North Texas Among Best Places to Live in U.S.

Two North Texas cities are among the top places to live in the country, according to a study by the market research platform Niche.

Plano and Richardson were voted two of the 2023 Best Cities to Live in America based on 12 factors, including housing costs, weather, options for schooling, nightlife, and crime rate.

Plano was ranked 11 on the list, and Richardson was 12. Both North Texas cities received an overall A+ rating. Other factors that facilitated the A+ score included each city’s public school system and the generally family-friendly atmosphere.

While Plano and Richardson achieved high overall grades, both North Texas cities received a C+ in the crime and safety category. Plano also reported a higher median home price, even though Richardson has a higher cost of living, according to the study.

According to Niche’s study, the median value of a home in Richardson was $326,900, roughly 33.4% higher than the national average of $244,900. For apartment seekers, the median rent was $1,555, or nearly 33.7% more than the national average.

Plano’s median home value was $358,100, or about $31,200 more than Richardson and roughly 46% higher than the national average. The average rent in Plano was $1,541, or 32.5% above the U.S. average.

Although it wasn’t a North Texas city, Texas also boasted another top U.S. city to live in on the list, The Woodlands, which ranked third. The median home value in the Woodlands was $390,800, almost 60% more than the national average. The cost of rent in The Woodlands was 39% more than the country-wide average, or about $1,617.

Cambridge, Massachusetts, was named Niche’s best American city, followed by Arlington, Virginia. Killeen ranked last of the 192 cities listed, according to the study.