Bluewood is tucked in the Celina countryside only 1/2 mile East of Preston Road (SH 289) on the North side of Ownsby Parkway. Laredo is a major trade hub and is the largest inland port on the U.S.-Mexico border. Known For: Denton is known for its annual Denton Arts and Jazz Festival has seven stages, 2,300 artists and 250+ arts and crafts booths which bring in over 200,000 jazz and art enthusiasts every year. Well rounded, and affordable compared to its neighbors; Dallas, Frisco, Plano, McKinney, Denton, and Irving. Arlington’s two highlight categories were its parks and food, where it ranked #9 in both. Amarillo is home to Cadillac Ranch, an outdoor art installation of classic Cadillacs that are buried halfway into the ground and painted bright colors. The Grammys: Best Pop Solo PerformanceThe Best Pop Solo Performance Award designed for a solo performance pop recording (vocal and instrumental) and is limited to singles or tracks only. Dallas has some of the best public parks in the state, and 71% of residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park. Known For: Midland is famously known to be the oil capital of Texas due to its location in the Permian Basin. However, with immense size also comes a lot of issues. Dallas also is excellent for foodies and ranks #4 in our local cuisine category, right behind San Antonio. Known For: Fort Worth is the home of the TCU Football team. For prospective residents with technological backgrounds, the Austin suburb is the perfect place to enjoy all the cultural perks of Austin while avoiding Austin’s traffic and congestion. McAllen is by far the safest city in Texas and is perfect for security-minded prospective homeowners. McKinney residents enjoy the third-highest median household income in the state while raking in $89,964 per year. Oak’d BBQ May Just Have the Best Desserts in Texas By Daniel Vaughn TM BBQ Club Newsletter – December 2020 By TM BBQ Club Tags: BBQ , News , Winter Storm 2021 With good growth and a median household income of $61,937 per year, residents of this city enjoy proximity to Dallas while avoiding its high rates of violent crime. For those who are looking for more value to their dollar but also love the Texas coast, Corpus Christi is your city. Perched in a prime position in old downtown Garland, Intrinsic is a hip brick-walled brewery filled with communal picnic tables and a barbecue kitchen at the back. The popular amusement park franchise, Six Flags Fiesta Texas is named to reference the six flags that the state of Texas has flown under: France, Spain, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the Confederate States of America, and the United States. Of the top 10 from our list, 9 cities were from dense urban-metroplexes. Similar to Round Rock, residents can enjoy all the perks of Austin without having to live in the thick of the action. Lubbock’s purpose and reason for creation was mainly to serve as a home to Texas Tech University. Known For: El Paso is known for being the farthest Western point of Texas, across to border and sister-cities with the famous Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. My mom’s apple crisp is the best in all of Texas, honest! With a median household income of $55,709 and one of the lower median house prices, Corpus Christi provides residents with excellent value. It’s food news, reviews, features, all from dining editor Catherine Downes. According to 2016 Census data, Garland has the 14th largest Vietnamese population in the United States, so if you are a lover of authentic Vietnamese food and culture, this may be the city for you. He runs, , which was recognized as the #2 online travel brand for audience engagement. A taste: one week may have a story about homemade tortillas and another day could take you through a Greenville Ave. food tour. This laid-back coastal Texas city is the definition of chill, and the culture in Corpus Christi can best be described as running on “island time”. Arlington Stadium is also home to the Texas Rangers baseball team, so it would not be a stretch to call Arlington a sports-oriented city. Michael J. Solender travels the road less taken... Michael J. Solender travels the road less taken sharing wondrous cultural, culinary, and historical discoveries with his readers. The median household income for the residents of Laredo is $43,341, but a low median housing price offsets that number making Laredo the 8th most affordable city on our list. With the lowest median household income of $36,499 and the lowest median housing price of $87,600, the cost of living in Brownsville is very low. For those who consider themselves foodies, Austin holds the #1 spot for the best food in Texas according to Wallethub’s ranking of the best foodie cities in the U.S. residents can wake up, treat themselves to world-class cuisine, then go for a hike in the Greenbelt or a run in Zilker Park. 17 on WalletHub’s 2021 ranking of the happiest cities in America. U.S. Census data shows that Texas’s population grew by 187,545 people between July 2017 and July 2018 (even after accounting for people leaving the state). Its premier park system places Plano far above the rest of the pack. This Dallas-Fort Worth suburb is one of the most well-rounded cities on the list. With the highest