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

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beyond the stacks

Texas public libraries deliver billions in economic impact, study says

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Dallas shines a lot brighter with its public library system.

A new statewide study examining the economic impacts of public libraries has revealed they have generated over $3.8 billion in value to local communities — a return of $4.74 for every $1 invested.

The report, "Beyond the Stacks: Measuring the Economic and Community Value of Texas Public Libraries" was conducted by third-party consultancy JBK Economics Group in partnership with the Texas Library Association. About 300 of the total 513 public libraries in Texas participated in a survey for the report.

A major finding from the survey revealed that public libraries create billions in economic value for the communities they serve at a fraction of what it costs to pay employee wages and benefits, operating expenditures, and capital expenditures. About 11,200 jobs were directly and indirectly supported by public libraries, the report found.

The report found its $4.74 to $1 ratio by adding up the total value of the services provided by these institutions (an estimated $2.48 billion), and comparing it to total expenditures ($808.6 million).

"Public libraries had about the same economic footprint as the Texas motion picture and sound recording industry ($2.9 billion in Gross Domestic Product in 2024) or the Texas paper manufacturing industry ($4.0 billion in Gross Domestic Product in 2024)," the report said.

Many Dallasites are already familiar with Dallas Public Library's expansive catalog and programming, but there are many more services the library provides that might fly under the radar. A few examples include access to subscription-based research databases and news outlets, free notary services, free admission to local arts and culture events through Culture Pass Dallas, seed libraries, and maker spaces for creative endeavors. Individual branches also provide free Wi-Fi, computer access, meeting spaces, tax assistance, and job help.

Residents outside Dallas also have access to services at several other local libraries, depending on their address. For instance, Plano Public Library offers free cards to residents and for residents in reciprocal cities like Allen, The Colony, Frisco, Garland, McKinney, Richardson, and Wylie.

These are additional services and partnerships that Texas public libraries commonly provide, per the survey results:

93 percent provide voter registration and/or serve as voting locations
84 percent provide partnerships with local social services agencies
82 percent provide job application assistance
68 percent facilitate applications for government benefits
38 percent provide on-site social services
30 percent provide telehealth rooms and/or resources

"Public libraries are practical, welcoming and rooted in the communities they serve — they are unmistakably Texan," said Texas Library Association executive director Shirley Robinson in a press release. "This study puts a dollar value on the opportunities libraries create every day. Whether someone visits a library to apply for a job, access the internet, learn a new skill or simply find a new favorite book, those services create real value for Texans and their communities."

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