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U.S. News & World Report’s annual “Best Places to Live” rankings mix public data and user opinions to create a list of metro areas that score highly in quality of life, job market, value, and desirability. The 2018 list includes several Texas metro areas, and crowns Austin as the #1 Best Place to Live. Click continue reading to find more details about the ranking and each city.
Texas Association of Realtors
Here are the other Texas cities that made the list.
- Brownsville: #121
- McAllen: #115
- Beaumont: #113
- Corpus Christi: #106
- El Paso: #105
- Killeen: #90
- Houston: #26
- Dallas-Fort Worth: #18
- San Antonio: #14
- Austin: #1
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Explore Austin
Austin has a lot to offer. Have you explored these Austin Area Landmarks?
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The 36th President of the United States was born and raised in Texas, a fact that’s commemorated by the Lyndon B. Johnson Library and Museum in Austin. One of 13 Presidential Libraries operated by the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, the library houses 45 million pages of historical documents, including President Johnson’s papers, as well as 650,000 photos and 5,000 hours of recordings. The museum also has a 7/8ths scale replica of the Oval Office, decorated as it was during Johnson’s term in office in the 1960s.
The library has several permanent exhibits and temporary ones as well, including exhibits on the Civil Rights movement, the Kennedy assassination and the Vietnam war. Many of the items in the museum were donated by Johnson, his wife, family, friends, associates and ordinary Americans. The museum is home to some 54,000 items and welcomes between 100,000 and 125,000 visitors each year. While the museum collection is diverse, the core of the collection is dedicated to telling the story of one of the most troubled, yet successful, presidencies of the late 20th century.
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Smith Rock Shelter is one of 2 rock shelters in Austin to be designated on the National Register of Historic Places. This natural limestone formation is located in McKinney Falls State Park. It is believed that the overhang provided shelter to Native Americans in the area from around 500 BCE until the 1700s, with the last known inhabitants being relatives of the Tonkawa.
The shelter itself is accessible via a hiking trail in the park. The trail is approximately a mile long and creates a loop that takes about 30 to 45 minutes to hike. The trail runs alongside Onion Creek. Erosion on the face of the shelter shows that the creek once flowed on a much different path. Since the trail also offers a great opportunity to see some of the local flora and fauna, including Texas persimmons and Bald Cyprus trees, this is a great activity for families with young children and nature-lovers.
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Mount Bonnell, also known as Covert Park, is a prominent point alongside the Colorado River. Rising to a height of 780 feet above sea level, it’s one of the higher points around Austin, although not the highest. Said to have been named after George W. Bonnell, a 19th-century newspaper publisher, it is a popular attraction since it provides gorgeous vistas of Austin and the surrounding area. It forms part of the limestone Balcones Fault Escarpment.
Mount Bonnell has long been a popular picnic spot and it remains so even today. To get to the top, you have to climb a long set of stairs—around 100 steps!—but most agree that the views are well worth it. Sunrise and sunset are especially popular times to hike, and the location is considered one of the most romantic in Austin. There is also a path to the top for those who don’t think they can handle the stairs.
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The city of Austin’s official motto is “Keep Austin Weird,” and its citizens take that slogan quite seriously! Austinites pride themselves on being “weird.” According to locals, the motto was introduced by a local librarian and his wife as a response to increasing commercialism and over-development. Many Austinites use it to protest irresponsible development projects, while others have adopted the slogan as a rallying cry for supporting local businesses rather than big box stores and chains.
If you’re looking to help support the “Keep Austin Weird” movement, or if you’re just looking for some unique gifts or experiences check out the shopping district on South Congress Avenue. SoCo, as it’s known to locals, is home to a number of eclectic cafes and shops, restaurants and food trucks, as well as the occasional festival, all centered on local culture, products and fare. SoCo prides itself on “Keeping Austin Weird.
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101 East 63rd Street New York, New York
101 East 63rd Street is one of just three Manhattan houses designed by famed architect Paul Rudolph (former Dean of the Yale School of Architecture). The slick, dark glass façade is elegantly understated, creating an ideal haven for those seeking privacy. Upon entering the approximately 7, 500 square foot townhouse, an enchanting world is revealed, showcasing the best of Rudolph’s architectural mastery...
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