You’ve seen these lists before. Best places to live in Texas. Best sururbs in Texas. Best counties in Texas.
Etc., etc., etc.
But they all focus on major cities and towns in the Lone Star State, and no one pays attention to the little guy.
Well, that’s all about to change as we put together a list of the superb small towns in Texas based on numbers–not opinions or hearsay.
We’ll dive right into our methodology in the next section, but first, we thought you might want to know which places in Texas ranked the best based on Saturday Night Science.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 15 Best Small Towns To Live In Texas For 2024
- Hollywood Park
- Spring Valley Village
- Rollingwood
- Bunker Hill Village
- Southside Place
- Hedwig Village
- Shavano Park
- The Hills
- Hilshire Village
- Taylor Lake Village
- Castle Hills
- Olmos Park
- Piney Point Village
- Hunters Creek Village
- Ransom Canyon
What’s the best small town in Texas? Hollywood Park is the best small town in Texas based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like Hollywood Park, chances are, you’re not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.
But for the rest of you–keep reading, and we’ll get to just why these small towns made our list.
For more reading on the Lone Star State check out:
The 15 Best Small Towns In Texas For 2024
1. Hollywood Park
/10
Population: 3,123
Median Income: $137,411 (30th Best)
Median Home Value: $510,127 (43rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%
2. Spring Valley Village
/10
Population: 4,222
Median Income: $229,702 (7th Best)
Median Home Value: $1,324,098 (10th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.4%
3. Rollingwood
/10
Population: 1,514
Median Income: $231,875 (5th Best)
Median Home Value: $2,595,375 (1st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.7%
4. Bunker Hill Village
/10
Population: 3,820
Median Income: $250,001 (2nd Best)
Median Home Value: $2,507,763 (3rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.6%
5. Southside Place
/10
Population: 1,535
Median Income: $187,019 (14th Best)
Median Home Value: $2,087,586 (6th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 5.8%
6. Hedwig Village
/10
Population: 2,320
Median Income: $202,500 (11th Best)
Median Home Value: $1,948,029 (8th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.6%
7. Shavano Park
/10
Population: 3,544
Median Income: $187,750 (12th Best)
Median Home Value: $919,482 (15th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.5%
8. The Hills
/10
Population: 2,505
Median Income: $152,250 (22nd Best)
Median Home Value: $867,346 (17th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.6%
9. Hilshire Village
Population: 1,099
Median Income: $225,417 (8th Best)
Median Home Value: $1,280,588 (12th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 5.7%
10. Taylor Lake Village
/10
Population: 3,677
Median Income: $150,479 (24th Best)
Median Home Value: $377,035 (87th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.8%
11. Castle Hills
/10
Population: 3,982
Median Income: $102,768 (66th Best)
Median Home Value: $450,113 (57th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.3%
12. Olmos Park
/10
Population: 2,286
Median Income: $179,500 (15th Best)
Median Home Value: $951,332 (14th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 9.4%
13. Piney Point Village
/10
Population: 3,114
Median Income: $250,001 (2nd Best)
Median Home Value: $2,507,763 (3rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 9.4%
14. Hunters Creek Village
/10
Population: 4,383
Median Income: $250,001 (2nd Best)
Median Home Value: $2,507,763 (3rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 8.9%
15. Ransom Canyon
Population: 1,073
Median Income: $120,156 (45th Best)
Median Home Value: $359,820 (99th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.3%
Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In Texas
We threw a lot of criteria at this report to get the best, most complete results of the best small towns in Texas possible.
Using the most recent data from the Census’s 2018-2022 American Community Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Saturday Night Science, this is the criteria we used:
- Population Density (Higher is better)
- Lowest Unemployment Rates
- Housing costs (Higher is better. More demand.)
- Adjusted Median Income (Higher is better)
- Highly Educated Adults (Higher is better)
- Insurance Rates (Higher is better)
- Commute Times (Lower is better)
We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which there were many – 570 to be exact.
We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 570, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in Texas. Top of that list — Hollywood Park.
This is our tenth time ranking the best small places to live in Texas.
Summary: Science Can Tackle Any Issue, Even Small Ones
We said it once, and we’ll say it again — this list: it’s just science. We did the research, crunched the numbers, and it turns out these 15 small towns in Texas are the best in which to live.
And who can argue with that?
The best small towns in Texas are Hollywood Park, Spring Valley Village, Rollingwood, Bunker Hill Village, Southside Place, Hedwig Village, Shavano Park, The Hills, Hilshire Village, and Taylor Lake Village.
