america's best cities

Dallas surpasses Austin in new ranking of America's best cities

Dallas is a better city than Austin, the report revealed. Photo courtesy of America's Best Cities

A just-released national report ranking the best cities in America has declared Dallas is the 14th best U.S. city in 2025.

The annual "America's Best Cities" report from Resonance Consultancy, a Canada-based real estate and tourism marketing firm, ranks the relative qualities of livability, cultural "lovability," and economic prosperity in America's principal cities with metropolitan populations of 500,000 or more.

Dallas climbed up two spots from its No. 16 rank in 2024, and in the process eclipsed Austin, which this year came in at No. 15, one slot behind Dallas. So sorry Austin.

The report hails Dallas' "maverick, can-do spirit" that flourishes throughout the city's economy and culture, as well as its vibrant hospitality scene and numerous retail businesses.

"The Harwood District flaunts its Swiss-Texan swagger, with Kengo Kuma’s 22-story Hôtel Swexan showcasing natural
materials, elegant interiors and a rooftop infinity pool," the report said. "Meanwhile, uptown retail gets an urban-format IKEA in late 2025, adding to a flurry of luxe flagships and the JW Marriott that opened in the Arts District last year."

The report puts a large focus on Dallas' bustling finance sector including the addition of "Y'all Street" — new regional headquarters for Nasdaq and New York Stock Exchange offices.

Dallas-Fort Worth also comes in high with new jobs, adding 59,000 jobs since March 2024 — second only to New York, and was lauded for renovations in the works at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

"American Airlines just green-lit a $4-billion Terminal F that will double gate capacity by 2027, with Terminal C’s refresh timed for the 2026 FIFA World Cup crowds," the report said. "Downtown, Goldman Sachs’ 800,000-square-foot river-view campus is rising, while Wells Fargo’s twin tower Las Colinas HQ tops out for a 2025 debut."

Elsewhere in Texas
Dallas ranked right in between Houston (No. 13) and Austin (No. 15) in the top 20, while San Antonio sank into the No. 41 spot after previously ranking 32nd last year. El Paso also fell, from No. 83 in 2024 to No. 100 this year.

Jason McGrath, the executive vice president and head of U.S. Corporate Reputation at Ipsos, said in the report that American cities are proving their resiliency as they are faced with "climate issues, increasing infrastructural demands, and shifting geopolitical landscapes affecting international relations and travel."

"Despite these hurdles, cities are creatively reinventing themselves to shine as examples of cultural vibrancy and innovation, keeping their competitive edge both locally and globally," McGrath said. "Our report shows that the allure of American cities remains strong, thanks to their rich diversity and vast attractions — from natural wonders to buzzing cultural hubs."

The top 10 best cities in America in 2025 are:

No. 1 – New York City, New York
No. 2 – Los Angeles, California
No. 3 – Chicago, Illinois
No. 4 – San Francisco, California
No. 5 – Seattle, Washington
No. 6 – Miami, Florida
No. 7 – Boston, Massachusetts
No. 8 – Washington, D.C.
No. 9 – Las Vegas, Nevada
No. 10 – San Diego, California

america's best cities reports lists dallas

gotta do better than that

Texas is not a great state to live in for 2025, study finds

Texas' livability has taken a nosedive in 2025. Photo by Trac Vu on Unsplash

Texas' livability has taken a nosedive: After plummeting toward the bottom in WalletHub's 2024 ranking of the best and worst states to live in for 2024, Texas has continued its downfall and now ranks as the 38th "best" state to live in for 2025.

To put it another way, Texas is now considered the 13th worst place to live in the U.S.

WalletHub ranked all 50 states using 51 metrics to measure their affordability, economy, education and health, quality of life, and safety. Factors that were considered include housing affordability, the median debt per median earnings, income growth from 2019 to 2023, high school graduation rates, access to public transportation, and more.

Massachusetts once again claimed the No. 1 spot as the best place to live nationwide, followed by Idaho (No. 2), New Jersey (No. 3), Wisconsin (No. 4), and Minnesota (No. 5).

The Lone Star State fumbled in four out of the five categories, but at least its quality of life ranking (No. 9) still managed to nab a top-10 spot.

According to WalletHub, Texas has the 10th worst economy and the 10th worst education and health, ranking No. 40 in both categories. Confusingly, a separate WalletHub study claimed Texas had the 8th best economy in the nation.

Texas' affordability is only the 34th best in the U.S., and it ranked 38th for safety.

Here's how Texas fared in other rankings in the study out of all 50 states:

No. 30 – Income growth
No. 31 – Housing costs
No. 40 – Percentage of population in poverty
No. 50 – Percentage of insured population
No. 43 – Percentage of adults in fair or poor health
No. 46 – Homeownership rate
No. 49 – Average weekly work hours

Local foodies can at least be satisfied that Texas ranked No. 1 in the category of states with the most restaurants per capita. Texas entered a four-way tie for the top spot with Florida, New York, and California. But having numerous restaurants doesn't make up for the failures in other living standards.

Meanwhile, New Mexico landed as the worst state to live in 2025. Joining the so-called "Land of Enchantment" at the bottom of the list are Louisiana (No. 49), Arkansas (No. 48), Mississippi (No. 47), and Alaska (No. 46).

Before one makes any final decisions on where to live, WalletHub suggests considering other factors than how a state ranked based on a single study.

"You’ll need to balance things like the cost of living with job opportunities, quality of education and safety," the report's author wrote. "Personal preference also comes into the equation, as you’ll want to live somewhere with the types of attractions, recreational opportunities and weather that suit you."

wallethub rankings best states texas