10 nice locations to dwell within the American Southwest

One of probably the most iconic options of the Southwest is its breathtaking pure magnificence. The Grand Canyon, Santa Fe National Forest and Monument Valley are just some of the awe-inspiring pure wonders that draw guests from world wide. The Sonoran and Mojave’s arid deserts starkly distinction the luxurious forests and mountains present in some areas.

Plus: The greatest reasonably priced little cities to dwell in America

1. Flower Mound, Texas

There are not any secrets and techniques right here; Flower Mound, Texas is thought for its wildflowers, simply as its title guarantees. Flower Mound — which sits 650 ft above sea stage and is perched over the countryside — most likely received its title due to the wildflowers that carpet the elevated mound within the city middle, from the long-lasting Texas bluebonnets to pansies and the Indian blankets that appear like daisies however have yellow suggestions, the prolific wildflowers make this Dallas-Fort Worth suburb a reasonably place to dwell. 

Beyond the wonder and blooms, there are secure neighborhoods, wonderful colleges, low property taxes, nice medical care and a bit of the city that borders Grapevine Lake, all of which contribute to Flower Mound’s rating as top-of-the-line locations to dwell within the Southwest.

Flower Mound residents (and their pets) have every kind of enjoyable methods to benefit from the nice outside due to 1,000 acres of parkland. Heritage Park is a neighborhood favourite with facilities galore — together with a splash pad, a playground, a efficiency pavilion, an 18-hole disc golf course and bronze statues of animals native to the realm. On prime of all that, there’s a boardwalk, a waterfall and a 5-acre canine park. 

Golfers can hit the greens near dwelling at award-winning golf programs year-round, snagging tee occasions at Bridlewood and Tour 18. There are additionally equestrian facilities and 12 miles of trails for horse driving all through the city.

Summers get scorching, however there are a lot of locations to beat the warmth, together with the swimming seashores at Grapevine Lake or the Flower Mound CAC Pool Outdoor Waterpark with slides, a lazy river and a 60-gallon dump bucket to chill you down immediately.

What’s extra? Residents know tips on how to have time, with neighbors coming collectively for neighborhood celebrations like an Easter Egg Scramble, summertime Chalk the Walk fest, and a Christmastime parade and tree lighting ceremony, which protect the small-town spirit exterior one of many nation’s largest metroplexes. But one of many distinctive occasions is the Halloween-time Glowing Pumpkin Plunge on the CAC indoor pool, embellished with black lights and neon pumpkins bobbing within the water.

2. Sugar Land, Texas

It’s true; life is simply sweeter in Sugar Land, Texas. Once a major producer of — you guessed it — sugar, Sugar Land has made a reputation for itself with its secure neighborhoods, various residents, brilliantly designed master-planned communities, distinctive medical care and extremely educated workforce. It’s straightforward to see why this Houston suburb is without doubt one of the greatest locations to dwell within the Southwest. 

Sugar Land’s business-friendly local weather is attracting firms from plenty of industries like biotech, insurance coverage, manufacturing and extra. But there are additionally many job alternatives and a close-knit neighborhood for entrepreneurs simply 20 minutes away in Houston, one of many greatest U.S. cities.

Sugar Land’s well-planned communities are nice for these trying to put down roots and lift households whereas working within the Houston metroplex. New residents have their choose of dozens of neighborhoods and communities, from Avalon, the place you’ll discover waterfront neighborhoods and 70 acres of lakes, to Italian-Renaissance-style townhomes with lake views in Lake Pointe Town Center, to Sugar Creek, which is thought for its nation golf equipment and golf programs.

While neighborhoods have tons of greenways and strolling trails, there are additionally a few dozen public parks, greater than 50 miles of strolling, operating and biking trails, a city sq. with outlets and eating places, plus every kind of occasions like health meetups, festivals, concert events, markets and outside “date night” motion pictures. Families have all kinds of enjoyable issues to do with youngsters in Sugar Land, too, like visiting the interactive Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center, the place youngsters can do science experiments, discover Gullah historical past and cultural heritage, and play with each other within the tot spot or Kidtropolis, a kid-run metropolis. 

