You’ve seen these lists before. Best places to live in Texas. Best sururbs in Texas. Best counties in Texas.
Etc., etc., etc.
But they all focus on major cities and towns in the Lone Star State, and no one pays attention to the little guy.
Well, that’s all about to change as we put together a list of the superb small towns in Texas based on numbers–not opinions or hearsay.
We’ll dive right into our methodology in the next section, but first, we thought you might want to know which places in Texas ranked the best based on Saturday Night Science.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 15 Best Small Towns To Live In Texas For 2025
- Bunker Hill Village
- Rollingwood
- Hollywood Park
- Spring Valley Village
- Shavano Park
- Southside Place
- The Hills
- Hilshire Village
- Taylor Lake Village
- Lakeside City
- Hedwig Village
- Olmos Park
- West Lake Hills
- Piney Point Village
- Hunters Creek Village
What’s the best small town in Texas? Bunker Hill Village is the best small town in Texas based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like Bunker Hill Village, chances are, you’re not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.
But for the rest of you–keep reading, and we’ll get to just why these small towns made our list.
For more reading on the Lone Star State check out:
The 15 Best Small Towns In Texas For 2025
1. Bunker Hill Village

/10
Population: 3,801
Median Income:  $250,001 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value:  $2,000,001 (2nd Best)
Unemployment Rate:  1.5%
2. Rollingwood
/10
Population: 1,371
Median Income:  $236,964 (6th Best)
Median Home Value:  $1,872,000 (5th Best)
Unemployment Rate:  2.0%
3. Hollywood Park

/10
Population: 3,119
Median Income:  $140,357 (32nd Best)
Median Home Value:  $428,000 (47th Best)
Unemployment Rate:  0.0%
4. Spring Valley Village

/10
Population: 4,226
Median Income:  $227,857 (7th Best)
Median Home Value:  $1,071,800 (11th Best)
Unemployment Rate:  1.3%
5. Shavano Park
/10
Population: 3,602
Median Income:  $158,969 (23rd Best)
Median Home Value:  $838,800 (15th Best)
Unemployment Rate:  1.1%
6. Southside Place
/10
Population: 1,631
Median Income:  $193,021 (12th Best)
Median Home Value:  $1,702,600 (7th Best)
Unemployment Rate:  5.4%
7. The Hills

/10
Population: 2,579
Median Income:  $178,194 (15th Best)
Median Home Value:  $778,100 (16th Best)
Unemployment Rate:  2.6%
8. Hilshire Village

Population: 1,091
Median Income:  $250,001 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value:  $1,035,300 (12th Best)
Unemployment Rate:  4.8%
9. Taylor Lake Village

/10
Population: 3,678
Median Income:  $161,191 (20th Best)
Median Home Value:  $358,000 (65th Best)
Unemployment Rate:  2.5%
10. Lakeside City

/10
Population: 1,150
Median Income:  $104,563 (72nd Best)
Median Home Value:  $240,500 (137th Best)
Unemployment Rate:  1.3%
11. Hedwig Village

/10
Population: 2,029
Median Income:  $184,141 (13th Best)
Median Home Value:  $1,458,300 (9th Best)
Unemployment Rate:  6.8%
12. Olmos Park
/10
Population: 2,228
Median Income:  $172,434 (18th Best)
Median Home Value:  $887,000 (13th Best)
Unemployment Rate:  10.5%
13. West Lake Hills

/10
Population: 3,315
Median Income:  $211,471 (8th Best)
Median Home Value:  $1,647,400 (8th Best)
Unemployment Rate:  2.1%
14. Piney Point Village

/10
Population: 3,090
Median Income:  $250,001 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value:  $2,000,001 (2nd Best)
Unemployment Rate:  9.5%
15. Hunters Creek Village

