Best Places to Live in Texas (2012)

This article, the third in a 50-state series, ranks the best places to live in Texas based on three criteria: (1) median household income (adjusted for cost of living); (2) educational attainment (% of residents 25 years and over who have earned a bachelor's degree or higher); and (3) property crime rates per 1,000 residents (burglary and automobile thefts). For purposes of these rankings, "places" are incorporated municipalities with populations greater than 2,000.

Among the twenty best places to live in Texas, eleven are suburbs of Dallas-Fort Worth, seven are suburbs of Houston, one is a suburb of Austin, and one is a suburb of San Antonio. By county, seven of the best places to live in Texas are located in Harris County, three in Denton/Tarrant Counties, two each in Collin, Dallas, and Denton Counties, and one each in Bexar, Rockwell, Tarrant, and Travis Counties.

After reading "Best Places to Live in Texas (2012)," return to this link to read "Largest Cities in Texas (2012)." A collection of similar articles for the remaining 49 states can be found at these links: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

For the culmination of the 50-state series, read "Best Places to Live in America (2012)."

This article may be updated as new data becomes available.

1. Best Places to Live in Texas (2012) - Hunters Creek Village, TX (Harris County)

Population: 4,537
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $251,004
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 83.6%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.16

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Houston, TX: 9 miles E
Austin, TX: 155 miles NW
Beaumont, TX: 93 miles NE
Galveston, TX: 60 miles SE

2. Best Places to Live in Texas (2012) - Piney Point Village, TX (Harris County)

Population: 3,497
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $210,699
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 73.7%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.16

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Houston, TX: 13 miles E
Austin, TX: 154 miles NW
Beaumont, TX: 95 miles NE
Galveston, TX: 62 miles SE

3. Best Places to Live in Texas (2012) - Bunker Hill Village, TX (Harris County)

Population: 3,791
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $192,216
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 81.4%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.16

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Houston, TX: 12 miles ESE
Austin, TX: 152 miles NW
Beaumont, TX: 95 miles NE
Galveston, TX: 63 miles SE


4. Best Places to Live in Texas (2012) - Shavano Park, TX (Bexar County)

Population: 3,111
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $210,227
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 66.8%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.20

Distance to Familiar Cities:

San Antonio, TX: 16 miles SSE
Austin, TX: 81 miles NNE
Corpus Christ, TX: 158 miles SSE

5. Best Places to Live in Texas (2012) - West University Place, TX (Harris County)

Population: 15,360
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $179,474
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 85.0%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.99

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Houston, TX: 6 miles NE
Austin, TX: 162 miles NW
Beaumont, TX: 90 miles NE
Galveston, TX: 55 miles SE

6. Best Places to Live in Texas (2012) - Southlake, TX (Denton/Tarrant Counties)

Population: 26,054
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $188,920
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 68.0%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 4.08

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Dallas, TX: 27 miles SE
Fort Worth, TX: 21 miles NE
Plano, TX: 32 miles NE
Waco, TX: 111 miles S

7. Best Places to Live in Texas (2012) - Highland Park, TX (Dallas County)

Population: 9,040
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $175,67
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 79.0%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 8.02

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Dallas, TX: 4 miles SE
Fort Worth, TX: 37 miles WSW
Plano, TX: 16 miles NNE
Waco, TX: 100 miles SSW


8. Best Places to Live in Texas (2012) - West Lake Hills, TX (Travis County)

Population: 3,140
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $161,627
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 79.0%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 5.38

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Austin, TX: 5 miles SE
College Station: 112 miles NE
Waco, TX: 107 miles NNE

9. Best Places to Live in Texas (2012) - University Park, TX (Dallas County)

Population: 24,352
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $137,573
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 81.3%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.36

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Dallas, TX: 5 miles SSE
Fort Worth, TX: 39 miles WSW
Plano, TX: 15 miles NNE
Waco, TX: 102 miles SSW


