Not only are the Stetsons bigger and better in Texas, but so are the state’s best places for families. Just how much bigger and better? Well, HomeSnacks has consulted the latest Census for Texas places with at least 10,000 residents. This left us with 226 Texas cities; and let’s just say, we have a pretty big list below of some pretty great places that any family would be lucky to set up shop.
And because we know that parents and guardians are also concerned with factors like whether there are other kiddos for their kiddos to play with, whether a place is safe, how the schools are performing, and how close the place is to a major city, we looked at that data too. Not surprising, Texas’ best places for families have a lot to be proud of across the board.
Yes, our research led us to a lot of fun, family Texas facts. One, the percentage of households in each place that have children is at least 30 percent or more relative to population. Two, Texas currently has over 300 blue ribbon schools and two of our top ten places, Mansfield and Wylie, are leading the charge. And three, many of the state’s best places for families are also some of Texas’ safest cities. And, folks, the word is out: Texas is currently one of the fastest growing states in America.
So, want to know where the neighborhoods are safe, the schools are gold star, and where there are a bunch of families with kids? Keep reading, you’re about to find out.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Cities To Raise A Family In Texas For 2024
We looked at 226 cities in Texas to determine which cities are the best for raising your family. To do that, we looked at “family-friendliness,” essentially all the factors you need to take into account when choosing a place to raise your family.
Can you guess which city ranked as the best for families in Texas? Yes, you guessed it, Southlake is the best place for families in Texas. Southlake comes up on several of our “best” lists for Texas and with a SnackAbility score of 10/10, it is no shocker that this city is family-friendly.
Want to see how your favorite city or hometown in Texas stacked up? Read on to learn more about our methodology and to see what makes each of our top ten cities for families so amazing.
More reading about Texas and the best places for families in the country:
- Best Places To Live In Texas
- Cheapest Places To Live In Texas
- Best Cities To Raise A Family In America
- Best States To Raise A Family In America
The 10 Best Places To Raise A Family In Texas For 2024
/10
Population: 30,779
Median Income: $250,001
Average Home Price: $1,122,373
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 44
Closest Major City: Irving
Households with kids: 51.0%
More on Southlake: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Not surprising considering they are a year round destination for family fun. Southlake sits at the southeastern end of Grapevine Lake and boasts multiple golf courses, one of the fanciest shopping centers, and gold star schools. In fact, all of Southlake’s schools are TEA exemplary.
How do you make Southlake happen for your family? Get a job at one of their major companies like Sabre Holdings or TD Ameritrade. Trust us, your family will be happy you did considering the household median income for residents 25-34 starts at $162,283/year.
/10
Population: 21,501
Median Income: $142,643
Average Home Price: $551,707
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 57
Closest Major City: Frisco
Households with kids: 53.2%
More on Celina: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 15,089
Median Income: $67,631
Average Home Price: $266,143
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 44
Closest Major City: Amarillo
Households with kids: 36.1%
More on Canyon: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
This Randall County city crushed our snackability scale with high marks across the board. It’s like a ginormous Texas playground for big and little cowboys and cowgirls alike.
Known for West Texas A&M, the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, and the Palo Duro Canyon State Park, this city’s family household median income is close to $47,000/year. Just think of all of the Canyon family friendly activities you’ll be able to afford with all that dough.
They definitely know what they’re doing in the city that ‘Feels Like Home’.
/10
Population: 15,244
Median Income: $138,465
Average Home Price: $450,384
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 51
Closest Major City: Frisco
Households with kids: 57.3%
More on Melissa: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 17,163
Median Income: $215,636
Average Home Price: $986,454
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 57
Closest Major City: Houston
Households with kids: 39.2%
More on Bellaire: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Bellaire also scored off our charts with an 10/10 snackability rating with an emphasis on jobs, education, and family friendly amenities.
The “City of Homes” is one the wealthiest cities in the state, any family would be lucky to call this family friendly Dallas/Fort Worth-burb home.
And if their second place most family friendly Texas ranking doesn’t seal the deal, check out our Best Cities in Texas, they took third on that list. (It’s worth a google.)
/10
Population: 31,507
Median Income: $178,224
Average Home Price: $764,610
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 50
Closest Major City: Frisco
Households with kids: 58.2%
More on Prosper: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
This city in Collin-Denton County is a family friendly Dallas/Fort Worth-burb with tons of great jobs, low crime, and family friendly things to do.