/10
Population: 4,358
Median Income:  $250,001 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value:  $2,000,001 (2nd Best)
Unemployment Rate:  8.1%
Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In Texas
We threw a lot of criteria at this report to get the best, most complete results of the best small towns in Texas possible.
Using the most recent data from the Census’s 2019-2023 American Community Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Saturday Night Science, this is the criteria we used:
- Population Density (Higher is better)
- Lowest Unemployment Rates
- Housing costs (Higher is better. More demand.)
- Adjusted Median Income (Higher is better)
- Highly Educated Adults (Higher is better)
- Insurance Rates (Higher is better)
- Commute Times (Lower is better)
We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which there were many – 551 to be exact.
We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 551, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in Texas. Top of that list — Bunker Hill Village.
This is our tenth time ranking the best small places to live in Texas.
Summary: Science Can Tackle Any Issue, Even Small Ones
We said it once, and we’ll say it again — this list: it’s just science. We did the research, crunched the numbers, and it turns out these 15 small towns in Texas are the best in which to live.
And who can argue with that?
The best small towns in Texas are Bunker Hill Village, Rollingwood, Hollywood Park, Spring Valley Village, Shavano Park, Southside Place, The Hills, Hilshire Village, Taylor Lake Village, and Lakeside City.
If you’re curious, here are the worst small towns in Texas:
- Escobares
- Trinity
- Siesta Shores
For more Texas reading, check out:
Best Small Towns In Texas
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Median Home Value | Unemployment Rate | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bunker Hill Village, TX | 3,801 | $250,001 | 1.5% | |
| 2 | Rollingwood, TX | 1,371 | $236,964 | 2.0% | |
| 3 | Hollywood Park, TX | 3,119 | $140,357 | 0.0% | |
| 4 | Spring Valley Village, TX | 4,226 | $227,857 | 1.3% | |
| 5 | Shavano Park, TX | 3,602 | $158,969 | 1.1% | |
| 6 | Southside Place, TX | 1,631 | $193,021 | 5.4% | |
| 7 | The Hills, TX | 2,579 | $178,194 | 2.6% | |
| 8 | Hilshire Village, TX | 1,091 | $250,001 | 4.8% | |
| 9 | Taylor Lake Village, TX | 3,678 | $161,191 | 2.5% | |
| 10 | Lakeside City, TX | 1,150 | $104,563 | 1.3% | |
| 11 | Hedwig Village, TX | 2,029 | $184,141 | 6.8% | |
| 12 | Olmos Park, TX | 2,228 | $172,434 | 10.5% | |
| 13 | West Lake Hills, TX | 3,315 | $211,471 | 2.1% | |
| 14 | Piney Point Village, TX | 3,090 | $250,001 | 9.5% | |
| 15 | Hunters Creek Village, TX | 4,358 | $250,001 | 8.1% | |
| 16 | Lindsay, TX | 1,161 | $115,208 | 0.6% | |
| 17 | Tiki Island, TX | 1,209 | $124,000 | 1.3% | |
| 18 | Castle Hills, TX | 3,961 | $95,583 | 1.8% | |
| 19 | Double Oak, TX | 3,060 | $180,208 | 2.1% | |
| 20 | Barton Creek, TX | 3,281 | $193,971 | 2.6% | |
| 21 | Lost Creek, TX | 1,150 | $160,609 | 7.2% | |
| 22 | Salado, TX | 2,292 | $103,500 | 1.4% | |
| 23 | Meadowlakes, TX | 2,113 | $79,635 | 3.9% | |
| 24 | Hideaway, TX | 3,259 | $90,640 | 0.0% | |
| 25 | Ransom Canyon, TX | 1,081 | $111,458 | 3.1% | |
| 26 | Shoreacres, TX | 1,327 | $146,957 | 3.3% | |
| 27 | Weston Lakes, TX | 4,045 | $143,940 | 0.0% | |
| 28 | Emerald Bay, TX | 1,074 | $120,139 | 3.4% | |
| 29 | Dalworthington Gardens, TX | 2,061 | $138,542 | 3.6% | |
| 30 | Red Lick, TX | 1,534 | $136,250 | 0.9% | |
| 31 | Lorena, TX | 1,506 | $87,337 | 1.1% | |
