Studies Show, Study Here

Texas hot spot hooks No. 1 ranking as best college city in America

Austin is best in the U.S.

UT Austin/Facebook

It might be a bit reductive to call Austin a college town, but that's what makes it so good. It certainly benefits from the creativity and industry of college living, but there's a lot more to do than go to gentrified lunches and cool, underground shows.

Recognizing this special balance, financial website WalletHub has declared Austin the No. 1 college city in the United States for 2023, beating out some obvious contenders like Pittsburgh and Columbus, Ohio.

In addition to being the best city overall, Austin also tops the large cities list, and is one of only two Texas locales represented in the top 10 of any category; the other is College Station, No. 6 on the small list.

The most represented state, perhaps not surprisingly, is Florida, with four cities in the overall top 10. The top 10 college cities for 2023, according to WalletHub, are:

1. Austin
2. Ann Arbor, Michigan
3. Orlando, Florida
4. Gainesville, Florida
5. Tampa, Florida
6. Rexburg, Idaho
7. Provo, Utah
8. Scottsdale, Arizona
9. Miami
10. Raleigh, North Carolina

And how did Austin make the grade? WalletHub looked at key metrics across three categories to determine the rankings.

Austin scored best, No. 12, in the “social environment” category, determined by metrics like students per capita; breweries, cafés, and food trucks per capita; and safety issues like vaccination and crime statistics.

Its ranking at No. 21 in the “academic & economic opportunities" category puts it in the 95th percentile, even above Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts, famous for their Ivy League prevalence.

And perhaps unsurprising to those who currently reside in Austin, the Capital City ranked worst in "wallet friendliness,” at No. 204 out of 415.

Elsewhere in Texas, El Paso did well on the overall list at No. 36, followed by Houston (No. 64), Dallas (99), Fort Worth (153), and San Antonio (169).

Dallas landed well down the list in every category: wallet friendliness (226), academic & economic opportunities (168), and social environment (147).

Fort Worth fell even farther down the list in the same categories: wallet friendliness (242), academic & economic opportunities (201), and social environment (149).

Notably, cities that tend to fall lower in similar studies ranked relatively well among college towns.

city life education health universities ut austin

This Week's Hot Headlines

The most festive Dallas neighborhoods shine in this week's top stories

Facebook/The Gift of Light

The Gift of Light in McKinney features over-the-top lights and a yard full of inflatables.

Editor's note: The top Dallas news of the week is full of holiday spirit, from festive neighborhood light displays to the best Christmas weekend events. Plus, exciting openings and reopenings to know. Catch up on our most popular stories below.

1. Must-see Dallas homes and neighborhoods for 2025 Christmas lights. There's no better family holiday tradition than piling in the car and looking at Christmas lights. Dallas and its suburbs are full of homes and neighborhoods decked out in dazzling displays, from coordinated cul-de-sacs to mansions that rival amusement parks.

2. Upscale Indian fusion restaurant Mango Yard to open in Frisco. An Indian restaurant that promises to be much more is coming to Frisco. Called The Mango Yard, it's set to open in early 2026 at the booming intersection of University Drive and Coit Road.

3. Spa Castle Korean bathhouse in Carrollton reopens after renovation. An Asian spa is about to celebrate a grand reopening. Spa Castle Texas, located in Carrollton, will reopen on January 1, 2026, following a multi-million-dollar renovation.

Spa Castle indoor pool Spa Castle is revealing renovations. Photo courtesy of Spa Castle

4. Mexican 'vibe' restaurant from California to open in Deep Ellum Dallas. A buzzy concept from California is coming to Dallas. Mama Por Dios, a Mexican restaurant chain known for its vibe, will open its first location in Texas in Deep Ellum in the Epic development at 2525 Elm St.

5. These are the 13 best things to do in Dallas on Christmas weekend. From ice skating to theater, music, and more, here are the best ways to spend your free time this Christmas weekend.