10. Best Places to Live in Texas (2012) - Colleyville, TX (Tarrant County)

Population: 23,671
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $160,492
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 63.8%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.00

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Dallas, TX: 30 miles SE
Fort Worth, TX: 17 miles SW
Plano, TX: 35 miles NE
Waco, TX: 103 miles S


11. Best Places to Live in Texas (2012) - Bellaire, TX (Harris County)

Population: 17,825
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $147,536
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 73.7%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 4.76

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Houston, TX: 10 miles NE
Austin, TX: 161 miles NW
Beaumont, TX: 92 miles NE
Galveston, TX: 56 miles SE


12. Best Places to Live in Texas (2012) - Parker, TX (Collin County)

Population: 2,786
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $129,066
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 56.2%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.30

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Dallas, TX: 25 miles SSW
Fort Worth, TX: 56 miles SW
Plano, TX: 6 miles SW
Waco, TX: 121 miles SSW

13. Best Places to Live in Texas (2012) - Double Oak, TX (Denton County)

Population: 3,194
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $145,304
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 49.2%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.34

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Dallas, TX: 34 miles SE
Fort Worth, TX: 33 miles SSW
Plano, TX: 30 miles ESE
Waco, TX: 123 miles S


14. Best Places to Live in Texas (2012) - Spring Valley, TX (Harris County)

Population: 3,910
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $121,934
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 63.7%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.32

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Houston, TX: 12 miles ESE
Austin, TX: 153 miles NW
Beaumont, TX: 94 miles NE
Galveston, TX: 62 miles SE


15. Best Places to Live in Texas (2012) - Taylor Lake Village, TX (Harris County)

Population: 3,569
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $132,901
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 65.5%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 7.08

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Houston, TX: 30 miles NW
Austin, TX: 196 miles NW
Beaumont, TX: 78 miles NE
Galveston, TX: 31 miles SE


16. Best Places to Live in Texas (2012)- Trophy Club, TX (Denton/Tarrant Counties)

Population: 7,894
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $128,891
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 54.9%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.1

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Dallas, TX: 33 miles SW
Fort Worth, TX: 25 miles SSW
Plano, TX: 38 miles E
Waco, TX: 114 miles S

17. Best Places to Live in Texas (2012) - Fairview, TX (Collin County)

Population: 7,221
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $120,564
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 56.9%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.60*

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Dallas, TX: 29 miles SSW
Fort Worth, TX: 57 miles SW
Plano, TX: 11 miles SSW
Waco, TX: 125 miles SSW


18. Best Places to Live in Texas (2012) - Highland Village, TX (Denton County)

Population: 16,231
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $126,505
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 48.3%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 0.75

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Dallas, TX: 32 miles SE
Fort Worth, TX: 40 miles SW
Plano, TX: 28 miles ESE
Waco, TX: 124 miles S


19. Best Places to Live in Texas (2012) - Flower Mound, TX (Denton/Tarrant Counties)

Population: 67,678
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $116,291
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 53.2%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.97

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Dallas, TX: 30 miles SE
Fort Worth, TX: 35 miles SW
Plano, TX: 27 miles E
Waco, TX: 121 miles S


20. Best Places to Live in Texas (2012) - Heath, TX (Rockwell County)

Population: 7,288
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $120,386
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 48.3%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.7

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Dallas, TX: 23 miles WSW
Fort Worth, TX: 57 miles WSW
Plano, TX: 26 miles NW
Waco, TX: 117 miles WSW

*In some cases, municipalities either do not report their crime statistics to the FBI or they contract for services with a county law enforcement agency or the state police. For those towns, crime rates are extrapolated from state, county, or contiguous municipality data.

Source(s):

"All Cities in Texas," City-Data.com
"American Community Survey," U.S. Census Bureau
"American Fact Finder," U.S. Census Bureau
"Uniform Crime Reports - Texas," Federal Bureau of Investigation