| 32 | Shiner, TX | 2,284 | $95,380 | 3.0% | |
| 33 | Cross Mountain, TX | 4,510 | $198,623 | 3.2% | |
| 34 | El Lago, TX | 3,016 | $104,375 | 3.9% | |
| 35 | Lake Kiowa, TX | 2,496 | $123,098 | 0.0% | |
| 36 | Argyle, TX | 4,970 | $172,604 | 0.7% | |
| 37 | Panhandle, TX | 2,613 | $86,354 | 0.2% | |
| 38 | Meadows Place, TX | 4,689 | $92,736 | 3.5% | |
| 39 | Bayou Vista, TX | 1,916 | $114,063 | 4.1% | |
| 40 | Clear Lake Shores, TX | 1,182 | $111,563 | 4.3% | |
| 41 | Briarcliff, TX | 2,630 | $129,524 | 1.8% | |
| 42 | Shenandoah, TX | 3,597 | $67,422 | 1.6% | |
| 43 | Palm Valley, TX | 1,650 | $92,000 | 5.6% | |
| 44 | Garden Ridge, TX | 4,243 | $157,824 | 1.7% | |
| 45 | Krugerville, TX | 1,929 | $121,952 | 3.6% | |
| 46 | Central Gardens, TX | 3,491 | $81,042 | 5.2% | |
| 47 | Oak Ridge North, TX | 3,019 | $117,188 | 5.0% | |
| 48 | Haslet, TX | 2,710 | $146,161 | 1.0% | |
| 49 | Jourdanton, TX | 4,166 | $82,302 | 1.4% | |
| 50 | Shallowater, TX | 2,935 | $79,848 | 4.4% | |
| 51 | Hudson Oaks, TX | 2,484 | $138,500 | 2.4% | |
| 52 | Westlake, TX | 1,543 | $250,001 | 2.2% | |
| 53 | Port Aransas, TX | 3,141 | $88,311 | 0.0% | |
| 54 | Abernathy, TX | 3,108 | $76,850 | 1.0% | |
| 55 | Fort Clark Springs, TX | 1,146 | $73,503 | 0.0% | |
| 56 | Shady Shores, TX | 2,860 | $158,333 | 4.9% | |
| 57 | Horseshoe Bay, TX | 4,534 | $105,024 | 3.1% | |
| 58 | Decordova, TX | 3,086 | $113,676 | 4.6% | |
| 59 | Paloma Creek, TX | 3,250 | $88,850 | 1.3% | |
| 60 | Potosi, TX | 4,524 | $113,340 | 3.1% | |
| 61 | Point Venture, TX | 1,552 | $121,750 | 4.6% | |
| 62 | Hallsville, TX | 4,496 | $71,369 | 1.5% | |
| 63 | South Padre Island, TX | 2,852 | $61,578 | 6.5% | |
| 64 | Muenster, TX | 1,462 | $93,224 | 0.7% | |
| 65 | Coahoma, TX | 1,519 | $120,938 | 0.0% | |
| 66 | Panorama Village, TX | 2,524 | $76,906 | 3.4% | |
| 67 | Caldwell, TX | 4,238 | $74,764 | 0.0% | |
| 68 | Beach City, TX | 3,214 | $146,227 | 2.6% | |
| 69 | Gruver, TX | 1,255 | $66,333 | 1.5% | |
| 70 | Hackberry, TX | 2,927 | $118,000 | 2.9% | |
| 71 | Copper Canyon, TX | 2,257 | $143,304 | 8.0% | |
| 72 | Serenada, TX | 1,513 | $97,083 | 3.4% | |
| 73 | Claude, TX | 1,164 | $74,554 | 0.0% | |
| 74 | Westworth Village, TX | 2,618 | $90,750 | 2.4% | |
| 75 | Idalou, TX | 2,389 | $70,655 | 3.8% | |
| 76 | Mclendon-Chisholm, TX | 4,121 | $196,458 | 1.6% | |
| 77 | Bartonville, TX | 2,022 | $148,194 | 1.7% | |
| 78 | Bullard, TX | 4,080 | $108,304 | 1.9% | |
| 79 | Ponder, TX | 2,524 | $110,714 | 1.8% | |
| 80 | Hudson Bend, TX | 3,902 | $93,086 | 3.7% | |
| 81 | Oak Leaf, TX | 1,752 | $162,083 | 6.0% | |
| 82 | Wink, TX | 1,328 | $128,011 | 1.2% | |
| 83 | Denver City, TX | 4,388 | $84,333 | 2.8% | |
| 84 | Castroville, TX | 3,027 | $76,524 | 1.9% | |
| 85 | Flatonia, TX | 1,741 | $66,344 | 0.0% | |
| 86 | Morgan’s Point Resort, TX | 4,709 | $78,913 | 2.6% | |
| 87 | Lakeside Town (Tarrant County), TX | 1,495 | $108,214 | 2.9% | |
| 88 | Pantego, TX | 2,467 | $64,955 | 7.7% | |
| 89 | Whitesboro, TX | 4,154 | $73,638 | 2.9% | |
| 90 | Talty, TX | 2,727 | $136,917 | 4.2% | |
| 91 | St. Hedwig, TX | 2,839 | $117,617 | 0.7% | |
| 92 | La Grange, TX | 4,448 | $57,212 | 4.7% | |
| 93 | Gardendale, TX | 1,520 | $96,974 | 0.0% | |
| 94 | China Grove, TX | 1,395 | $103,000 | 3.0% | |
| 95 | Annetta, TX | 3,172 | $173,750 | 6.0% | |
| 96 | Rancho Viejo, TX | 2,834 | $83,512 | 4.4% | |
| 97 | Lamar, TX | 1,282 | $83,117 | 1.3% | |
| 98 | Farwell, TX | 1,359 | $56,932 | 0.0% | |
| 99 | Richwood, TX | 4,766 | $80,250 | 7.0% | |
| 100 | Poth, TX | 1,646 | $72,961 | 2.7% | 

