what happened, h-town?
Houston surprisingly plummets in prestigious list of best cities in the world
Houston fell from No. 42 last year to No. 66
Economic investments and population growth are definitive highlights of Houston's success over the last year, but they weren't enough to keep it within the top 50 best cities in the world, according to a prestigious report by Canada-based real estate and tourism marketing advisors Resonance Consultancy.
The annual "World's Best Cities" report quantifies the relative qualities of place, reputation, and competitive identity for the world's principal cities with metropolitan populations of 1 million or more.
London topped the list again for 2024, followed by Paris (No. 2), New York (No. 3), Tokyo (No. 4), and Singapore (No. 5).
Houston slipped from its position as No. 42 last year to a surprising No. 66 in 2024.
However, the report primarily focuses on the city, its cultural diversity, and its astronomical prospects, rather than its ranking.
"In the past year, immigration both domestic and international has swelled the metro population to above seven million and the city today is one of America’s most ethnically diverse metropolises," the report said.
Houston's cultural footprint has always been significant, and has substantially developed throughout the years. According to the report (which cited the latest U.S. Census data), there are over 145 languages being spoken "at home" which is nearly as many as New York. And the city will soon have a new community center for those of all faiths and backgrounds: the nation's first Ismaili Center.
But it's Houston's stellar ambitions as Space City that is a major highlight in its shining overview.
"[The] Houston Spaceport is an FAA-licensed urban commercial spaceport offering unprecedented access to a thriving aerospace community," the report said. "The head start the city has in building a cluster of aerospace companies manufacturing locally is staggering, especially considering that the spaceport can eventually serve as the country’s takeoff point for passenger jets capable of flying at supersonic and hypersonic speeds."
Austin and Dallas also earned spots on the World's Best Cities list for 2024, but only one took a weighty tumble from the previous year's rankings. Dallas fell from No. 47 in last year's report to its current rank as No. 73.
Austin maintained its position as No. 43 for the second consecutive year, but the report suggests Houston is a much bigger player than what others have been led to believe about the Texas capital.
"Austin may get the attention, but the promise of the Lone Star State drawing Californians and New Yorkers is quietly being fulfilled in Houston," the report said.
The top 10 best cities in the world, according to Resonance Consultancy, are:
- No. 1 – London, United Kingdom
- No. 2 – Paris, France
- No. 3 – New York, New York
- No. 4 – Tokyo, Japan
- No. 5 – Singapore
- No. 6 – Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- No. 7 – San Francisco, California
- No. 8 – Barcelona, Spain
- No. 9 – Amsterdam, Netherlands
- No. 10 – Seoul, South Korea
