Diversity News

Dallas makes top 10 list of most diverse large cities in America

Dallas skyline against a setting sun

Photo by Lance Asper on Unsplash

Dallas-Fort Worth has always been a diverse place, and now a new survey proves it to be true. Called Most Diverse Cities in the U.S., it's a new ranking by WalletHub and it puts Dallas as the 6th the most diverse large American city for 2025.

The rankings compared 501 U.S. cities in categories such as age, religion, marital status, and income. Cities were also ranked by population size: Large cities with more than 300,000 residents; midsize cities with 100,000 to 300,000 residents; and small cities with fewer than 100,000 residents.

A Dallas neighbor did the best: The city of Arlington came in at No. 1 on the list of large cities. Houston was No. 2, and Fort Worth was No. 12.

On an accompanying list that ranked cities regardless of their size, Dallas was No. 11. The three top cities on that list were all located in Maryland: Gaithersburg (No. 1), Silver Spring (No. 2), and Germantown (No. 3).

Embracing diversity is not only good for local communities, it's also beneficial for the economy, the report says.

"Not only have waves of immigration changed the face of the nation, they’ve also brought in fresh perspectives, skills and technologies to help the U.S. develop a strong adaptability to change," the report's author wrote. "Economies generally fare better when they openly embrace and capitalize on new ideas. Conversely, those relying on old ways and specialized industries tend to be hurt more by changes in the market."

Arlington is a repeat performer: It moved up one spot from its 2024 ranking, and previously ranked eighth in 2021 — showing that the suburb has consistently increased in diversity over the years.

Fort Worth came in at No. 25 overall The city performed the best in the overall categories for socioeconomic and cultural diversity, earning a respective No. 58 and No. 61.

Plano fell out of the top 100 this year and ranked 102nd.

The top 10 most diverse cities in America in 2025 are:

No. 1 – Gaithersburg, Maryland
No. 2 – Silver Spring, Maryland
No. 3 – Germantown, Maryland
No. 4 – Arlington, Texas
No. 5 – Houston, Texas
No. 6 – New York, New York
No. 7 – Charlotte, North Carolina
No. 8 – Jersey City, New Jersey
No. 9 – Danbury, Connecticut
No. 10 – Los Angeles, California

rankings wallethub diversity lists

Money Matters

This is the salary you need to live comfortably in Texas in 2026

Photo by Alexander Mils on Unsplash

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A new national report looking at the income it takes to live comfortably in each of the 50 states has revealed Texans need to earn slightly less now than a year ago.

SmartAsset analyzed what a single individual, as well as family of four, must earn to cover minimum basic needs adjusted using the 50/30/20 budgeting rule. The resulting estimate represents the annual, pre-tax income needed to live comfortably in every U.S. state.

A single, full-time worker needs to make $90,563 to live comfortably in the Lone Star State, the report found, which is down a meager 0.2 percent from last year ($90,771).

Under the 50/30/20 budgeting strategy, that means a single Texas earner would have $45,282 to spend on necessities like housing and utilities, $27,169 for discretionary spending, and $18,113 for emergencies or retirement savings.

Texas ranked 34th nationally in SmartAsset's list of states with the highest income needed for a single adult to live "in sustainable comfort" in 2026. Only five other states — Tennessee, Maryland, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Mississippi — saw a decline in the income needed to live comfortably this year.

For a family of four to live comfortably in Texas, income requirements change significantly, according to the findings. To support a two-child household, a family needs $203,424 in combined total household income to be considered financially stable. This is down slightly from 2025, when SmartAsset reported a family of four in needed $204,922 to live comfortably in Texas.

This is a comfortable lifestyle for a family of four in Texas, according to the report:

$101,712 dedicated to necessities and living expenses
$61,027 dedicated to discretionary spending
$40,685 dedicated to emergencies, savings, or debt repaymen

According to the report, a family of four now needs to make at least $200,000 to live comfortably in 40 U.S. states, a figure that is far out of reach for many American families.

"As housing, grocery, transportation and other essential costs pressure household budgets, earning a six-figure salary no longer guarantees financial comfort in much of the U.S.," the report said. "A single adult now needs at least $80,000 a year to live comfortably in every state, while the threshold exceeds $100,000 in nearly half of states. For a family of four, the income needed to live comfortably is as much as $329,000."

Still, earning the minimum income to live comfortably in Texas doesn't guarantee financial stability in the Lone Star State's major cities. Earlier this year, SmartAsset determined single residents in Dallas need to make nearly $97,000 to qualify as financially stable, while families of four need about $214,500.

texas smartasset reports salaries income finance

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