Houston Rankings

Featured Rankings

#1 BEST PLACE FOR FOREIGN BUSINESS
Financial Times – Nov 2023
Houston has claimed the top spot as the best U.S. city for foreign multinationals to do business, surpassing Miami, after rising four spots in the second annual ranking compiled by the Financial Times and Nikkei, known as the FT-Nikkei Investing in American Ranking.

#1 HOTTEST ZIP CODES—CYPRESS, TX 77433 
Opendoor - January 2024
Cypress, Texas 77433 s topped the list of the 20 hottest neighborhoods for home purchases, jumping from No. 7 the previous year, reflecting a trend of buyers seeking towns with amenities and affordable living. 

#4 LOWEST COST OF LIVING AMONG TOP METROS
C2ER – Nov 2023
Houston ranks fourth for the lowest living costs among the most populous U.S. metro areas, with costs 4.7 percent below the nationwide average of all metros, and 28.0 percent below the average of the nation’s 20 most populous metropolitan areas, according to analysis of data from C2ER Cost of Living Index 2023 Q3.

#2 HOTTEST ZIP CODES—KATY, TX 77493 
Opendoor - January 2024
Katy, Texas 77493 ranked second on the list of 20 hottest neighborhoods for home purchases, moving from No. 3 the previous year.

#2 CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS
Business Facilities - August 2023
In the latest corporate headquarters ranking, Houston's second-place position is attributed to having a very high number of corporate headquarters in the U.S. and offering world-class resources to companies.

#3 LOWEST COST OF LIVING
Cost of Living Index - March 2024
Houston ranks third most affordable living among the most populous U.S. metros, according to C2ER Cost of Living Index 2023 Annual Average.

#3 TOP METRO BY NEW & EXPANDED CORPORATE FACILITIES
Site Selection Magazine - March 2023
In 2022, the corporate facility investment data across the nation echoes a familiar narrative as the Houston metro area maintains its position at No. 3 with 255 projects, consistent with last year's rankings. [10 pt font]

#4 EMERGING STARTUP ECOSYSTEMS IN NORTH AMERICA
Startup Genome – June 2023
Houston ranks fourth among emerging North American ecosystems, signifying early-stage startup communities with high global potential, utilizing methodology emphasizing factors crucial to nascent ecosystems, including early-stage funding and other key indicators.

#7 LEAST EXPENSIVE CITIES
GoBankingRates – February 2024
Houston ranks among the top 10 least expensive cities among America's 50 largest cities, where a $100,000 salary stretches the furthest, factoring in taxes, rent, groceries, healthcare, and other basic expenses.

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#1

BEST FAIR/RODEO OF THE YEAR – HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO
Academy of Country Music (via Houston Chronicle) – June 2023

TOP TEXAS MARKET FOR LIFE SCIENCE TALENT
CBRE (via Houston Business Journal) – June 2023

MOST ACTIVE PLACES FOR REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENTS (2013 TO 2022)    
StorageCafe (via Houston Chronicle) – May 2023

TOP RELOCATION DESTINATION IN US (2022)
Penske Truck Rental  (via Houston Chronicle) – April 2023

BEST CITIES TO BUY A HOUSE IN THE U.S. – THE WOODLANDS
Niche (via Hello Woodlands) – March 2023

MOST POPULAR CITY IN TEXAS FOR OVERSEAS TOURISTS
TripstoDiscover.com (via FOX 26 Houston) – March 2023

TOP CITY FOR STOCK MARKET PERFORMANCE
CNBC (via The Houston Chronicle) – December 2022

50 BEST CITIES TO LIVE IN THE U.S. – THE WOODLANDS
Niche (via Travel+Leisure) – December 2022

BEST GRADUATE PROGRAMS FOR ENTREPRENEURS – JONES GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS     
The Princeton Review (via InnovationMap) – November 2022

BEST UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS FOR ENTREPRENEURS – C.T. BAUER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS    
The Princeton Review (via InnovationMap) – November 2022

