Best Cities for Remote Workers in Texas
Texas for Remote Workers: The Full Picture
Texas ranks #24 out of 50 for remote workers — a reasonable choice, though not without tradeoffs. Remote work fundamentally changes the relocation calculus: when your salary comes from elsewhere, what matters is how far it stretches locally and how good daily life feels. Texas's cost of living (index: 97) is near the national average, so a remote salary doesn't gain or lose much purchasing power here.
The moderate work-from-home rate of 11% suggests growing but not yet dominant remote work adoption. Broadband coverage is excellent at 94.6%, so reliable internet shouldn't be a concern.
The tax environment is favorable at 7.77% of income, letting remote workers keep more of their earnings. Housing affordability (score: 76/100) is a clear advantage — the median home costs $338,000, a manageable ratio for most remote salaries.
All 20 Cities Ranked for Remote Workers
| # | City | Grade | Remote Workers Score | Overall | Affordability | Economy | Outdoor Access | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frisco | A+ | 63.3 | 65.1 | 60 | 83 | 5 | 225,009 |
| 2 | McKinney | A | 62.6 | 62.7 | 65 | 72 | 5 | 213,504 |
| 3 | Denton | B | 54.1 | 53.1 | 73 | 53 | 5 | 158,361 |
| 4 | Plano | B | 53.7 | 56.0 | 66 | 69 | 5 | 288,228 |
| 5 | Grand Prairie | C+ | 50.6 | 50.0 | 73 | 50 | 5 | 202,092 |
| 6 | Garland | C+ | 50.6 | 49.7 | 74 | 52 | 5 | 243,536 |
| 7 | Fort Worth | C | 50.5 | 48.7 | 74 | 54 | 5 | 976,932 |
| 8 | Irving | C+ | 49.6 | 50.5 | 72 | 56 | 5 | 254,392 |
| 9 | Austin | C+ | 49.1 | 50.7 | 66 | 63 | 5 | 979,700 |
| 10 | Laredo | D | 47.2 | 44.3 | 83 | 45 | 5 | 252,974 |
| 11 | Arlington | C | 46.8 | 45.9 | 74 | 50 | 5 | 398,423 |
| 12 | El Paso | C | 46.5 | 45.4 | 82 | 44 | 5 | 678,945 |
| 13 | Amarillo | D | 46.1 | 42.8 | 82 | 51 | 5 | 203,042 |
| 14 | San Antonio | D | 45.6 | 42.4 | 78 | 49 | 5 | 1,495,312 |
| 15 | Lubbock | D | 45.2 | 42.7 | 81 | 47 | 5 | 266,878 |
| 16 | Killeen | D | 45.0 | 41.4 | 80 | 40 | 5 | 159,635 |
| 17 | Dallas | D | 44.5 | 42.7 | 73 | 50 | 5 | 1,302,859 |
| 18 | Brownsville | D | 43.8 | 40.9 | 86 | 34 | 5 | 190,166 |
| 19 | Corpus Christi | D | 43.3 | 39.7 | 80 | 47 | 5 | 316,603 |
| 20 | Houston | D | 42.9 | 39.4 | 76 | 45 | 5 | 2,311,461 |