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Austin ranked among best U.S. cities; 4 Texas cities score higher
Austin ranks No. 28 in Niche's 2026 best places to live list, with higher-rated Texas cities above it.
Published April 9, 2026 at 10:00am by Alexis Simmerman
Austin ranked among the best places to live in the U.S. in a new report — but several other Texas cities scored higher.
In Niche’s 2026 "Best Places to Live" rankings, Austin came in at No. 28 overall with an "A" grade.
Niche — formerly known as College Prowler — evaluates cities using 15 metrics, including public schools, crime rates, housing, jobs and access to amenities. The data draws from sources such as the U.S. Census, FBI, Bureau of Labor Statistics and CDC.
Austin earned high marks for lifestyle and diversity but lagged in affordability and housing:
Among 229 cities analyzed, Austin also ranked No. 15 for young professionals and No. 40 for raising a family.