Quality of Life rating on this list, Plano residents benefit from high median incomes, a relatively low rate of violent crime, and shorter commute times. With small-business friendly laws, no state tax, more space for lower prices, a culture of Southern charm, and rich traditions, the Lone Star State provides the perfect blend of urban & rural life in an affordable package for anyone searching for opportunity & prosperity. The city is generally known as the "Rodeo Capital of Texas.". Known For: Plano is corporate headquarters central! We promise, we don't spam! Austin is a unique city deep in the heart of Texas. Frisco also has the lowest violent crime rate out of all the cities on this list, which makes it one of the safest cities in the whole state. Known For: New Braunfels is known for hosting Wurstfest, one of the biggest festivals in the world dedicated to celebrating the German festival, Oktoberfest, with beer, good food, and vibrant German music. Arlington is a North Texas city nestled nicely between Dallas and Fort Worth. Known For: Georgetown is the Red Poppy Capital of Texas. Its dispersed outward growth allows residents to enjoy the benefits of a large city while still feeling like they live in a small town. Corpus Christi has the third-best park system in Texas, and due to that, 75% of residents live within a 10-minute walk of a public park. Once you try a fresh homemade pecan pie, you can never live in another state again. Known For: Fort Hood, the most populous U.S. military installation in the world! 75% of Plano residents are within a ten-minute walk to the nearest public park. The Texas Revolution is remembered in the stories of the Alamo, Santa Anna, and the brave Texian soldiers who fought for independence in 1836. Strangers smile and say “hi” to you when they’re walking by. Fort Worth is a beautiful North Texas oasis. Judging solely by its sheer size, it is a shock to find Houston so far down in the ranking on our list. Garland’s shining category in these rankings was their parks. With the #3 ranked local foodie scene in the state, San Antonio is the perfect city for those who are seeking authentic Mexican dishes, breakfast tacos, and some of the best BBQ in the country. However, Georgetown is also the #2 fastest-growing city in the entire state! It enjoys all the same urban perks of its sister-city Dallas, without many of the downsides such as high violent crime rates, low growth, and unaffordability. If you’re after the Texas you always imagined from Old Western movies, this charming city has the perfect saloon for you to hang your cowboy hat in. Garland Founded in 2010 by husband and wife duo Matthew and Jessica Register, Southern Smoke BBQ has quickly gained a following for its pork cooked low and slow over oak wood coals. This laid-back coastal Texas city is the definition of chill, and the culture in Corpus Christi can best be described as running on “island time”. 63% of residents live within a ten-minute walk of a park. Known For: Frisco is home to FC Dallas, The Star (the Cowboy’s practice facility), and major employers such as T-Mobile, Oracle, IKEA, Amerisource. * Maximum Square-Footage for your Dollar: Texas’ median listing price per square foot: $129. McAllen is also located on a major migratory path of birds between North and South America, which is perfect for birdwatchers and ornithologists. The Trust for Public Land Annual Park Ranking has Garland with the 83rd best park system in the U.S. which places Garland as the #8 best park system on our list. Known For: Amarillo is known for its Route 66 District, Cadillac Ranch (an outdoor art installation), and its V-22 Osprey hybrid aircraft assembly plant. Read more from him at, Photo courtesy of Red Bridges Barbecue Lodge / Facebook, Photo courtesy of Willie Brooks BBQ / Facebook, Photo courtesy of Stamey's Barbecue / Facebook, Photo courtesy of City Barbeque and Catering, Photo courtesy of MeMa's Chick'n & Ribs / Facebook, Photo courtesy of Haywood Smokehouse / Facebook, Photo courtesy of Andrew Thomas Lee / Buxton Hall Barbecue, License the 10Best Readers' Choice Award Logo, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy, City Barbeque and Catering - Multiple Locations, Haywood Smokehouse - Waynesville & Dillsboro. Solender's up close and personal essays explore the personalities, back stories, and character behind destinations revealing intimate snapshots of life often missed by visitors on heavily scheduled agendas. Charles McCool loves to find hidden gems, off the... Charles McCool loves to find hidden gems, off the beaten path places, and amazing local food and beverages. Cacti, roadrunners, coyotes, rattlesnakes, tumbleweeds; West Texas has it all for those looking for the Texan cowboy lifestyle. Locations Find Your Nearest Location. Trust for Public Land’s Annual Park Ranking. Using timeless BBQ techniques and old family recipes (which we still use today), Soulman’s quickly became a popular destination for local residents and a welcomed departure from “run of the mill” Bar-B-Que. With such a diverse background, Texas has served as a cultural melting pot over the course of its existence. Known For: Pop legend Selena, “Queen of Tejano Music,” was born and raised in Corpus Christi. If you’re looking to relocate