Sugar Land residents also can catch concert events near dwelling on the Smart Financial Centre, a state-of-the-art efficiency venue with movable partitions that may increase and contract and host occasions for as much as 6,400 folks. In addition, baseball followers can cheer on the Space Cowboys minor league workforce at Constellation Field, which is an absolute blast. The ballpark has a simulated baseball expertise referred to as Moonshot Alley, which tracks your pitching and hitting metrics. Finally, at Karbach Cantina, baseball followers can take pleasure in a beer backyard and rounds of cornhole.

Be certain to learn: The fastest-growing American cities are additionally a few of the locations with the worst climate-change results

3. Gilbert, Arizona

Gilbert, Arizona, is considered one of America’s fastest-growing communities, with a inhabitants skyrocketing from underneath 6,000 in 1980 to greater than 277,000 at this time. And it’s straightforward to see why residents flock to this Phoenix suburb. Gilbert has a powerful financial system, improbable healthcare choices, aggressive colleges and secure neighborhoods, all of which assist safe its spot as top-of-the-line locations to dwell within the Southwest. Also price mentioning: The solar shines right here practically 300 days a 12 months, and temperatures can get scorching. 

Residents quiet down at Frost, a neighborhood gelato and sorbet store serving dozens of flavors to assist beat the warmth waves. (Get a scoop of the strawberry and Champagne.)

As far as jobs go, a number of thrilling industries fireplace Gilbert’s financial engine, together with clear expertise and renewable vitality, aerospace and aviation, and superior manufacturing. Gilbert can be advancing life sciences and is main the way in which in stem-cell therapies and regenerative medicines. As a testomony to the innovation that occurs in Gilbert, the neighborhood nabs practically 260 patents a 12 months. Leading healthcare firms like Dignity Health, Banner healthcare and M.D. Anderson Cancer Center all have a presence in Gilbert, and the city has greater than 2 million sq. ft of hospital and medical analysis services.

One of the explanations so many employers are choosing Gilbert to launch or develop their operations is due to the sturdy expertise pipeline: A excessive focus of residents have graduate {and professional} levels, and 44% of residents maintain a bachelor’s diploma or increased, which is above the nationwide common of 33.1%. In addition, on the University of Arizona’s Gilbert campus, college students have close-to-home instructional alternatives to study a brand new talent at a coding boot camp or meet demand within the healthcare {industry} through a four-year bachelor’s diploma program in nursing. 

Gilbert residents additionally discover loads to do of their downtime, from Pure Esports, which has 50 gaming stations, to the Hale Center Theatre, the place residents can catch a musical. And creativity flows out of Gilbert. The metropolis has a formidable arts and tradition scene, which is mirrored in its Saturday Art Walks and colourful murals that brighten up the brick partitions all through city. Also, Gilbert has illuminated artwork benches that glow at evening. 

Also see: 25 of one of the best locations to dwell out West

4. Round Rock, Texas

A quick-growing suburb of Austin, Round Rock, Texas, is dwelling to 129,785 residents (and counting) who take pleasure in all sorts of livability perks, together with an award-winning park system, secure neighborhoods, and ample profession alternatives with industry-leading employers like Dell Technologies
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Emerson Automation Solutions and Toppan Photomasks. 

As top-of-the-line locations to dwell within the Southwest, Round Rock presents greater than three dozen developed parks, together with a Play for All Abilities Park, a treasure for central Texas with options like a sensory pod sandbox, a nature space and an all-abilities treehouse. Old Settlers Park is one other neighborhood favourite with 640 acres of rolling countryside and a spot the place neighbors collect for festivals. Downtown Round Rock is cute, too, with historic buildings, ice cream outlets, Merry’s Mud Pottery House, PopUp Art Shows and a group of eating places serving every part from barbecue to shaved ice and brisket queso (yup, you’ll discover it at Finley’s Kitchen and Bar).

