Lauded for livability
North Texas boasts 2 of the best affordable places to live in the state
With the median home price in Dallas-Fort Worth rising to $269,900 in August — up 4 percent compared with the same time last year — you might be wondering where to find an affordable place to live. It turns out two of the most affordable spots in Texas are right in our own backyard.
A new list published by MarketWatch ranks Lewisville as the second-best affordable place to live in Texas and puts Frisco at No. 5. For the record, the West Texas city of Odessa tops the list, which is based on data compiled by Livability. That website ranks the livability of U.S. cities.
The financial website applauds Lewisville for its median home price of $153,000, which it says is “decidedly modest for a municipality just minutes from Dallas and Fort Worth.”
In addition, Lewisville is praised for its “eclectic mix of things to do,” including shopping at Old Town Lewisville and enjoying outdoor activities at Lewisville Lake.
“Most notably, perhaps, Lewisville is located in Denton County, which ranks fourth, fifth, and sixth among 254 Texas counties for health outcomes, health factors, and healthy behaviors, respectively,” MarketWatch notes.
In fifth place is Frisco, which boasts the highest median income on the list: $108,284.
The report underscores Frisco’s status as a “shopper’s paradise,” with millions of square feet of retail and dining establishments. Additionally, MarketWatch says Frisco could be described as a “sports lovers’ paradise” — it's home to The Star, Dallas Cowboys World Headquarters, and many other local teams.
“With all its places to work and play, no wonder unemployment in Frisco is low and healthcare access and outcomes are exceptional, with Collin County ranking first among Texas counties in both health factors and healthy behaviors,” the site says.
Showing up at No. 3 on the list is Cedar Park, a suburb of Austin. Aside from its growing number of employers, Marketwatch notes Cedar Park is home to the American Hockey League’s Texas Stars and minor league basketball’s Austin Spurs.
Also, it says Cedar Park fares well in the healthcare category, thanks to Williamson County’s attractive ratio of 1,581 residents per doctor.
The Houston suburb of Pearland appears at No. 4. Highlighted are Pearland’s relatively close proximity to downtown Houston and the Johnson Space Center, as well as the Houston area’s abundance of Fortune 500 headquarters.
Furthermore, the site gives a shout-out to the abundant golfing in Pearland at courses like Golfcrest Country Club, Pearland Golf Club, and Southwyck Golf Club.