to Texas, feel free to reach out to the experts at Better Homes and Gardens HomeCity. Known For: Garland is famous for its signature “Firewheel” – a wildflower that flourishes across the area in spring and summer. It would be higher on our list if it weren’t for its low median household income. Denton has the 9th highest growth rate over a 9-year period in Texas. This metropolis serves as the seat of the Texas state government, and often finds itself as the epicenter of social change, political movements, and gives resident’s a front-row view of the future of the state. He has taught people how to be happier travelers for over 25 years and is a member of. With around 30,000 attendees and 80 booths, Fiesta de las Flores is one of the largest and oldest Hispanic festivals in Texas. Arlington is also relatively safe with a lower rate of violent crime than Dallas or Fort Worth. Our team has done all the legwork and has come up with a comprehensive list of the 25 best places to live in Texas. Boydton Restaurants - Menus, Photos, Ratings and Reviews for over 100 Restaurants in Boydton. Other North Texas cities on the list include Grand Prairie (70th), Garland (77th), Fort Worth (83rd), Irving (85th), Arlington (102nd) and Dallas at No. Situated in the Bell County area, Killeen is a short drive to both Austin and Dallas. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas Its economy is extremely intertwined with the university, which isn't necessarily a bad thing when the university is as well known as Texas Tech. With an annual violent crime rate of 104.4 per 100,000 residents per year, McAllen beat out all other Texas cities in terms of safety. Almost everyone says “please” and “thank you”. Round Rock sits comfortably north of Austin. Known For: Lubbock is the home of the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the city where Patrick Mahomes, 2018 NFL MVP and 2019 Super Bowl Champion, moved his football career into the national spotlight. Georgetown's Red Poppy Festival, which attracts up to 30,000 visitors annually, is held in April each year on the historic square. Buying a home is a milestone in that storied American journey towards prosperity, however, deciding where that home should be located can be a difficult and stress-inducing process. Known For: Houston is home to NASA’s Johnson Space Center, the headquarters of NASA’s human spaceflight and space shuttle program, which has earned it the moniker of ‘Space City USA’. Plano is the greenest and most prosperous suburb in all of Texas. Denton’s North Texas State Fair and Rodeo bring in over 100,00 attendees annually. Dallas is the center of North Texas culture and the anchor that allows for the prosperity of all the Dallas-Fort Worth suburbs to occur in the upper ranks of our list. Texas is growing exponentially at about 1,000 people per day as reported by State Demographer Lloyd Potter. Laredo has a rich history and culture, and it was even once the capital of the short-lived Republic of the Rio Grande in 1840. Frisco has the highest median household income in Texas with the median household raking in $127,133 annually. Texas’ tax situation makes it an attractive location to those who live in heavily taxed states such as New York and California. Houston ranks #2 in Texas on Wallethub’s rankings of the best foodie cities in the U.S. Houston has some of the best cultural institutions in the country and draws in over 7 million visitors annually to its Museum District. We raised the bar on Bar-B-Que over 40 years ago… Soulman’s opened its doors in Pleasant Grove, a suburb of Dallas, on October 19, 1974. * Low State Taxes: The Texas Constitution forbids personal income taxes. Now that we have reached the end of the list, it is only proper that the 25th best city in Texas is also the most affordable! With a median household income of $56,074 per year and a median housing price of $129,100, Mesquite is the 3rd most affordable city on our list. Welcome to First Texas Homes at Bluewood in beautiful Celina, Texas!! Austin is by far the greenest urban region in the entire state and holds the #2 spot of all cities in Texas from the Trust for Public Land’s Annual Park Ranking. 64% of residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park. Go Frogs! Known For: Dell Technologies chose Round Rock for their massive 157,000 employee HQ campus, so Round Rock has one of the most technologically advanced workforces in the entire state! All rights reserved. Amarillo’s best qualities are its amazing foodie culture and its affordability. McKinney is the fifth fastest-growing city in the state. Due to its proximity to the Rio Grande River and the border with Mexico, El Paso is flush with Hispanic culture and tradition. Residents enjoy a median household income of $71,410, and in addition, Georgetown is the third safest city on our list according to violent crime rates. In terms of scale, Fort Hood exists on 214,000 acres (87,000 ha), making it one of the largest military bases in the world by area. Known For: The Chisholm Trail began in Brownsville, and the city was one of the most critical military posts during the Texas Revolution due to its location in the southernmost tip of Texas. Solender is an active member of the Society of American Travel Writers.