Prosper companies like AmerisourceBergen and Conifer Health Solutions are providing a lot of opportunities for families to earn that cheddar. The median household income for Prosper is close to $136,000/year.
And if you’re stressed about where to send your kids to school, you can stop now. Prosper has multiple blue ribbon elementary schools and golden apple secondary schools.
/10
Population: 27,829
Median Income: $127,888
Average Home Price: $443,583
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 38
Closest Major City: Garland
Households with kids: 38.8%
More on Sachse: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
There not lyin’ when they say everything is bigger and better in Sasche, Texas!
This city in Collin-Dallas County scored off the charts in jobs, affordability, and amenities.
And with over 10 parks at your family’s disposal, that’s a lot of wide open Texas space to let your kids roam.
So pack the truck and get a movin’ so you can get first dibs on Sachse’s best neighborhoods and gold star schools.
/10
Population: 25,876
Median Income: $196,298
Average Home Price: $825,914
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 40
Closest Major City: Irving
Households with kids: 35.7%
More on Colleyville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 57,063
Median Income: $109,465
Average Home Price: $411,646
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 46
Closest Major City: Garland
Households with kids: 50.8%
More on Wylie: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
This little Texas gem is one of the fastest growing cities in The 10 Gallon Hat State. Did we mention one of the most affordable too? Wylie has a lot of great employment opportunities to keep it affordable, so it was not a surprise to us that they scored a 9/10 on our snackability scale with an emphasis on jobs. Busy people don’t have time to be naughty, right?
Surrounded by multiple state and county parks and Lavon Lake, this Central Texas community has amazing shopping, art galleries, museums, and it’s just a stone’s throw away from Dallas.
/10
Population: 35,460
Median Income: $119,323
Average Home Price: $443,526
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 55
Closest Major City: Arlington
Households with kids: 46.1%
More on Midlothian: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
We think the “Cement Capital of Texas” is on the right track because they scored one of the highest snackability scores on our list: a whopping 8.5/10!
We believe that for a city to be truly family friendly, it needs to be safe, hip, diverse, and it has to have a ton of family friendly activities. They scored an 8/10 for safety, an 8/10 for diversity, and an 8/10 for amenities.
Midlothian’s, you truly are ‘DFW’s Southern Star’.
Methodology: How do you determine which place is best for families in Texas anyways?
To give you the places in Texas that are best for families, we must look at a handful of metrics. We want to measure the criteria people want in a family-friendly city utilizing Saturday Night Science.
After researching U.S. Census data produced for the state of Texas, we looked at the data for every single city in the state. We paid particular attention to:
- Crime (Both violent and property)
- Quality of local schools
- Distance to a major city without necessarily being in it
- % of households with children
- Family-friendly amenities nearby (museums, libraries, and colleges)
We then gave each city a “Family Score.”
The higher the score, the better the city is for families. We also limited our results to cities with over 10,000 people. For Texas, that meant a total of 226 cities.
We updated this article for 2024. This is our tenth time ranking the best cities for families in Texas.
Summary: The Best Places To Raise A Family In Texas
If you’re looking for a breakdown of cities in Texas ranked by criteria that most agree make a place a great spot for families, this is an accurate list.
The best places for families in Texas are Southlake, Celina, Canyon, Melissa, Bellaire, Prosper, Sachse, Colleyville, Wylie, and Midlothian.
Here’s a look at the best cities for singles Texas according to the data:
- Humble
- Palmview
- El Campo
For more Texas reading, check out:
Best Places For Families In Texas
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Amenities Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southlake, TX | 30,779 | $250,001 | $1,122,373 | 48 |
| 2 | Celina, TX | 21,501 | $142,643 | $551,707 | 33 |
| 3 | Canyon, TX | 15,089 | $67,631 | $266,143 | 58 |
| 4 | Melissa, TX | 15,244 | $138,465 | $450,384 | 47 |
| 5 | Bellaire, TX | 17,163 | $215,636 | $986,454 | 57 |
| 6 | Prosper, TX | 31,507 | $178,224 | $764,610 | 31 |
| 7 | Sachse, TX | 27,829 | $127,888 | $443,583 | 32 |
| 8 | Colleyville, TX | 25,876 | $196,298 | $825,914 | 52 |
| 9 | Wylie, TX | 57,063 | $109,465 | $411,646 | 40 |
| 10 | Midlothian, TX | 35,460 | $119,323 | $443,526 | 46 |