A new list ranking the best cities in America for first-time homebuyers has placed Fort Worth among the top 25 big markets for buyers.

WalletHub's new study — which analyzes the affordability, quality of life, and real estate market in 300 U.S. cities — ranks Fort Worth No. 130 overall in the U.S. to buy your first home. And, when broken down by city size, WalletHub ranks Fort Worth No. 22 out of 69 of the largest cities in America.

Fort Worth's appeal for first-time buyers is mostly due to its stellar real estate market, but low affordability and quality-of-life rankings are its main detractors, according to the report's findings.

Cowtown ranks 15th out of all 300 U.S. cities studied for its housing market, but it appears farther down the list for its quality of life, landing at No. 178 nationally. The city's affordability ranking is among the worst, at No. 245.

Overall, the Lone Star State has taken a tumble among the best places for first-time buyers. In fact, only one Texas city — the Dallas suburb of McKinney — lands among the top 100 of the report. A total of 20 Texas cities rank outside the top 100, including Dallas, which plummeted as the second-worst housing market for first-time homebuyers in Texas, ranking No. 233 nationally.

Here's how WalletHub ranked first-time homebuyer appeal across other North Texas cities:

• No. 106 – Plano
• No. 110 – Grand Prairie
• No. 111 – Denton
• No. 134 – Frisco
• No. 148 – Allen
• No. 170 – Richardson
• No. 177 – Garland
• No. 184 – Arlington
• No. 189 – Irving
• No. 194 – Carrollton
• No. 202 — Mesquite

First-time buyers across the country are entering the housing market at a difficult time, the report says. The National Association of Realtors reported the share of first-time homebuyers sank to an all-time low in 2025, to 21 percent, whereas the historic national average is 40 percent.

"Buying a home for the first time is an exciting and important milestone for many Americans, but achieving that milestone is getting more difficult as prices and interest rates continue to rise," the report's author wrote. "People willing and able to invest in a house this year must balance what they want and need with what they can afford. Often, people begin searching for their dream home without a realistic idea of market prices, interest rates or even their eligibility for a mortgage."