Pearland, Texas was named the third best place to live in the country by U.S. News & World Report's 2025-2026 report.
U.S. News & World Report has published a new 2025-2026 list of "Best Places to Live." The media company analyzed 250 major U.S. cities across key measures in the following categories: quality of life, value, desirability, job market and net migration.
20 best places to live in the US, 2025-2026
- Johns Creek, Georgia
- Carmel, Indiana
- Pearland, Texas
- Fishers, Indiana
- Cary, North Carolina
- League City, Texas
- Apex, North Carolina
- Leander, Texas
- Rochester Hills, Michigan
- Troy, Michigan
- Sammamish, Washington
- Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
- Ellicott City, Maryland
- Flower Mound, Texas
- Pflugerville, Texas
- Sugar Land, Texas
- Plymouth, Minnesota
- Ankeny, Iowa
- West Hartford, Connecticut
- McAllen, Texas
10 best places to live in Texas, 2025-2026
Here are the 10 Lone Star State places that ranked high on the list (rankings refer to national rankings):
No. 3: Pearland
- Population: 123,986
- Average commute: 31 minutes
- Median home value: $319,753
- Median monthly rent: $1,403
- Median household income: $115,504
No. 6: League City
- Population: 106,330
- Average commute: 28 minutes
- Median home value: $327,511
- Median monthly rent: $1,231
- Median household income: $120,670
No. 8: Leander
- Population: 77,556
- Average commute: 28 minutes
- Median home value: $493,774
- Median monthly rent: $1,485
- Median household income: $131,822
No. 14: Flower Mound
- Population: 77,122
- Average commute: 27 minutes
- Median home value: $476,609
- Median monthly rent: $1,642
- Median household income: $163,766
No. 15: Pflugerville
- Population: 66,278
- Average commute: 24 minutes
- Median home value: $441,873
- Median monthly rent: $1,505
- Median household income: $118,047
No. 16: Sugar Land
- Population: 118,143
- Average commute: 30 minutes
- Median home value: $402,094
- Median monthly rent: $1,556
- Median household income: $135,514
No. 20: McAllen
- Population: 144,628
- Average commute: 18 minutes
- Median home value: $169,631
- Median monthly rent: $783
- Median household income: $59,255
No. 23: Cedar Park
- Population: 77,959
- Average commute: 23 minutes
- Median home value: $503,708
- Median monthly rent: $1,482
- Median household income: $124,554
No. 27: Mansfield
- Population: 79,883
- Average commute: 28 minutes
- Median home value: $364,136
- Median monthly rent: $1,369
- Median household income: $117,680
No. 28: Round Rock
- Population: 128,111
- Average commute: 22 minutes
- Median home value: $463,739
- Median monthly rent: $1,427
- Median household income: $101,663
Best places to live in Texas, ranked
- Pearland
- League City
- Leander
- Flower Mound
- Pflugerville
- Sugar Land
- McAllen
- Cedar Park
- Mansfield
- Round Rock
- Frisco
- McKinney
- Laredo
- The Woodlands
- Katy
- Pharr
- Allen
- Edinburg
- North Richland Hills
- Midland
- Missouri City
- Mission
- Spring
- New Braunfels
- Carrollton
- Rowlett
- San Angelo
- Brownsville
- Temple
- Wylie
- Grand Prairie
- El Paso
- Victoria
- Conroe
- Harlingen
- Georgetown
- Abilene
- Amarillo
- Odessa
- Irving
- Plano
- Bryan
- Austin
- Lubbock
- Wichita Falls
- Richardson
- Eagle Pass
- Lewisville
- Corpus Christi
- Fort Worth
- Tyler
- Longview
- San Antonio
- Arlington
- Little Elm
- Garland
- College Station
- Killeen
- Sherman
- Pasadena
- Mesquite
- Waco
- Houston
- Texarkana
- Dallas
- Denton
- Baytown
- San Marcos
- Beaumont