If you’re curious, here are the worst small towns in Texas:
- Escobares
- Kirbyville
- Newton
For more Texas reading, check out:
Best Small Towns In Texas
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Median Home Value | Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hollywood Park, TX | 3,123 | $137,411 | 0.0% | |
| 2 | Spring Valley Village, TX | 4,222 | $229,702 | 1.4% | |
| 3 | Rollingwood, TX | 1,514 | $231,875 | 2.7% | |
| 4 | Bunker Hill Village, TX | 3,820 | $250,001 | 3.6% | |
| 5 | Southside Place, TX | 1,535 | $187,019 | 5.8% | |
| 6 | Hedwig Village, TX | 2,320 | $202,500 | 4.6% | |
| 7 | Shavano Park, TX | 3,544 | $187,750 | 1.5% | |
| 8 | The Hills, TX | 2,505 | $152,250 | 2.6% | |
| 9 | Hilshire Village, TX | 1,099 | $225,417 | 5.7% | |
| 10 | Taylor Lake Village, TX | 3,677 | $150,479 | 2.8% | |
| 11 | Castle Hills, TX | 3,982 | $102,768 | 1.3% | |
| 12 | Olmos Park, TX | 2,286 | $179,500 | 9.4% | |
| 13 | Piney Point Village, TX | 3,114 | $250,001 | 9.4% | |
| 14 | Hunters Creek Village, TX | 4,383 | $250,001 | 8.9% | |
| 15 | Ransom Canyon, TX | 1,073 | $120,156 | 2.3% | |
| 16 | Barton Creek, TX | 3,234 | $230,556 | 2.1% | |
| 17 | Central Gardens, TX | 3,627 | $98,750 | 2.6% | |
| 18 | Tiki Island, TX | 1,196 | $112,054 | 1.8% | |
| 19 | Salado, TX | 2,585 | $89,348 | 1.1% | |
| 20 | Double Oak, TX | 3,039 | $187,115 | 2.7% | |
| 21 | West Lake Hills, TX | 3,360 | $210,000 | 4.5% | |
| 22 | Shiner, TX | 2,095 | $90,119 | 2.0% | |
| 23 | Meadowlakes, TX | 2,144 | $71,316 | 4.8% | |
| 24 | Hallsville, TX | 4,359 | $86,757 | 1.5% | |
| 25 | Lindsay, TX | 1,092 | $101,944 | 1.4% | |
| 26 | Weston Lakes, TX | 3,907 | $125,038 | 1.1% | |
| 27 | Hideaway, TX | 3,212 | $88,239 | 0.0% | |
| 28 | El Lago, TX | 3,039 | $99,375 | 2.8% | |
| 29 | Lakeside City, TX | 1,091 | $99,265 | 2.9% | |
| 30 | Lost Creek, TX | 1,159 | $149,868 | 6.2% | |
| 31 | Shoreacres, TX | 1,326 | $147,721 | 2.6% | |
| 32 | Cross Mountain, TX | 4,523 | $164,679 | 2.3% | |
| 33 | Red Lick, TX | 1,586 | $135,750 | 1.5% | |
| 34 | Palm Valley, TX | 1,876 | $69,773 | 4.2% | |
| 35 | Bayou Vista, TX | 2,006 | $115,694 | 3.6% | |
| 36 | Lorena, TX | 1,650 | $90,982 | 2.0% | |
| 37 | Hickory Creek, TX | 4,906 | $138,584 | 2.6% | |
| 38 | Pantego, TX | 2,529 | $84,125 | 7.6% | |
| 39 | Decordova, TX | 3,035 | $115,013 | 4.2% | |
| 40 | Krugerville, TX | 2,024 | $122,500 | 3.5% | |
| 41 | Dalworthington Gardens, TX | 2,437 | $108,750 | 4.3% | |
| 42 | Muenster, TX | 1,336 | $91,063 | 0.6% | |
| 43 | Panorama Village, TX | 2,513 | $74,107 | 1.6% | |
| 44 | Panhandle, TX | 2,743 | $83,867 | 1.2% | |
| 45 | Briarcliff, TX | 2,273 | $123,000 | 2.0% | |
| 46 | Lake Kiowa, TX | 2,728 | $107,414 | 0.0% | |
| 47 | South Padre Island, TX | 2,386 | $62,557 | 3.4% | |
