Texas dominates a new list of the 15 best US cities to live in

• U.S. News & World Report ranks the best big cities to live in.

• Texas dominated the list, with El Paso, Austin and Fort Worth rounding out the top five.

• Big cities offer more job opportunities than smaller ones, but generally have a higher cost of living.

Whether you’re moving to a different state or, in some cases, a different country, affordability is often the main reason for moving.

Small towns and rural towns have recently become hot spots for those looking to avoid high prices and congestion, but some still yearn for the big city.

U.S. News & World Report ranked 859 cities in its 250 Best Places to Live ranking, and broke down the list to highlight the best big cities to live in. US News and World Report defined large cities as having a population of 500,000 or more.

The publication considered five indicators — quality of life, prices, desirability, job market and net migration — to determine where cities ranked on the list.

Cities like Johns Creek, Georgia, and Carmel, Indiana finished as the top two best cities to live in overall, but have a combined population of less than 200,000.

Big cities have the advantage of shorter travel times and a wider range of cultural attractions. Big cities sometimes mean bigger paychecks, but Johns Creek, Georgia, and Carmel, Indiana, both have higher median household incomes than every other big city on the list, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Texas, the second-largest state in both size and population, dominated the list with six entries in the top 15 and three — El Paso, Austin, and Fort Worth — in the top five. Other big cities are considered best for living.

20. San Francisco, CA

Population: 828,732

Median Home Value: $1,395,300

Average Monthly Rent: $2,267

Average household income: $149,576

Known for: San Francisco is most notable for being a hub of the tech scene, as well as its iconic landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge and historic cable cars.

19. Sacramento, CA

Population: 542,262

Median Home Value: $521,370

Average Monthly Rent: $1,604

Average household income: $89,175

Known for: California’s capital city was the birthplace of the first transcontinental railroad, when it broke ground in Sacramento in the 1860s.

18. Atlanta, GA

Population: 534,657

Median Home Value: $478,369

Average Monthly Rent: $1,659

Average household income: $88,243

Known for: Atlanta’s reputation as a city highlighted by major highways is overshadowed, as approximately 48% of the city is covered in trees.

17. Portland, OR

Population: 646,721

Median Home Value: $573,677

Average Monthly Rent: $1,422

Average household income: $93,114

Known for: Portland, Oregon has a strong arts culture, and is home to the largest independent bookstore in the world.

16. Phoenix, AZ

Population: 1,668,856

Median Home Value: $452,370

Average Monthly Rent: $1,554

Median household income: $82,891

Known for: Not far from the next entry on the list – Mesa, Arizona – Phoenix is ​​known as the Valley of the Sun, mainly because of its year-round sunshine.

15. San Diego, CA

Population: 1,407,749

Median Home Value: $905,335

Average Monthly Rent: $2,197

Average household income: $111,559

Known for: San Diego is known for having one of the best zoos in the country, and it famously has some of the most desirable weather.

14. Indianapolis, IN

Population: 896,614

Median Home Value: $242,973

Average Monthly Rent: $992

Average household income: $64,315

Known for: Indianapolis is known for the largest single-day sporting event in the country: the Indianapolis 500.

13. Dallas, TX

Population: 1,351,974

Median Home Value: $354,950

Average Monthly Rent: $1,404

Average household income: $71,387

Known for: The birthplace of the frozen margarita, Dallas is home to many outdoor attractions and a thriving food scene.

12. Seattle, WA

Population: 792,583

Median Home Value: $920,561

Average Monthly Rent: $1,891

Average household income: $129,054

Known for: Known for its iconic coffee culture and skyline featuring the Space Needle, Seattle is home to companies such as Amazon and Starbucks.

11. Columbus, OH

Population: 935,616

Median Home Value: $280,117

Average Monthly Rent: $1,090

Average household income: $65,981

Known for: Columbus is the capital of Ohio and the most populous city in the Buckeye State. It is also home to Ohio State University.

10. Houston, TX

Population: 2,513,078

Median Home Value: $296,056

Average Monthly Rent: $1,209

Average household income: $66,084

Known for: Houston is one of the largest cities closest to the Texas coast, and is the energy capital of the world.

9. Mesa, AZ

Population: 537,369

Median Home Value: $429,090

Average Monthly Rent: $1,543

Average household income: $83,087

Known for: Mesa, Arizona, is about 20 miles east of Phoenix, but it still has art centers, museums, and cultural attractions of its own.

8. Charlotte, NC

Population: 953,692

Median Home Value: $434,208

Average Monthly Rent: $1,498

Average household income: $83,205

Known for: Located in south-central North Carolina, Charlotte is home to 19 Fortune 1000 companies, including Bank of America and Lowe’s.

7. Jacksonville, FL

Population: 1,012,031

Median Home Value: $313,627

Average Monthly Rent: $1,351

Average household income: $1,351

Known for: Jacksonville, Florida is less than 50 miles from Georgia. It boasts stunning beaches and has the largest urban park system in the nation.

6. San Antonio, TX

Population: 1,480,641

Median Home Value: $255,757

Average Monthly Rent: $1,152

Average household income: $66,076

Known for: Most famously known for its River Walk, landmarks like the Alamo in San Antonio also have historical and cultural significance.

5. Nashville, TN

Population: 705,540

Median Home Value: $437,629

Average Monthly Rent: $1,477

Average household income: $79,428

Known for: Nashville has become the bachelorette party capital of America, but is mostly known for its devotion to country music.

4. Fort Worth, TX

Population: 1,012,396

Median Home Value: $321,586

Average Monthly Rent: $1,360

Average household income: $80,685

Known for: Fort Worth, Texas, still has many ties to its cowboy heritage in its historic district, with rodeos, saloons and cattle trading.

3. Austin, TX

Population: 1,012,323

Median Home Value: $581,104

Average Monthly Rent: $1,612

Average household income: $98,624

Known for: In recent years, Austin has become a landing spot for tech companies, but it’s also regarded as the live music capital of the world.

2. El Paso, TX

Population: 667,435

Median Home Value: $197,004

Average Monthly Rent: $964

Average household income: $59,999

Known for: El Paso, Texas has a deep Spanish culture, and 20,000 acres of mountain peaks and valleys for nature lovers.

1. Oklahoma City, OK

Population: 721,676

Median Home Value: $251,522

Average Monthly Rent: $935

Average household income: $68,491

Known for: Oklahoma’s state capital has a diverse arts and culture scene and is the state’s most populous city.

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