One city in North Texas has made the top ten list of the best places to live in the United States.
Niche.com, a platform that assists students and families in choosing a school, has ranked Plano as the sixth-best city to live in America in 2025. The assessment ranked major U.S. cities based on the quality of public schools, crime rates, job opportunities, local amenities, and other factors.
The report highlighted Plano’s abundance of restaurants, parks, and coffee shops. The city received the highest grade (A+) for its public schools and suitability for families. It also received an ‘A’ for job prospects, diversity, nightlife, and health and fitness. Plano’s lowest marks (B—) came from its cost of living, access to outdoor activities, and crime and safety.
Niche assessed 15 factors for the ranking. Each bucket was given a different weighting, with a city’s cost of living and rate of higher education weighing the most at 12.5% each. Most factors, like crime and safety, and nightlife, comprised 5% of the total score.
At No. 94 out of 229 cities, Dallas did not rank nearly as high as Plano. However, the Big D’s only ‘A+’ came from the diversity category, while its worst grade was a ‘C—’ for crime and safety.
Earlier this week, The Dallas Express reported that a major drug bust in Dallas highlighted the ongoing challenge of enforcing law and order amid the city’s policy shortage. Despite being directed to maintain a force of roughly 4,000 officers to meet the police-to-population requirement outlined in Proposition U, Dallas has failed to meet the target.