Austin, TX
Austin named 9th best place to live, but falls out of top 10 largest cities
AUSTIN, Texas — Austin is one of the best cities in which to live in the country, at least according to one report.
Every year, U.S. News and World Report releases its list of the “150 Best Places to Live in the U.S.”
The method behind the rankings comes from looking at the most recent data from the federal government and a public survey of thousands of individuals throughout the U.S. on what they value in a place. Those factors include looking at the quality of life, job market, desirability and housing affordability of each city.
Austin came in at No. 9 right behind Virginia Beach, Virginia, and ahead of Boulder, Colorado. The outlet’s reasoning behind the high ranking was because of Austin’s “contagious vibrancy and enthusiasm,” job opportunities and live music scene.
U.S. News and World Report gave Austin an overall score of 6.8 out of 10. The highest-ranked city–Naples, Florida–had an overall score of 7.1 out of 10.
Mayor Kirk Watson said in a statement that this only confirmed what Austin residents already knew.
“We’re honored to be recognized by U.S. News & World Report with this distinction that confirms what Austinites know—our city is a special place,” Watson said in a news release. “Our access to nature, our dynamic and diverse economy, and an unparalleled music scene make Austin a vibrant place to live, work, and play.”
The next closest Texas city on the list was McAllen coming in at No. 48 because of its “good quality of life” and “bicultural community” according to the report. The next three on the list are all along the edges of the Lone Star State with El Paso at No. 62, Corpus Christi at No. 77 and Brownsville at No. 87.
Texas’ three most populated cities were further down the list with San Antonio at No. 89, Dallas at No. 95 and Houston at No. 97.
The last two Texas cities to make the top 150 were Beaumont at No. 99 and Killeen at No. 107.
These U.S. News and World Report rankings used the U.S. Census Bureau’s population data, which was recently updated to include the first half of 2023. This update saw a big change for Texas’ capital city.
Austin fell out of the top 10 largest cities in America after being surpassed by Jacksonville, Florida. Austin is now at No. 11 with approximately 980,000 people.
Texas’ other metropolitan areas stayed at the same rankings with Houston coming in at No. 4, San Antonio at No. 7 and Dallas at No. 9.
Fort Worth moved up the list to No. 12, surpassing San Jose, California.
Austin also saw its 12-year streak as the nation’s fastest-growing large metro area come to an end, with the greater Austin area slipping to second place behind Jacksonville.
Another notable thing to come out of the data was that three of the top five counties with the largest number of growth in housing were in Texas. Harris County–home to Houston–ranked at No. 1, while Travis County–where Austin is located–and Collin County–north of Dallas–came in at No. 4 and No. 5.
Texas cities also dominated the lists of the fastest-growing cities for both larger and smaller metro areas.
Juneteenth celebrations are happening across the city this weekend. The events will mark the 161st anniversary of the day Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay to announce that more than 250,000 enslaved people in Texas were free. The announcement on June 19, 1865, came more than two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. June 19 — known as Juneteenth — became a federal holiday in 2021.
From historical bike rides to Austin’s annual parade, here are seven events taking place in Austin.
Annual Juneteenth FunRun, June 19
The city of Austin’s African American Cultural and Heritage Facility will host a fun run starting at 8:30 a.m. on Friday at East Martin Luther King Jr. Street and Leona Street, and concluding at Hargrave Street near the Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex. Participants will have one hour to complete the course. The route is the same as the parade through the African American Historical Cultural District that will start later that morning. Runners and walkers of all ages and levels can participate.
Central Texas Juneteenth Parade & Festival, June 19
The annual Juneteenth parade will take place Friday and begin at 10 a.m. at East Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Leona Street and will travel down to Chicon Street before turning on Rosewood Avenue. The parade will feature floats, live music and performers.
A Very Juneteenth Comedy Jam, June 19
The Velveeta Room, Austin’s longest-running comedy club, will have shows highlighting Black voices Friday night at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. The 18+ event will feature comedians like Freddy Do Less and Roderick McDaniel. Tickets for both shows are around $23.
