Dallas Suburb Named One of the Best Places To Live in US

Sorry, Dallas. You’re not the best city to live in around these parts.

In fact, one North Texas city is not only the best place to live in the region but also among the best cities to live in anywhere in the United States.

Plano, people. Plano.

Plano, the so-called “hot air balloon capital of Texas,” landed at No. 6 in the 10 Best Cities in the U.S. to Live In 2025 from Niche, a data-driven platform used to provide information on schools, cities and real estate across the U.S. Niche defines a city as “a principal city for an urbanized area with a population of 100,000 or more.”

The recently published list used data from Niche, an AI platform that Forbes says offers “insights into cities, suburbs and neighborhoods across the U.S.” Niche analyzes categories such as best city, best neighborhood, and best spots for young professionals. Niche likes what it sees in Plano.

Niche gives Plano an overall score of A+, with its public schools, jobs, nightlife, diversity and health and fitness all receiving A scores. For Dallas-dwellers who rarely venture north of Interstate 635, hearing that Plano is a diverse city with lots of fun to be had might come as a shock, but both are true. According to the latest census, Plano's population is 53% white, 22% Asian, 16% Hispanic or Latino and 9% Black. A 2020 Dallas Morning News report noted that Plano was slightly more diverse than Dallas.

And nightlife? In case you aren't aware, Plano has more than its share of rooftop bars, lounges, dance clubs and other types of after-dark fun to find yourself in.

Other areas receiving high marks from Niche were housing, crime and safety, commute and cost of living. With 993 reviews of Plano in its database, the city has a four-star rating out of five.

"Living in Plano offers residents a dense suburban feel, and most residents own their homes," the Niche report noted. "In Plano, there are a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many families and young professionals live in Plano, and residents tend to have moderate political views."

Being No. 6 in the nation is great, but it's not the top Texas city to live in, according to Niche. According to the report, the Woodlands, near Houston, is the No. 2 city to live in. Texas towns dominated Niche's Most Affordable Cities To Live in the U.S. list, with Brownsville and Wichita Falls taking the top two spots, respectively, followed by McAllen and Beaumont coming in at nine and 10.