LOWEST CARBON FOOTPRINT
Park Sleep Fly (blog) (via InnovationMap) – August 2022

NO. 1 DESTINATION FOR MILLENNIALS TO MOVE FROM AUSTIN    
Harvard University (via InnovationMap) – August 2022

HIGHEST STANDARD OF LIVING FOR COLLEGE GRADUATES (AMONG 50 LARGEST US COMMUTING ZONES)
Stanford Institute for Economic Research (via InnovationMap) – January 2022

#2

U.S. METRO HOME TO FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES
Fortune (via Houston Chronicle) – June 2023

FASTEST GROWING U.S. METRO
U.S. Census Bureau – May 2023

PLACE IN TEXAS FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS- GALVESTON COUNTY    
Smart Asset (via InnovationMap) – December 2022

#3

HOTTEST SHORT-TERM RENTAL CITIES IN THE U.S. 
AirDNA (via Houston Chronicle) – June 2023

BEST U.S. CITIES FOR BIRDWATCHING 
Lawn Love (via CultureMap) – June 2023

MOST BANG FOR THE BUCK FOR NEW HOMES    
Homebay.com (via Culture Map) – August 2022

#4

BEST U.S. CITIES – RESTAURANTS
Resonance Consultancy (via The Houston Business Journal) – June 2023

U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT'S 2022 BEST ONLINE PROGRAMS MBA RANKINGS- RICE UNIVERSITY    
The Princeton Review—May 2023

MOST DIVERSE CITIES IN THE U.S.
WalletHub – April 2023

METROS WITH DOG OWNERSHIP    
Axios Houston – October 2022

#5

BEST BARBECUE CITIES IN THE US (2023)
LawnStarter (via San Antonio Current) – June 2023 

U.S. CITIES WITH MOST MILLIONAIRES
New World Wealth and Henley & Partners (via The Houston Chronicle) – February 2023

BEST FOOD CITY IN THE U.S.
Travel + Leisure (via Houston Chronicle) – March 2023

BEST CITY FOR INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT    
Axios Houston – October 2022

BEST CITIES FOR VETERAN ENTREPRENEURS     
InnovationMap – October 2022

MOST AMBITIOUS CITIES IN THE U.S.
Go.Verizon.com – September 2022

#6

MOST VALUABLE SPORTS CITY    
OLBG (via Houston Business Journal) – April 2023

LARGE METROS WITH THE MOST MINORITIES IN GOVERNMENT    
Home and Harpers (via The Houston Business Journal) – January 2023

TOP GEEKIEST CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES    
Lawn Love – July 2022

BEST IN TEXAS TO HIRE REMOTE SOFTWARE ENGINEERS    
Karat (via The Houston Business Journal) – December 2022

#7

BEST COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITIES IN THE U.S. – RICE UNIVERSITY
WalletHub—Oct 2022

#8

BEST CITY FOR CHILD-FRIENDLY VACATIONS
Lawn Love (via FOX 26 Houston) – January 2023

LARGEST METRO WITH THE MOST NEW BUSINESS APPLICATIONS    
Self Financial (via The Houston Business Journal)—February 2022

#9

STRONG STARTER AMONGST TOP 25 EMERGING STARTUP ECOSYSTEMS
Startup Genome – June 2023
Houston ranks 9th among the top 25 ecosystems in the Emerging Ecosystems rankings, where early-stage funding is robust, emphasizing its importance in indicating startup success and growth.

BEST U.S. CITIES
Resonance Consultancy (via The Houston Business Journal) – June 2023

BEST CITY PARKS – HERMANN PARK 
USA Today – February 2023

#10    

TOP METRO AREAS FOR HOUSING GROWTH AND STABILITY
Smart Asset (via Houston Chronicle) – April 2023

TOP 10 LIFE SCIENCES MARKETS IN THE U.S.    
Commercial Café (via InnovationMap)—July 2022

Prepared by Greater Houston Partnership Research

Margaret Barrientos
Research Analyst
mbarrientos@houston.org