Sistas Walk And Talk: Juneteenth Edition, June 20
Texas Sistas Society will host a 3-mile walk and talk Saturday at 515 S. Pleasant Valley Road starting at 7:45 a.m. Texas Sistas Society is an Austin-based community created for Black women and women of color. Attendees are encouraged to wear Juneteenth colors: red, yellow, green or black, and to RSVP ahead of time.
The Carver Kickback: Juneteenth Edition, June 20
The George Washington Carver Museum in Austin is dedicated to creating a “space where the global contributions of all Black people are celebrated.” The museum is hosting a free celebration from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday with barbecue plates, live music, vendors and activities for all ages.
Black Auteur Film Festival, June 20
The Black Auteur Film Festival, a nonprofit dedicated to uplifting Black filmmakers in Texas, is hosting its third annual film festival to showcase short films directed by Black Texans at AFS Cinema on Saturday. One filmmaker will win the $1,000 “Best of Fest” award, and attendees can enter a raffle for a chance to win Austin Film Society memberships and movie tickets. The festival runs from 2 to 5 p.m. Tickets are $14.
Juneteenth Social Ride, June 21
Black History Bike Ride, an Austin nonprofit teaching people about the city’s Black history through cycling, is hosting its seventh annual Juneteenth ride starting at the Haskell House on Saturday at 10 a.m. Austin-based historian Harrison Eppright will serve as the ride’s guide. Registration is required for all attendees. The event is free, but donations are encouraged.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Data analyst Corey Yeung created the ATX Running Guide to help runners find community across Central Texas. What started as a personal project has become one of Austin’s most comprehensive running resources.
Looking for a Run Club? There’s a Map for That
When Corey Yeung moved to Austin three years ago, he had a simple question:
“How many run clubs are actually out there?” The answer wasn’t easy to find. While several websites listed local groups, Yeung felt none offered a complete picture. So, he decided to build one himself. What started as a spreadsheet evolved into ATX Running Guide, a website and social media platform that helps runners discover clubs throughout the Austin area.
“The list would be more useful if it were a map and search tool,” Yeung said. “The Instagram page was simply a way to communicate those free resources to the community.”
Today, the guide covers running groups from San Marcos to Hutto and serves as a one-stop resource for runners looking to connect. In this episode of KXAN’S Plus Simple Health, Corey Yeung walks us through everything you need to know about the 200-plus running clubs in Austin.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Volts are off to a rough start in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League, but maybe a little home cooking can help them get right.
After playing their first five games on the road, the Volts open play at Dell Diamond in Round Rock at 6 p.m. Thursday against the Utah Talons, kicking off an 8-game homestand.
It’s the first season the Volts will call Dell Diamond home. In the league’s inaugural season last year, the original four teams competed with a touring schedule that included a stop at Dell Diamond. This is the first year that the AUSL, now a 6-team league, will play in home markets.
They have a roster peppered with local stars, including 2-time NCAA national champion middle infielder Leighann Goode from the Texas Longhorns. Aliyah Binford, a New Braunfels native, played collegiately for Ole Miss and former Texas State pitcher Jessica Mullins made an appearance in the Volts’ previous series against the Carolina Blaze.
Goode said there’s been a bit of a learning curve, but she credits her teammates for helping her adjust to the league.
“This group has brought me in and taught me stuff, taken me under their wings,” she said. “They’ve done an awesome job.”
Legendary Texas pitcher Cat Osterman is the team’s general manager, and the head coach is Texas State’s Ricci Woodard.
“We’re ready to rock and roll at home,” Woodard said. “I’m anxious to see what happens now that we get to play in our own place.”
Texas Tech pitcher NiJaree Canady, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 draft, joined the team last weekend after a brief contract holdout.
The Volts are 1-4 this season, picking up their lone win over the Oklahoma City Spark on June 10. They’ll face the Talons in a 3-game series, the Chicago Bandits for a pair June 23-24, and finish the homestand with a 3-game set against the expansion Portland Cascade on June 26-28.
Ryan Sanders Baseball, the organization that owns and operates the Round Rock Express, is an operating partner with the Volts and an investor with the AUSL.
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