Healthcare additionally scores excessive in Round Rock, as residents can entry complete care with medical doctors’ workplaces, trauma care facilities at nice hospitals like Ascension Seton Williamson Hospital and greater than 8,400 well being practitioners in Williamson County. 

5. Chandler, Arizona

A sprawling and vibrant metropolis, Chandler, Arizona, ranks excessive in practically each class measured, making it straightforward to see why it’s top-of-the-line locations to dwell within the Southwest. Arizona is perhaps an incredible place to retire, however households and younger professionals proceed to find that Chandler isn’t a sleepy city. With a thriving restaurant, nightlife scene and dozens of annual occasions, it’s difficult to be bored right here. The Ostrich Festival, the Downtown Chandler Fine Art and Wine Festival, the Southwest Cajun Fest and the Chandler Jazz Festival are simply a few of the occasions holding Chandler residents entertained all year long. 

Because Arizona is thought for its sunny disposition, world-class golf programs and parks are considerable in Chandler. Even as one of many greatest cities within the state, Chandler retains its charming, walkable downtown filled with public artwork, native eating places and breweries, and nice buying. And the realm’s excessive healthcare rating isn’t only a results of loads of outside areas — nice hospitals and medical doctors preserve residents in good well being.

The metropolis additionally ranks extremely within the economics class. Chandler’s fame as a metropolis filled with forward-thinkers and innovation has drawn firms of all sizes to the realm and created a strong financial atmosphere. Education is a precedence for residents, with a ratio of 18 college students to at least one trainer and a 90% commencement fee. Excellent colleges, job alternatives, and loads of methods to have enjoyable on the weekend and get outside make Chandler an incredible place to plant roots and lift a household.

6. Tempe, Arizona

While Tempe is dwelling to Arizona State University, don’t be fooled into pondering that that is only a school city. ASU brings innovation, jobs and a perpetual buzz to the town. Still, that isn’t all that makes Tempe top-of-the-line locations to dwell within the Southwest. 

Fantastic recreation, a thriving financial system and wonderful entry to healthcare all helped Tempe rating excessive on our index. Tempe residents like to dwell exterior and benefit from close by mountains for mountain climbing and native lakes and public swimming pools to chill off. There’s an incredible brewery scene and quite a lot of scrumptious eating places and funky bars with nice patios to benefit from the temperate climate many of the 12 months. Areas just like the extra family-friendly neighborhoods of North Tempe and the proper scene for youthful professionals in Tempe Town Lake every fulfill a definite area of interest within the space, making Tempe really feel like a smaller neighborhood and an city middle on the identical time. 

There is all the time one thing happening right here, with constant athletic competitions and humanities performances on campus and a bustling occasions calendar filled with occasions, together with Las Noches de las Luminarias on the Desert Botanical Garden, the Festival of the Arts and Second Sundays on Mill. 

Check out: Five school cities price staying put in after commencement

7. Edmond, Oklahoma

Once thought of a sleepy suburb of Oklahoma City, it’s clear that Edmond is carving its personal distinctive path — rightfully incomes its spot as top-of-the-line locations to dwell within the Southwest. Edmond has a rising and cute downtown scene and its personal sturdy financial system separate from the town. Unsurprisingly, healthcare and schooling are among the many prime industries, with the University of Central Oklahoma and Oklahoma Christian University inside metropolis limits.

Adding to its big-city facilities are thriving healthcare services, which embrace two hospitals, a surgical middle and lots of physicians’ workplaces — all creating 1,000-plus jobs which have generated about $400 million since 2010. Of course, this funding in healthcare has translated right into a more healthy neighborhood and an extended life expectancy in Edmond when put next with the remainder of the state.

Read: Want an ‘average’ retirement way of life? You’ll want greater than $1 million — generally much more — in these cities.

But past the financial system, Edmond is a good place to dwell for a lot of different causes, together with its wonderful colleges, family-friendly vibe and unmatched high quality of life. In addition, the town is dwelling to a number of parks and locations to get out and about to discover, like Arcadia Lake and the Arcadia Lake Trail. Also, Edmond has a thriving arts and tradition scene and is dwelling to a number of museums, galleries and performing arts venues. For instance, the Armstrong Auditorium is a world-class performing arts middle internet hosting one of the best classical, people and jazz artists.

8. Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

Broken Arrow strikes an elusive stability: It has big-city facilities and a strong financial system but retains and maintains small-town attraction. With greater than 115,000 residents, this Oklahoma suburb exterior Tulsa is without doubt one of the greatest locations to dwell within the Southwest. It is a metropolis reaping the advantages of its investments, like a $6 million jobs creation bundle that helped Flight Safe International construct a state-of-the-art flight simulator facility. Broken Arrow additionally plans a 90-acre mixed-use Innovation District with residences, companies and schooling parts to strengthen the expertise pipeline for the realm’s high-tech {industry}. 

Broken Arrow residents have a revitalized and vibrant downtown space referred to as the Rose District, which hosts farmers markets and has an interactive water characteristic for youths to splash round on scorching summer time days. There are additionally many regionally owned outlets, plus nice eating places serving every part from pizza to native beer, sushi and California-influenced Mexican dishes. There are loads of issues to do in Broken Arrow, and residents love the tightknit neighborhood with an reasonably priced price of dwelling. 

With secure neighborhoods, reasonably priced houses and neighborhood gems just like the 1,500-seat Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center, it’s straightforward to see why this fast-growing metropolis is such a draw for younger households, retirees, veterans and extra. 

You may like: We need to retire someplace with nice winters. Our funds is $600,000-$700,000. Where ought to we go?

9. Norman, Oklahoma

Norman combines the attraction of a small city with the facilities of a lot bigger cities. Scoring excessive in housing, with a median worth of simply $212,000, Norman is dwelling to the University of Oklahoma, is straightforward to navigate and presents wonderful healthcare choices, which all helped make it top-of-the-line locations to dwell within the Southwest. The largest meteorological college within the nation is in Norman, and the National Weather Service has an workplace right here that employs an array of sensible of us.

Forward-thinking isn’t simply taking place on campus; the town has a fame as a superb place for entrepreneurs who’re driving higher-paying jobs and financial progress citywide. Though the University — and its perpetually gifted soccer and gymnastics groups — are what Norman is thought for, it’s greater than only a school city. 

Great museums, an superior performing arts scene and tons of dwell music — together with the free Norman Music Festival—imply there’s no excuse to be bored right here. Downtown has been revitalized and is a good place to walk outlets and discover nice bites to eat. The space is surrounded by beautiful landscapes for residents to discover once they want some contemporary air, however there are additionally a number of nice parks throughout the metropolis for picnics, learning and mountain climbing.

Also on MarketWatch: The greatest and most reasonably priced locations to dwell in Florida

10. Rio Rancho, New Mexico

Rio Rancho residents get to take pleasure in practically 300 days of sunshine yearly and have easy accessibility to important New Mexico websites like Route 66 and Bandelier National Monument, dwelling to ruins and petroglyphs left behind by ancestral Puebloan folks. As top-of-the-line locations to dwell within the Southwest and rating excessive within the environmental class, Rio Rancho is flanked by mesas and mountainous deserts. Land of Enchantment is true!

Rio Rancho neighborhoods are close to parks (greater than 50) and trails. The Willow Creek Bosque presents strolling trails, dog-friendly areas and wildlife habitat viewing areas, making it the proper place to spend a day outside.

See: I’m in search of a spot that has year-round gentle, sunny climate and is close to or on the water, and my funds is $125,000 — the place ought to I retire?

Albuquerque and all of its bigger-city facilities are shut by. Still, there’s loads near dwelling in Rio Rancho, too, and residents can get their fill of posole and inexperienced chile at Hot Tamales and cheer on the Duke City Gladiators, an indoor soccer workforce, on the Rio Rancho Events Center. In addition, the town presents residents a comparatively low price of dwelling, ample job alternatives, and high quality private and non-private colleges, making it a superb place for younger households and younger professionals to quiet down. 

Read the authentic article and all 25 greatest cities within the Southwest on Livability.

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