Dallas and three other Texas cities were just hailed in U.S. News & World Report's new rankings of the best places to live for their high quality of life.
This new list, published in July, is part of U.S. News' Best Places to Live rankings, but the 25 cities that made the list were chosen solely based on quality of life factors such as education, healthcare, crime rates, air quality, resilience to natural disasters, and more.
The top two cities that are the best places to live for their top-tier quality of life are Brookline (No. 1) and Newton (No. 2) in Massachusetts. Bethesda, Maryland (No. 3), Bellevue, Washington (No. 4), and Malden, Massachusetts (No. 5) round out the top five.
Dallas ranked 20th on the list overall, with U.S. News praising the city's unique and successful blend of a "quiet suburban life and big city buzz" that attracts young individuals and professionals.
The report also touted Dallas' highly-rated medical system, and its growing reputation as a foodie city with numerous eateries serving up anything from Argentine empanadas, to Dubai chocolate treats, to classic Southern fare like Tex-Mex or barbecue.
"The city also ranks within the top 5 percent for health care access and is home to nationally ranked hospitals such as UT Southwestern Medical Center and Baylor University Medical Center," the report said. "The Dallas Arts District claims the title of the largest contiguous urban arts district in the U.S., and the city also boasts major sports franchises such as the Cowboys and Mavericks that keep energy high year-round."
According to U.S. News, the median income for a Dallas household is $68,895 a year, and the median value of a home is "slightly better" than similarly sized U.S. cities, coming out to more than $337,000.
Other Texas cities on the list
Austin was dubbed the 13th best place to live for its quality of life, and the No. 1 best in Texas. Houston ranked two spots behind as No. 15, and the Rio Grande Valley city of McAllen earned a spot on the list as No. 23.
"The town of McAllen boasts year-round sunshine and a vibrant business scene for retail, international trade and manufacturing," the report said. "Situated on the Mexico border, this bicultural community ranks No. 32 for college readiness and reports a shorter commute time, 18.3 minutes, compared with the national average of 22 minutes. McAllen also is one of the most affordable cities, claiming the No. 9 spot for cost of living and No. 23 on the most affordable places to live list."
U.S. News' top 10 best places to live for their quality of life are:
- No. 1 – Brookline, Massachusetts
- No. 2 – Newton, Massachusetts
- No. 3 – Bethesda, Maryland
- No. 4 – Bellevue, Washington
- No. 5 – Malden, Massachusetts
- No. 6 – Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- No. 7 – Cambridge, Massachusetts
- No. 8 – Kirkland, Washington
- No. 9 – Rockville, Maryland
- No. 10 – Passaic, New Jersey
