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    STILL THE BEST

    Houston named best city in Texas and No. 11 in U.S. in prestigious report

    John Egan
    Sep 21, 2022 | 9:57 am
    Houston skyline

    Houston is (rightfully) No. 1 again.

    Photo by Brandon Martin/Rice University

    At least according to one new report, Houston is not only the Energy Capital of the World but also the livability capital of Texas.

    A new study from Best Cities, powered by Resonance Consultancy, puts Houston at No. 11 among the best cities in the U.S. That’s the top showing among the six Texas cities included in the ranking. Houston appeared at No. 17 on last year’s list.

    “Educated, diverse and hard-working, Houston is America’s stealthy powerhouse on the rise,” Best Cities proclaims.

    Best Cities notes that while Austin grabs much of the best-city attention, “the promise of the Lone Star State drawing Californians and New Yorkers is quietly being fulfilled in Houston.” The website points out that the Houston metro area has gained nearly 300,000 residents in the past year, thanks to both domestic and international migration.

    Here are some of the individual rankings that contribute to Houston’s 11th-place finish:

    • No. 4 for restaurants
    • No. 7 for culture
    • No. 8 for foreign-born population

    “Houston is a diverse and vibrant metro where individuals can start a family, grow their business, attend world-class institutions and universities, or be immersed in the 145 languages that are spoken by our residents,” Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner says in a news release. “The quality of life we have in Houston is second to none, and the data we receive from placements such as … Best Cities further reaffirm the strength and resiliency that has come to define this great city of ours.”

    A few spots behind Houston on the Best Cities list are No. 14 Dallas and No. 15 Austin.

    What lifts Dallas to the No. 14 spot? These are some of the factors cited by Best Cities:

    • Location of more than 10,000 corporate headquarters
    • Strong showing (No. 2) in the airport connectivity category
    • Kudos for the soon-to-be-expanded Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center Dallas
    • Home of the country’s sixth largest LGBTQ+ community
    • Presence of the 28-block, 68-acre Dallas Arts District

    Austin comes in at No. 15, one notch behind Dallas.

    Best Cities praises Austin as “a place that’s incredibly livable. Talk to any entrepreneur leaving Silicon Valley or Seattle and chances are they’ve considered Austin.”

    The website points to a number of Austin’s assets, such as:

    • Growing presence of Fortune 500 headquarters
    • Comparatively low unemployment rate
    • Location of the University of Texas’ flagship campus
    • Status as the Live Music Capital of the World
    • Home of the annual SXSW gathering

    Two other Texas cities make the Best Cities list: No. 34 San Antonio and No. 94 McAllen.

    Best Cities bases its list of the best U.S. cities on Resonance Consultancy’s combination of statistical performance plus qualitative evaluations by locals and visitors. Those figures are grouped into six main categories. This year’s ranking features 100 U.S. cities. To come up with the ranking, Resonance Consultancy assessed all U.S. metro areas with at least 500,000 residents.

    news/city-life

    This Week's Hot Headlines

    Beyoncé-loved Houston brunch spot expands and more popular stories

    CultureMap Staff
    Dec 13, 2025 | 11:00 am
    Taste Kitchen + Bar chicken and waffles
    Courtesy of Taste Kitchen + Bar
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    Editor's note: It's time to look back at the top Houston news of the week, beginning with new locations of hot brunch and burger spots. Plus, a Houston enclave is named the richest small town in Texas. Catch up on our most popular stories below, then plan your weekend via this guide.

    1. Beyoncé-loved Houston brunch spot sweetens Sugar Land with new location. One of Houston’s most successful brunch spots has come to Sugar Land. Taste Bar + Kitchen opened its second location on December 10, in the former Veritas Steak & Seafood space.

    2. Third location of Bun B's smash hit smash burger joint sets opening date. One of Houston’s most celebrated burger joints has arrived in Fort Bend County. Trill Burgers opened its new Missouri City location this week.

    3. Eclectic comfort food restaurant to shutter after 21 years in Houston. A staple of the Galleria-area dining scene will soon serve its last meal. Grand Lux Cafe will close January 24, 2026.

    Grand Lux Cafe beignets Grand Lux Cafe is known for its baked-to-order desserts. Grand Lux Cafe/Facebook

    4. Airbnb pledges over $1 million to improve Houston before World Cup. Roughly 30,000 people are expected to stay in Airbnb properties during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With that in mind, the company has pledged over $1 million to various improvement projects in Houston.

    5. This affluent Houston enclave is the richest small town in Texas. Affluent Houston neighbor Bellaire is cashing in as the richest small town in Texas for 2025, according to new study.

    hot-headlinesopeningsbrunchbun bclosingsworld cuprichest citiesbellairemost popular stories
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