| 48 | Lavon, TX | 4,939 | $122,889 | 1.8% | |
| 49 | Port Aransas, TX | 3,072 | $69,063 | 0.0% | |
| 50 | Haslet, TX | 2,336 | $160,481 | 0.4% | |
| 51 | Meadows Place, TX | 4,719 | $78,396 | 3.5% | |
| 52 | Shallowater, TX | 2,926 | $71,572 | 3.9% | |
| 53 | Bellville, TX | 4,200 | $61,500 | 0.0% | |
| 54 | Garden Ridge, TX | 4,155 | $156,711 | 2.6% | |
| 55 | Hudson Oaks, TX | 2,396 | $125,795 | 2.6% | |
| 56 | Clear Lake Shores, TX | 1,232 | $118,438 | 5.0% | |
| 57 | Argyle, TX | 4,638 | $205,246 | 3.2% | |
| 58 | Oak Point, TX | 4,957 | $104,120 | 1.5% | |
| 59 | Thorndale, TX | 1,415 | $63,581 | 1.1% | |
| 60 | Oak Ridge North, TX | 3,033 | $106,944 | 5.2% | |
| 61 | Copper Canyon, TX | 2,125 | $135,938 | 6.3% | |
| 62 | Hackberry, TX | 2,862 | $112,981 | 2.8% | |
| 63 | Gardendale, TX | 1,397 | $96,434 | 0.0% | |
| 64 | Paloma Creek, TX | 3,194 | $89,279 | 3.3% | |
| 65 | Abernathy, TX | 3,266 | $80,114 | 1.6% | |
| 66 | Flatonia, TX | 1,801 | $66,477 | 0.3% | |
| 67 | Farwell, TX | 1,530 | $65,625 | 0.0% | |
| 68 | Westlake, TX | 1,300 | $250,001 | 2.4% | |
| 69 | Beach City, TX | 3,126 | $169,570 | 4.0% | |
| 70 | China Grove, TX | 1,660 | $99,671 | 2.1% | |
| 71 | Idalou, TX | 2,211 | $62,200 | 2.5% | |
| 72 | Claude, TX | 1,218 | $71,167 | 0.0% | |
| 73 | Lake Dunlap, TX | 1,484 | $101,667 | 0.0% | |
| 74 | Justin, TX | 4,731 | $89,932 | 6.5% | |
| 75 | Talty, TX | 2,568 | $128,864 | 4.3% | |
| 76 | Point Venture, TX | 1,521 | $112,250 | 4.6% | |
| 77 | Rancho Viejo, TX | 2,814 | $88,304 | 2.5% | |
| 78 | Mclendon-Chisholm, TX | 3,755 | $167,750 | 1.9% | |
| 79 | Riesel, TX | 1,463 | $106,216 | 0.0% | |
| 80 | Whitesboro, TX | 4,130 | $72,092 | 3.7% | |
| 81 | Serenada, TX | 1,695 | $84,792 | 3.1% | |
| 82 | Caldwell, TX | 4,120 | $57,222 | 0.2% | |
| 83 | Pinewood Estates, TX | 1,533 | $135,144 | 1.6% | |
| 84 | Lakeside Town (Tarrant County), TX | 1,898 | $94,375 | 2.4% | |
| 85 | Potosi, TX | 4,706 | $112,598 | 3.1% | |
| 86 | Van Alstyne, TX | 4,846 | $75,882 | 0.0% | |
| 87 | Woodcreek, TX | 2,389 | $80,227 | 16.7% | |
| 88 | Jamaica Beach, TX | 1,103 | $86,923 | 13.8% | |
| 89 | Shady Shores, TX | 2,811 | $149,333 | 7.3% | |
| 90 | Annetta, TX | 3,077 | $160,893 | 6.4% | |
| 91 | Hudson Bend, TX | 3,672 | $90,179 | 3.9% | |
| 92 | Fort Clark Springs, TX | 1,298 | $69,611 | 0.0% | |
| 93 | Bartonville, TX | 1,957 | $143,333 | 2.4% | |
| 94 | Richwood, TX | 4,712 | $75,500 | 5.7% | |
| 95 | Madisonville, TX | 4,480 | $62,135 | 0.5% | |
| 96 | Laughlin Afb, TX | 1,865 | $62,333 | 2.5% | |
| 97 | Bullard, TX | 3,573 | $104,141 | 1.9% | |
| 98 | Glen Rose, TX | 2,698 | $73,804 | 2.6% | |
| 99 | Oak Leaf, TX | 1,653 | $151,375 | 6.9% | |
| 100 | Castroville, TX | 2,994 | $72,805 | 2.4% |
