Aaren Prody
Audio By Carbonatix
As the thermostat finally dips below “feels like: surface of the sun,” around here, a new study has emerged to validate our sudden urge to trade patios for plush armchairs. The folks at PrivacyJournal just released a ranking of America’s coziest cities, and it seems the Lone Star State is a real softie, landing an impressive 14 spots among the list’s top 100.
Researchers analyzed cities based on four pillars of peak coziness: walkability, comfort spots (like coffee shops and indie bookstores), home and hearth (think cozy lodging and a passion for interior design) and creative activities.
While Jersey City, of all places, snagged the top spot, our attention is firmly fixed on the local nooks. Seven North Texas cities made the cut, proving we’re more than just big hair and even bigger highways. Leading the local charge was Garland, coming in at a respectable No. 38 overall. The study notes Garland, along with Houston, scored particularly high in the “Home and Hearth” category, which confirms what we already knew: our suburbs have a secret love affair with throw pillows and scented candles.
Following Garland in the North Texas snuggle-fest were Plano (No. 48), Dallas proper (No. 53), Frisco (No. 66), Irving (No. 73), Arlington (No. 84) and Fort Worth (No. 89).
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Now, let’s address the elephant in the room. Or rather, the smog-monster to our south. Houston ranked No. 45. That’s eight spots cozier than Dallas. We’ll pause for you to read that again. In what universe is a city built on a swamp, where the primary scent is “refinery,” considered cozier than Dallas? We demand a recount. Perhaps the humidity was mistaken for a warm hug?
While the methodology is questionable (we’re not bitter, you’re bitter), the study does get one thing right: Dallas has its cozy corners. If you’re looking to challenge these rankings yourself, we’ve got you covered. You could curl up with a new release at a top-tier indie bookshop like The Wild Detectives or find a rare gem at the newly opened Bird’s Books. Maybe your idea of cozy involves a perfectly pulled espresso from one of the city’s best coffee shops, where the aroma of roasted beans is its own kind of comfort.
And as the evenings get cooler, nothing beats the warm embrace of one of Dallas’ coziest restaurants. Whether it’s a romantic corner booth or a hidden gem serving up soul-warming comfort food, we’ve cataloged plenty of spots to hibernate in style.
So, while we may have some notes for the researchers at PrivacyJournal, we’ll take the win. North Texas is officially cozy-certified. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have a date with a good book and a great latte.
