Young professionals made this North Texas city a top place to live. A new report explains why

Out of 1,200 cities, U.S. News and World Report ranks Dallas as one of the best places to live in Texas.

U.S. News is a digital media company that uses “world-class data and technology to publish independent reporting, rankings, journalism, and advice that has earned the trust of our readers and users for more than 90 years.”

Their most recent report, Dallas ranks No. 7 in the “Best Places to Live in Texas in 2025-2026.” The U.S. News ranking is based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the FBI, and the U.S. Department of Labor. They also conducted a public survey asking people what they thought was the most important factor in choosing a place to live in February 2024.

Austin was ranked No. 1 overall for Texas, No. 9 in general for best places to live in the U.S., and No. 32 for best places to retire. Dallas was also ranked No. 95 in Best Places to Live in the U.S. and No. 68 in Best Places to Retire.

Where Texas cities rank in U.S. News list

Texas has a population of 29,145,505 people and is the second-largest state by population in America. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Texas is also the second most popular state people are moving to.

U.S. News recommends:

1. Austin

2. McAllen

3. El Paso

4. Corpus Christi

5. Brownsville

6. San Antonio

7. Dallas

8. Houston

9. Beaumont

10. Killeen

What North Texas city was ranked the highest?

According to U.S. News, Dallas has a population of 1,301,360. According to the World Population Review, Dallas is the third largest Texas city by population.

• Median Home Price: $336,240

• Median Monthly Rent: $1,398

• Median Age: 35-years-old

• Median Household Income: $76,521

• Unemployment Rate: 4.94 percent

• Average Commute: 33 minutes

• Average High Temperatures: 79 degrees

• Average Low Temperatures: 59 degrees

• Average Rainfall: 0.11 inches

Dallas stands out to U.S. News experts based on data and opinions based on a country-wide survey. The city has much to do with live music accompanying a bright bar scene. They also have plenty of sports fans offerings, with the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium, Rangers at Globe Life Field, and Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center.

“Those who live in Dallas tend to be young professionals, while the surrounding suburbs are largely filled with young families who want both a close-knit community and easy access to Dallas and neighboring Fort Worth,” says Amanda Casanova of U.S. News.

Ella Gonzales

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Ella Gonzales is a service journalism reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She is part of a team of local journalists who answer reader questions and write about life in North Texas. Ella mainly writes about local restaurants and where to find good deals around town.