Texas Cities Earned Rankings in Livability Study
WalletHub evaluated over 1,300 small cities across the nation to determine their overall quality of life.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Remote Work
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WalletHub released its 2026 small-city livability rankings, which evaluated 1,318 cities across the country based on 45 distinct measures. Several Texas municipalities secured notable positions, though no city in the state reached the top percentile ranking.
Why it matters
These rankings provide a quantitative assessment of small-city environments, helping residents and potential newcomers identify areas that prioritize key quality-of-life metrics. The study offers a standardized comparison to help understand how local infrastructure and economic factors influence city desirability.
The study utilized 45 metrics to evaluate 1,318 cities with populations between 25,000 and 100,000. While no Texas city reached the 99th percentile, Cedar Park and Allen achieved the state's highest marks at the 96th percentile.
The players
WalletHub
This personal finance website regularly publishes studies and reports analyzing various economic and quality-of-life metrics across the United States.
Lexington, Massachusetts
This town was ranked as the No. 1 small city in the nation in the 2026 study.
The details
The rankings were derived from data collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the FBI. Among the cities assessed, New Braunfels reached the 78th percentile, followed by Canyon Lake at the 62nd percentile and Cibolo at the 61st percentile.
Timeline
September 1, 2026: Data collection for the study concluded.
September 29, 2026: WalletHub officially published the 2026 livability study rankings.
Market Landscape
This study reflects the ongoing competition between small cities to attract residents by highlighting quality-of-life improvements. It provides a standardized benchmark that allows mid-sized municipalities to track their development progress against national peers.
These rankings may influence local real estate demand and the perception of livability for those considering relocation to these Texas communities. Residents can use the metrics to understand how their city stacks up against national benchmarks regarding labor and safety data.
The takeaway
Understanding these rankings helps individuals evaluate the relative strengths of their local environment using aggregated national data. Readers can use these findings to look deeper into the specific metrics—such as local safety or employment data—that impact their daily quality of life.
Further reading
For more information on the regional job market and relocation trends, visit the Texas Remote Work section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Dallas Morning News.
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