You're So Cool

Dallas scores surprising rank on new list of coolest cities in America

Dallas' Arts District is a big factor adding to the city's coolness.

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Dallas has made its share of lists — fastest-growing suburbs, most homes for rent — but here's one you might never have predicted: Little old Big D is one of the coolest cities in America, according to a new study by British gambling company Betway.com.

The team at Betway analyzed 50 of the most populated cities across the U.S. and Canada, ranking them on factors associated with "being cool".

Dallas came in at No. 14 on the list — not even the top 10, but nonetheless one of only two cities in Texas to make the list at all. The other Texas city on the list, no surprise, was Austin, AKA "The Live Music Capital of the World," which ranked at No. 11.

So sorry, Houston.

The No. 1 coolest city in America: Boston, Massachusetts. That was followed by Las Vegas at No. 2 — really? — and the far more predictable Portland, Oregon at No. 3.

According to Betway.com, factors that determine a city's coolness include: median age of residents, and then how many street art murals, vegetarian/vegan bars and restaurants, record stores, upcoming music events, and tattoo parlors a city has.

The survey found that there are 40 dietary-friendly restaurants per 100,000 people in Dallas; six tattoo parlors "per population"; and 37 upcoming music events.

Dallas is rife with new restaurant openings, especially as the city's accomplished chefs move on to new opportunities within the hospitality industry.

Dallas is particularly unforgettable for its copious "energy and culture," the report said.

"What makes a city cool often goes beyond its reputation or famous landmarks – it’s the unique blend of culture that provides the energy," the report's author wrote. "From thriving music scenes and vibrant street art to foodie hotspots and inclusive, laid-back vibes, the coolest cities offer something authentic, exciting, and effortlessly memorable."

The top 15 coolest American cities are:

No. 1 – Boston
No. 2 – Las Vegas
No. 3 – Portland
No. 4 – San Francisco
No. 5 – Seattle
No. 6 – Denver
No. 7 – Nashville
No. 8 – Washington, D.C.
No. 9 – Detroit
No. 10 – Los Angeles
No. 11 — Austin
No. 12 — San Diego
No. 13 — Phoenix
No. 14 — Dallas
No. 15 — Columbus

dallas lists rankings

Living Well

Plano rises through the ranks as 4th best U.S. city for veterans in 2026

Female U.S. soldier wearing 2023 OCP uniform saluting in front of american flag

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Plano is the 4th best city in America for veterans to call home.

Dallas neighbor Plano has soared into the top 10 best U.S. cities for veterans to live, a new WalletHub report says.

To assess the best and worst places for veterans to live, analysts compared the 100 largest U.S. cities across 19 relevant metrics, such as the share of military skill-related jobs, veteran income growth, the availability of VA health facilities, among others.

Plano ranked as the No. 4 best city for military retirees in the nation this year, taking a big leap from its former No. 11 rank in 2025.

Plano offers the 10th best quality of life for veterans out of all 100 cities in the report, and the city ranks 25th for its "health" rank — determined by the number of VA benefits administration and VA health facilities per veteran population and the quality of VA health facilities.

Plano's employment rank for veterans is the 28th best in the U.S., and the suburb boasts the 29th best economy for former service members based on WalletHub's analysis of veteran housing affordability, median income and income growth, educational opportunities, and the share of veterans living in poverty.

Local veterans are being honored with Veterans Day deals and discounts all across the city this; find the list here.

"When veterans return home from serving our nation, it’s important for them to live in a place that provides good education and employment opportunities, along with access to quality care for their physical and mental health," said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. "The best cities for veterans have all these characteristics, plus added bonuses like large veteran populations for community support, plus many restaurants and entertainment venues that offer veteran discounts."

Meanwhile, Dallas proper ranked as the No. 22 overall best U.S. city for veterans to live in 2026, moving up the list after ranking 25th for the last two years.

This is how Dallas stacked up across the study's four main categories:

No. 16 – Health
No. 32 – Economy
No. 36 – Quality of life
No. 66 – Employment

The Veterans Association reports nearly 17.2 million veterans live in the U.S., and many of them struggle in some way with transitioning from military to civilian life, including homelessness.

"While the government has pledged to support veterans with health care, housing, employment and education benefits, not everyone returning from service is able to access the care, work or housing they need," the WalletHub report said. "Veterans do have a relatively low unemployment rate of 3.6 percent, compared with 4.2 percent for the overall population. Still, homelessness remains a major concern, with over 32,000 veterans experiencing homelessness."

Elsewhere in North Texas, Fort Worth ranked as the 5th overall best city for veterans, Garland ranked 24th, Irving came in 33rd, and Arlington ranked as No. 34.

Austin's livability leads the nation
Austin was once again declared No. 1 best place in the U.S. for veterans to live in 2026, continuing the city's long-running streak leading the nation for its livability for former service members.

Austin offers veterans the fifth best quality of life in the U.S., the study found, and the city's economic standing for veterans is the 11th best in the country.

"Austin, TX, is the best city for veterans, in large part because it has the best colleges for veterans in the country, along with the ninth-highest median annual income for veterans, at over $66,000," the report said.

Austin also ranked 25th and 44th, respectively, in the health and employment categories, showing that the city provides high-quality VA health facilities and local employers provide great job benefits for service members.

"It's also good for veterans to live in a place where they can form a community of support with others who have gone through similar experiences," the report said.

Other Texas cities that earned spots in the report include San Antonio (No. 25), Laredo (No. 28), Lubbock (No. 32), Houston (No. 51), Corpus Christi (No. 58), and El Paso (No. 67).

The top 10 best U.S. cities for veterans to live are:

No. 1 – Austin, Texas
No. 2 – Madison, Wisconsin
No. 3 – Scottsdale, Arizona
No. 4 – Plano, Texas
No. 5 – Fort Worth, Texas
No. 6 – Virginia Beach, Virginia
No. 7 – Gilbert, Arizona
No. 8 – Raleigh, North Carolina
No. 9 – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
No. 10 – Irvine, California

veterans day veterans wallethub reports livability