McAllen, HGTV, U.S. News & World Report, Best Places to Live, Rankings, Texas Cities
Staff Report
McAllen TX - McAllen ranked No. 27 on HGTV’s list of “The 50 Best Places to Live in the US Right Now,” an article updated Aug. 13, 2026, and written by Felicia Feaster. The rankings are based on U.S. News & World Report’s top American places to live for 2026/2027. KVEO-TV
The list evaluates cities and towns for job market strength, housing affordability, quality of life, and desirability, including their appeal in attracting new residents, according to U.S. News & World Report.
HGTV’s write-up notes McAllen is home to the International Museum of Art & Science and is located in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley, an area rich with native plants and trees such as wild olives, desert yaupons and Jerusalem thorns, all on view at Quinta Mazatlan, a nature center in McAllen. KVEO-TV
Sixteen other Texas cities also appeared on the list, according to HGTV:
No. 9 Frisco
No. 8 Leander
No. 10 Sugar Land
No. 13 League City
No. 16 Pearland
No. 17 McKinney
No. 23 Allen
No. 24 Cedar Park
No. 25 Mansfield
No. 27 McAllen
No. 28 The Woodlands
No. 33 Carrollton
No. 35 Pflugerville
No. 38 Katy
No. 43 North Richland Hills
No. 48 Laredo
Source - HGTV, “The 50 Best Places to Live in the US Right Now,” updated Aug. 13, 2026, citing U.S. News & World Report