Dallas claws back up on list of best places to live in the U.S. in 2024

Things are looking a little brighter for Dallas as the city was recently named among the top 100 in U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Places to Live” list for 2024-2025, earning No. 95.

Previously, Dallas was ranked the No. 37 best place to live in America in 2021, and improved in 2022 when it ranked No. 32. Then, shockingly, the city plummeted in 2023 out of the top 100 into No. 113.

But the latest report suggests Dallas has seen substantial improvements over the last year.

U.S. News annually measures 150 top American cities for their livability, and ranks them based on four major indexes: quality of life, value, desirability, and job market.

Dallas earned an overall score of 6.1 out of 10, with its quality of life and value scores at 6.4 and 5.6, respectively.

New for the 2024-2025 report, U.S. News updated its methodology to analyze city-based data rather than metropolitan area data. Secondly, the report’s annual survey decided to place greater weight on a city’s “value and job market” while “weights for desirability and quality of life took a slight dip” on the grading scale.

“Rising concerns about career prospects, housing affordability and increased cost of goods and services are reflected in this year’s rankings,” said U.S. News loans expert and reporter Erika Giovanetti in a press release. “While quality of life remains the top priority for many Americans, a city’s value and job market are becoming increasingly important for those looking for a place to live.”

There’s many factors that draw folks to Dallas, among them the city’s diversity, the highly esteemed schools and universities, and much more. Dallas is also surrounded by happy city neighbors for those who want to live in a suburb without compromising on the big city lifestyle, showing that the city truly has something for everyone.

“Offering both big-city excitement and quiet, suburban living, Dallas has an interesting mix of Texas pride and cosmopolitan offerings,” U.S. News’ overview of the city said. “Dallasites love the trendy local bars and numerous retail shops, and they rally together behind their professional sports teams.”

While Dallas made big steps to improve in U.S. News’ national list, the city unfortunately sank in the report’s Best Place to Live in Texas list for 2024. Dallas dipped to No. 7 after previously scoring No. 3 in 2023.

Elsewhere in Texas
The recent focus on city-based data was likely a major factor that fueled Dallas’ improvement in the national rankings, but it also favorably shifted nine other Texas cities.

Austin – which previously ranked No. 40 in last year’s rankings – became the only city to represent the Lone Star State among the top 10 best places to live in 2024. The Texas Capital jumped up 31 spots to claim No. 9 nationally, due to its “high desirability and job market scores,” the report said.

Three cities in the Rio Grande Valley also ranked higher than Dallas, suggesting that South Texas may be a better place to live than North Texas. The border towns of McAllen (No. 48) and Brownsville (No. 87) climbed into the overall top 100 this year after formerly ranking No. 137 and No. 134 last year. Meanwhile, Corpus Christi moved up from No. 132 last year to No. 77 in 2024.

Here’s how other Texas cities faired in 2024’s Best Places to Live report:

• No. 62 – El Paso (up from No. 128 last year)
• No. 89 – San Antonio (up from No. 103 last year)
• No. 97 – Houston (up from No. 140 last year)
• No. 99 – Beaumont (up from No. 131 last year)
• No. 107 – Killeen (up from No. 122 last year)

Naples, Florida took home the gold medal as the No. 1 best place to live in the U.S. in 2024. Rounding out the top five are Boise, Idaho (No. 2); Colorado Springs, Colorado (No. 3); Greenville, South Carolina (No. 4); and Charlotte, North Carolina (No. 5).

The full report and its methodology can be found on realestate.usnews.com.