Just north of Dallas, Plano and Richardson are nestled together—and they share at least one thing in common. Both have been named among the “2023 Best Cities to Live in America” by Niche, a leading platform that connects students and families with colleges and schools.
Plano placed No. 11 on the list, with an A+ overall grade and an A+ for its public schools. (Its detailed rankings include coming in at No. 8 among Best Cities to Buy a House in America; No. 8 among Cities with the Best Public Schools in America; and No. 10 among Best Cities to Raise a Family in America.)
Richardson followed at No. 12 with its own A+ overall grade and an A rating for its public schools. (Its detailed rankings include coming in at No. 12 among Best Cities to Retire in America and No. 13 among Best Cities to Raise a Family in America.)
Only one Texas city surpassed Plano and Richardson on the list: The Woodlands, a Houston suburb that was ranked No. 3. Among the top 25 cities on the list, Austin is the only other Texas city that made it, ranking No. 24.
The top five cities on the list, from No. 1 to No. 5, are Cambridge, Massachusetts; Arlington, Virginia; The Woodlands, Texas; Naperville, Illinois; and Columbia, Maryland.
Niche says its rankings are based on “rigorous analysis” of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and “millions of reviews.”
You can see the full report here.
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