If you aren’t from Texas, then it is likely that when you think of places in Texas, you think of its major cities: Austin, Houston, and maybe Dallas. But, these aren’t the only cities in Texas. Texas is America’s second-largest State both by population and land-size, and as any Texan will tell you, it is full of amazing places to visit, and even live.
If you have considered moving to the Lone Star State, then it is likely that you have done some basic research into where it is good to live in Texas. In general, Texas is a great place to live. But, if you have a family, then you may have specific needs, and for this reason, you might be wondering where in Texas is best for raising a family.
In this guide, we’ll be taking a look at the best cities in Texas for raising a family, and why they are so great. So, if you want to find out, keep on reading.
What Makes a City Good for Raising a Family?
A lot of the time, the biggest debate when it comes to raising a family is whether you should do so in the countryside or in a city. There are a lot of people who believe that raising your family in the countryside is superior, and there are lots of reasons why people believe this.
For example, houses in the countryside tend to be larger, and the cost of living tends to be lower, this means that you can give your children a better quality of life.
However, there are lots of benefits that you get when raising your family in a city that you don’t get when raising them in the countryside. For example, children in cities tend to have access to better schools, and public transport tends to be a lot better too.
This means that your family will get better access to the world if you raise them in a city. In particular, a city could be considered a good place to raise your family if housing is affordable, public transport is good, and the public schools perform well. But what about the cities in Texas?

Is Texas A Good State To Raise A Family?
So, in general, is Texas a good State to raise a family in? Well, this State has the second-largest population of all the US States, so it must be doing something right. Texas is famous for its outstanding hospitality, and in general Texans are very kind and generous – these are traits that you would want your children to grow up around.
Some studies have found that Texas isn’t a good State to raise a family, such as the WalletHub survey, but ultimately it depends on where in the State you plan to move to. In the most recent WalletHub survey, Texas ranked 30th out of the 50 States for raising a family, but this doesn’t mean that it is a bad place to raise a family.
It simply means that you have to do your research to pick the right city for you.
The WalletHub survey takes a number of things into account, including affordability, education, and health and safety. While these factors are important when choosing where to raise a family, these figures are generalized across the whole of Texas.
Texas is a large State, so the WalletHub survey isn’t really a true reflection of some of the outstanding places in Texas for raising a family. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the best States in Texas for raising a family.
Best Cities In Texas To Raise A Family
So, overall, Texas might not be considered the best State for raising a family. But, if you do your research, you will find that there are actually some outstanding cities in Texas for raising a family.
These places simply do not stand a chance in surveys, such as the WalletHub survey, due to the sheer size of Texas as a State. So, which cities are the best for raising a family in Texas? Let’s take a look.
Frisco
First up, we have Frisco. Frisco is one of those cities that you might have heard mentioned, but you likely could not recall which State it is in. Frisco is located not too far from Dallas and Fort Worth, and it is actually a Dallas suburb. So, not only are you living in your own city, but you have easy access to one of Texas’s largest cities too.
Frisco is a great place to raise a family because it is in the suburbs, and everybody knows that this is one of the best places for raising a family. Over 50% of the population in Frisco has children under the age of 18, and as a result it has a number of outstanding schools for your children to attend.
It also has a short commute time for work, and a low turnover of occupants. So, Frisco is clearly a great place to live, and an outstanding city to raise your family in.
Odessa
Next up, we have Odessa. Odessa is located a fair distance away from Frisco, and it is in the Western area of Texas. In fact, it is only a short distance from New Mexico. While Odessa is a pretty big drive away from the largest cities in Texas, it is still a great place to raise a family. This is primarily because it is much more affordable.
One of the factors considered in the WalletHub survey is affordability, and if you are looking for this, Odessa is perfect for you. Odessa offers great financial value, especially in housing as less than 18% of income goes on housing.
It also has a low turnover of residents, and it is packed with fun attractions for the children. Its overall percentage of families with children under 18 is much lower than Frisco, but it is still a great place to raise your family.
Amarillo
All over the world, people associate the word ‘Amarillo’ with the song, but it is also a city in Texas. Of all the cities in Texas, Amarillo is one of the most rounded, and this is why it is a great place to raise your family.
Just like Odessa, Amarillo is located a big distance away from the largest cities in Texas, and it is actually closer to New Mexico and Oklahoma. But this is what makes it such a great place to bring up your family.
Amarillo is fairly cheap to live in as around 20% of income goes onto housing, and this is partly why it has such a low turnover of residents. But, the thing that we think makes Amarillo such an attractive place for raising a family is the vast number of family-friendly attractions that it offers.
In Amarillo, there is always something for you and the family to do, so it is an excellent city for living if you want to make lots of memories.
Round Rock
If you would rather live closer to Austin, then Round Rock might be the city that you have been looking for. Round Rock is well-known in Texas for 2 things: its strong economy, and its exceptional schools. These are two things that are very important when it comes to raising a family.
Round Rock is slightly more expensive to live in than the other cities we have looked at so far, but it is definitely worth it. This is mainly because you can be financially secure in Round Rock due to its strong local economy.
You can also be confident that your children are going to get a good education, as its outstanding schools are responsible for over 90% of its residents getting a high school degree. So, if you want your children to succeed, Round Rock is an excellent city to consider.
Plano
Finally, if you want to raise your family in Texas, we would recommend checking out Plano. Across all the surveys regarding the ‘best cities in Texas for raising a family’ Plano comes out on top, and it is easy to see why.
It has a low cost of housing, a low turnover of residents, and a high number of residents with high school diplomas. But, this isn’t all that makes Plano an attractive place to live.
Plano is a strong financial city in Texas, it is home to a number of company headquarters, including Dr Pepper and Cinemark Theaters, and it has an outstanding public transportation system connecting it to Dallas. It is also home to some of the best public schools in Texas, so you know that your children will be getting the best education possible.
But, best of all it is home to lots of historic and modern attractions. So, if you raise your family in Plano, you really are setting them up for success in adulthood.
Summary
In short, overall Texas might not rank that well in surveys when it comes to raising a family. But, this is mainly because the sheer size of Texas prevents these surveys from being an accurate representation.
These surveys make a generalization for the entire State, so it prevents you from seeing the full potential of some of the outstanding cities in Texas that are great for raising a family. In this guide, we have taken a look at some of the best cities for raising your family in Texas, so to find out more, check out the guide above.
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