El Paso is once again gaining national attention — this time as one of the top large cities to live in the United States.
According to the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings for 2026-27, El Paso was named the No. 1 best large city to live in the nation among cities with populations over 600,000.
The rankings evaluated communities based on quality of life, affordability, job market strength, desirability, and migration trends, according to the report.
The recognition places the Sun City ahead of many larger metropolitan areas and reinforces what many residents have long believed: El Paso offers a rare balance of affordability, safety, culture, and opportunity.
One of the key factors highlighted in the report was affordability. Analysts noted that El Paso’s housing costs remain significantly below the national average, making homeownership and renting more attainable than in many other large U.S. cities.
Below is the list of rankings:
1.El Paso, Texas
2.Oklahoma City, OK
3.Fort Worth, Texas
4.Raleigh, NC
5.Austin, TX
6.Mesa, AZ
7.Indianapolis, IN
8.San Antonio, TX
9.Nashville, TN
10. Houston, TX
11. Columbus, OH
12. Phoeniz, AZ
13. Charlotte, NC
14. Jacksonville, FL
15. San Diego, CA
16. Saettle, WA
17. Dallas, TX
18. Tucson, AZ
19. San Francisco, CA
20. Kansas City, MO
21. Albuquerque, NM
22. San Jose, CA
23. Atlantra, GA
24. Las Vegas, NV
25. Chicago, IL
RECOMMENDED: El Paso County moves to strengthen cybercrime investigations and victim services
Comment with Bubbles
BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT
Sign up to receive the top interesting stories from in and around our community once daily in your inbox.