TEXAS CITY KNOWN FOR CELEBRATING GERMAN CULTURE ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO LIVE IN THE USA

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

 

A Texas city known for celebrating German culture is one of the best places to live in U.S.

BY TIFFANI JACKSON

UPDATED AUGUST 14, 2024 2:10 PM

 

When planning to move to a new city, most people look for places with strong job markets, good schools, and affordability.

 

Well, each of those factors can be found in New Braunfels, Texas. It was recently named one of the best places to live in the U.S. in 2024 by Money.com.

 

“This year’s Best Places to Live list celebrates cities and towns where a thriving economy meets affordability, diversity and an exceptional quality of life,” Money said.

 

“Backed by rigorous research and data-driven analysis, these 50 places are the blueprint for the future.”

 

Money evaluated each city, town, and neighborhood on its list of competitors based on a number of metrics during the vetting process.

 

Some of those metrics included the state of the regional job market, average housing costs paid by renters and homeowners, the percentage of people living in poverty, and the quality of public educational facilities.

 

Instead of ranking the cities in numerical order, Money categorized them into five categories that emphasized their advantages: “Suburbs with a soul,” “Hidden gems,” “New boomtowns,” “Not just college towns,” and “Culture hubs.”

 

New Braunfels made the “New Boomtown” category as experts said the city is attractive to transplants.

 

WHAT MAKES NEW BRAUNFELS ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO LIVE?

 

Known for its German heritage, New Braunfels boasts an old-fashioned charm with picturesque scenery. The city is a suburb of San Antonio and is located 30 miles northeast of downtown.

 

The celebration of German culture in New Braunfels, Wurstfest, draws over 200,000 people annually. Residents and tourists tend to enjoy its variety of summer attractions like Schlitterbahn Waterpark and Resort, Natural Bridge Caverns and Gruene Hall.

 

The city’s affordable real estate and blooming job market are what helped it land on the list, with 39,000 new jobs added in 2023. According to Moody’s Analytics, New Braunfels will experience the highest job growth rate in the United States by 2028, at 21%.

 

Money found that New Braunfels has a population of 104,707, a median listing home price of $410,000, and a 3.10% unemployment rate. New Braunfels was the only Texas city that made the Money list.

 

This story was originally published August 13, 2024, 3:33 PM.