoods. The numbers show a shift in preference away from dense urban cores and toward room to breathe.

Pearland

The smell of backyard barbecue drifts through quiet streets as kids chase each other between driveways. Pearland does not shout for attention, yet its reputation has grown far beyond Houston’s shadow. U.S News and World Report ranks Pearland number one in Texas and number three nationally in its 2025 to 2026 Best Places to Live list, as reported by Click2Houston.

The city earned an overall score of 7 out of 10. That rating reflects strength in the job market and solid marks for affordability. You feel that balance when you compare home prices with those in nearby urban neighborhoods.

Pearland’s rise shows how Texas suburbs now compete on a national stage for families seeking value without sacrificing career options.

Princeton

Fresh paint scents the air in brand new homes, and moving trucks line recently paved streets. In Princeton, growth feels visible block by block. Kitching and Co, using U.S. Census Vintage 2025 data, reports that Princeton posted 30.6 percent annual population growth from 2024 to 2025.

The city now stands at 37,019 residents. Since 2020, its population has climbed 111.2 percent. The same report links much of that surge to a median home price of around $325,000. For buyers priced out of other Dallas-Fort Worth suburbs, that figure opens a door. 

Princeton’s story shows how affordability in key corridors can reshape migration patterns almost overnight.

Flower Mound

Morning mist rises off Grapevine Lake as joggers pass through quiet neighborhoods. Flower Mound carries a polished feel, yet it avoids the rush of bigger cities. Livability’s 2025 Top 100 list gives Flower Mound a score of 875 out of 1000, the highest in Texas.

That score ranks it number one statewide for quality of life. High ratings factor in amenities, safety, and community appeal. You notice that blends in tidy parks and busy community events.

Flower Mound reflects a broader North Texas trend where well-planned suburbs now compete with major metros on lifestyle, not just cost.

League City

A light Gulf breeze moves across marinas while commuters head back from Houston before sunset. League City offers water views without daily downtown congestion. A recent study cited by Click2Houston ranks League City second in Texas with an overall score of 6.9 out of 10.

The city performs strongly in affordability and suburban convenience. Proximity to Houston expands job options, yet many residents return home to quieter streets at night. That balance between metro access and personal space defines much of the Houston area’s suburban growth. League City captures it with a coastal twist.

Round Rock

Food truck smoke hangs in the air near a local park as families gather after work. Round Rock sits close enough to Austin to feel its energy, yet far enough to keep costs in check. Livability’s 2025 rankings give Round Rock a score of 793 out of 1000, placing it third in Texas, according to KXAN.

The city earns praise for affordability and its proximity to Austin’s job base. For remote and hybrid workers, that setup matters. You can tap into a major tech hub while paying less for space and schools.

Round Rock shows how Central Texas suburbs are carving out their own identity rather than living in Austin’s shadow.

Fulshear

Dust rises from wide-open lots where new streets are being carved into former fields. In Fulshear, you can almost watch the future take shape in real time. Kitching and Co, drawing from U.S. Census data, reports that Fulshear saw 26.9 percent annual growth from 2024 to 2025.

The city has added 37,071 residents since 2020, bringing its total to 54,629. At that scale of expansion, it ranks second nationally in absolute gains during that period. Houston’s outward push has created demand for larger homes and fresh developments.

Fulshear stands as proof that the Texas growth story is still accelerating, and many Americans are choosing space, value, and community over crowded skylines.

Key Takeaways

Texas has always been a state associated with growth, but the pattern unfolding now tells a more detailed story about what people actually want from a place to live. The cities rising to the top are not always the ones with the tallest skylines or the biggest headlines.

Instead, they offer a blend of strong schools, safe neighborhoods, access to jobs, and room for families to build stable routines. That balance has become a powerful magnet for both longtime Texans and newcomers arriving from across the country.

As population shifts continue, these cities highlight how the idea of a “best place to live” is changing. People are searching for communities that feel manageable, connected, and built for everyday life rather than constant hustle.

Texas has many places that fit that description right now, and the pace of growth suggests the trend is far from slowing. If anything, the next decade may reveal even more cities across the state stepping into the spotlight as new centers of opportunity and community life.

Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information. It is not intended to be professional advice. 

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