The 10 Best Cities to Move to in 2015

Fort Worth, Texas often gets lumped in with Dallas, but it deserves a spotlight of its own. Sure, its historic cowboy and cattle rustling roots mean you may have to buy a cowboy hat or, at least, some tight-fitting jeans, but Fort Worth is much, much more than that. The Kimbell Art Museum, farmers markets, and historic neighborhoods blend with a vibrant Sundance Square in downtown (with affordable parking!) and a growing economy.

Hope you aren’t tired of reading about Texas yet, because San Antonio is only one of four Texas towns to take a top spot. Although the Huffington Post recently compared the Alamo City to Austin, we couldn’t disagree more. San Antonio sets its own course with an abundance of restaurants, the family-friendly and shopper-friendly Riverwalk, the Alamo, numerous U.S. military facilities, and Fiesta, a party the entire city attends.

We promise, the list isn’t rigged. Texas is just awesome. Houston takes the 8th spot, rising from 10th last year. It remains one of the most populous cities in Texas, but, thanks to its immense size, it doesn’t feel like you’re stacked on top of each other (at least, if you ignore the traffic.) Houston’s proximity to the coast has served it well, bringing in new trade, people, and delicious, delicious seafood. The museum district receives visits from more than seven million people a year. Throw in the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the Greek Festival, and the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, and you’ll have plenty to do on any given weekend.

If you love winter sports, Salt Lake City may be the place for you in 2015. Well-known for its historic and current association with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and Brigham Young, the community benefits from having the Wasatch Mountains to the east and eight ski resorts within 50 miles. Home to the Utah Jazz basketball team and a growing arts district, Salt Lake City’s low unemployment rate is sure to draw new residents in the next year.

Home to the Mickey Mouse empire, Orlando receives more than its fair share of tourists, but it might just be the perfect place to call home in 2015. The University of Central Florida certainly thinks so, with the second-largest university campus in the country calling the “City Beautiful” home. That’s not Orlando’s only nickname, earning the nomenclature of “Hollywood East” for its vibrant music, theater, and movie productions. Orlando also attracts a number of high-tech
companies, a strong economic supporter for years to come.

Austin benefits from a divergent base that includes politics (it’s the state capital), education (home to the University of Texas) and technology (a high-tech corridor). Throw in some really great weather, a rockin’ local culture, and an abundance of outdoor activities, and it’s not difficult to picture yourself moving there in 2015. Billed as the “Live Music Capitol of the World,” Austin puts on a great show, including the long-lived Austin City Limits, SXSW, and “Fun, Fun, Fun Fest.”

Oklahoma City is a community of wildly opposite cultures. First, it’s home to the largest livestock market in the world. People live the authentic ranch life in OKC. Additionally, its longstanding roots in the oil and petroleum industry perfectly position it to become the country’s energy and aerospace capitol. Companies including Chesapeake Energy, Devon Energy, and SandRidge Energy headquarter in OKC. However, if you need a little refinement in your life, the Oklahoma City opera, Museum of Art, and ballet have your back.

West Palm Beach has been around a looong time. It’s two years older than Miami. However, 2015 is a great year to move to this established community. Tourism and recreation tend to be its top draws, but West Palm Beach — home to ION Media Network, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, and General Dynamics — includes a very active business community. SunFest draws large crowds in late spring, and families enjoy visiting Rapids Water Park, South Florida Science Museum, and Palm Beach Zoo at Dreher Park.

Boise is an education city, so if you want to attend or work for Boise State University, the area’s largest employer, this is the community for you. However, it’s also an outdoor community, with more than 28 miles of pathways and easy access to mountains, deserts, and rivers. Throw in a reputation for friendliness and affordable living, and it’s pretty easy to see why so many people love to call Boise home.

The City of Provo has been making itself known as a great place to live for a few years now, based on its majestic views and reputation for encouraging entrepreneurs. Safe streets and low business taxes are drawing crowds. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to have two major universities and Robert Redford’s Sundance Resort, either. The city has strong ties to the Church Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and the country’s third-largest university, Brigham Young University, calls Provo home.