Renters looking for affordably priced apartments in thriving communities have a lot of options in Texas, according to a new report from RentCafe.
The rental market analysis website examined over 100 U.S. cities based on three main criteria: cost of living/housing (including average apartment sizes, occupancy, new apartments, high-end apartments, renter households, upsize cost for extra bedrooms, applicants per vacant unit and lease renewal rate), local economy (including unemployment rate, higher education rates, renter income, job growth and business applications) and quality of life (including apartment locations, school quality, annual delay per car commuter, car users, amenities and air quality). Cost of living scores were weighted most heavily.
The highest-ranking Texas city on the list was Plano, which ranked second overall for local economy and sixth overall for quality of life. The city also has a large share of high-end apartments and good air quality. The only city ranked higher than Plano was Charleston, South Carolina.
Another Texas city — Conroe — ranked as the best city overall when it comes to cost of living and housing. With a cost of living 3.8% lower than the national average and a high share of high-end apartments, renters in the Houston suburb can get ample space for the relative price. It also costs only $137 on average to upsize for an extra bedroom in Conroe.
Here are the top ranked Texas cities on Rentcafe’s list, as well as their individual scores.
2. Plano
Cost of living/housing: No. 68 overall
Local economy: No. 2 overall
Quality of life: No. 6 overall
6. Round Rock
Cost of living/housing: No. 2 overall
Local economy: No. 18 overall
Quality of life: No. 24 overall
7. Austin
Cost of living/housing: No. 10 overall
Local economy: No. 11 overall
Quality of life: No. 27 overall
9. Conroe
Cost of living/housing: No. 1 overall
Local economy: No. 29 overall
Quality of life: No. 42 overall
19. Denton
Cost of living/housing: No. 7 overall
Local economy: No. 30 overall
Quality of life: No. 84 overall
32. Dallas
Cost of living/housing: No. 53 overall
Local economy: No. 20 overall
Quality of life: No. 76 overall
37. Fort Worth
Cost of living/housing: No. 27 overall
Local economy: No. 37 overall
Quality of life: No. 104 overall
41. Odessa
Cost of living/housing: No. 32 overall
Local economy: No. 85 overall
Quality of life: No. 34 overall
43. Lubbock
Cost of living/housing: No. 20 overall
Local economy: No. 74 overall
Quality of life: No. 58 overall
53. Houston
Cost of living/housing: No. 26 overall
Local economy: No. 40 overall
Quality of life: No. 133 overall