Are you looking for the best places to live in Central Texas? Look no further! We've taken a rigorous approach to finding the 10 best cities to live in Central Texas, taking into account the size of the population, the cost of living compared to the Texas average, and house prices. We started this list with Waco, based on its fairly low cost of living and affordable housing prices. Waco is located right between Dallas and Austin, approximately a 2-hour drive from each. Killeen is a city located between Waco and Austin, approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes' drive from both cities.
The cost of living in Killeen is lower than the Texas average, and the biggest impact on this is due to lower housing prices and transportation costs. The U. S. Army post of Fort Hood is a short distance from the city, making Killeen a city that is also home to many military families. The city of San Marcos is located between San Antonio and Austin.
In addition, many young students live in San Marcos, as the city is home to Texas State University. This makes the city very culturally diverse, with many restaurants and entertainment options for students and families. The cost of living in Temple is quite affordable, mainly because its housing costs are cheaper compared to other cities in Texas. Temple is a good city to raise a family, with good public schools and outdoor activities for fun. Temple offers many public parks and the library, post office and bank are all located in the small city center, where you can walk.
Georgetown is a good city to raise your family in, as it is quite safe, diverse, and there are also good public schools. Downtown Georgetown also has a beautiful plaza with lots of restaurants located here. Salado is also famous for its golf courses and community events, such as the Paseo Navideño de Salado, which offers a tree-lighting ceremony, a parade, and shops that are open until late. We believe that Cedar Park is one of the best places to live in Central Texas, as it is a diverse and fairly safe community that is ideal for raising a family or for retiring. It's also where many young professionals and students live. In fact, it's easy to travel from Cedar Park to Austin to go to work during the week or to one of the many universities nearby.
In the meantime, there are beautiful parks around the city and you can enjoy pleasant walks along the trails that surround Cedar Park. Round Rock is a city located just outside of Austin, just a 25-minute drive away. Austin is a fast-growing city with a strong and dynamic economy that is expected to grow by more than 45% over the next ten years. For this reason, the labor market in Austin is quite strong and has even increased by 3.5% over the past year. Meanwhile, the headquarters of Texas State University, San Marcos, was ranked No. 10 on our list of best places to live in Central Texas.
Texas is the second most populated state in the United States and it's also the second largest state in terms of area. The state is generally known for its warm, sunny climate, diverse culture, and strong economy. Texas is also one of the cheapest states to live in. The overall cost of living in Texas is 7.7% lower than the national average. According to data published by the Missouri Center for Economic Research and Information (MERIC), the state is the cheapest to buy food since it's 9.7% lower than the national average.
In addition, Texas is the eleventh most affordable state for transportation with prices 7.6% lower than the national average. Furthermore, The Lone Star state is twelfth cheapest for health centers in US with prices 5.2% lower than national average. Beaumont is a city located in southeastern Texas close to Louisiana border. The city is located close to several outdoor recreational areas including Big Thicket National Reserve - a unique forest ecosystem that's home to variety of plants and animals. The city also has several parks and recreational facilities including Riverfront Park and Tyrrell Park. Beaumont has several cultural and entertainment options including Jefferson Theater - a historic theater that hosts concerts and live performances.
The metropolitan area also home to Texas Energy Museum and Southeast Texas Museum of Art. McAllen is a city located in southernmost part of state close to border with Mexico. The city of palm trees has warm sunny climate with mild winters and hot summers - making it an ideal place for people who enjoy spending time outdoors. The city has several malls including El Plaza Mall - one of largest malls in Texas. The metropolis also has variety of restaurants and cafes offering variety cuisines to suit all tastes. Midland part of larger region Permian Basin known for its oil & gas production - Ostrich capital of Texas also has several cultural & recreational attractions including Permian Basin Petroleum Museum I-20 Wildlife Reserve & Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center. Midland also known for its connection to former President George W Bush who lived in city during his childhood & early adulthood - Bush Children's Home Museum located in Midland shows former president's early life & family history. Denton city located north-central part of state about 40 miles north Dallas—Fort Worth (DFW) Metroplex - Capital Redbud in Texas home two major universities University North Texas & Texas Women's University offering variety educational opportunities contributing city's vibrant culture. Are you looking for an expert guide on where you should live in Central Texas? We've done all the research for you! Our list includes Waco, Killeen, San Marcos, Temple, Georgetown, Salado, Cedar Park, Round Rock, San Marcos (Texas State University), Beaumont, McAllen, Midland (Ostrich Capital), Denton (Capital Redbud). We've taken into account population size; cost of living compared to other parts of Texas; housing prices; safety; diversity; access to outdoor activities; access to cultural attractions; access to educational opportunities; access to shopping malls; access to restaurants; access to entertainment venues; access to transportation; access to healthcare facilities; climate; job market growth potential; connection with former President George W Bush; connection with Big Thicket National Reserve; connection with Riverfront Park; connection with Tyrrell Park; connection with Jefferson Theater; connection with Texas Energy Museum; connection with Southeast Texas Museum of Art; connection with El Plaza Mall; connection with Permian Basin Petroleum Museum I-20 Wildlife Reserve & Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center; connection with Bush Children's Home Museum.
