This Texas city is No. 15 in the world for quality of life, according to one study
Texas’ capital is getting global recognition.
Austin ranks No. 15 on the worldwide quality of life index, according to a study conducted by Numbeo, an online database that tracks cost of living and quality of life data worldwide. Numbeo determines their list on surveys based on cost of living, affordability of housing, pollution, crime rates, health system quality and traffic.
Austin is the first U.S. city to pop up on the 2024 mid-year quality of life index. Dallas trails not too far behind at No. 28. Other Texas cities mentioned are San Antonio at No. 44 and Houston at No. 56.
The list covers 178 cities around the world, with the top 10 all being in Europe. The No. 1 city for quality of life is The Hague, Netherlands, the capital of South Holland. According to Euro Cities, The Hague has been known as the international city of peace and justice. For centuries, it has been a place where countries gather for peace conferences.
Austin is known as the Live Music Capital of the World. The city hosts Austin City Limits, a local music festival, every year in Zilker Park. Some even say Fort Worth is the next Austin because both cities have a rich art culture in common.
Based on Numbeo’s study, this is how the four Texas cities ranked on the quality of life index.
No. 15: Austin
Austin is only a three-hour drive from Fort Worth in the heart of Texas. The city hosts 2.4 million residents, as well as the University of Texas campus. With its close proximity to the Texas Hill Country, as well as its big city feel, you get the perfect mix of funky country. Austin also hosts the United States Grand Prix, a Formula 1 motor racing event.
No. 28: Dallas
Dallas is only a 35-minute drive from Fort Worth, and debatably Fort Worth’s biggest rival. The large city is known for its sports teams and good barbecue. Multiple professional sports teams call the city home, but only two teams play in Dallas proper: The Dallas Stars and the Dallas Mavericks, who play at the American Airlines Center. The Dallas Cowboys play in Arlington, as do the Texas Rangers. Much smaller than Austin, Dallas has about 1.3 million residents over 386 square miles.
No. 44: San Antonio
San Antonio is home to the Alamo, the site where Texas won its independence. The city is only a four-hour-and-15 minute drive from Fort Worth. It’s known for the Riverwalk, an area with restaurants and shops along the San Antonio river, resembling Venice, Italy. San Antonio is also famous for its Hispanic influence and incredible Tex-Mex cuisine. Similar to the size of Dallas, this city houses about 1.4 million people.
No. 56: Houston
Houston is about a four-hour drive from Fort Worth and the largest city in Texas. With about 2.3 million residents over 665 square miles, it also puts itself on the map as the fourth-largest city in the U.S. Houston’s food scene definitely puts the city on the map, with the first ever Texas Michelin guide stopping by there this year. It is also home to NASA’s Johnson Space Center. This city by the coast also gives residents an opportunity to visit surrounding Texas beaches.