The 10 Biggest Cities In Texas

Texas is one of the most populous and largest states in the U.S. While its 10 largest cities include San Antonio and Houston, the Lone Star State has many other vast municipalities and some of the best cities in the country for high standards of living.

Typically associated with agriculture, the state of Texas still has plenty of cities that are considered large by national standards.

Table of Contents

The Biggest Cities in Texas

NumberCityPopulation
1Houston2,320,268
2San Antonio1,547,253
3Dallas1,343,573
4Austin978,908
5Fort Worth909,585
6El Paso681,728
7Arlington398,854
8Corpus Christi326,586
9Plano287,677
10Laredo262,491

1. Houston: 2,320,268

Houston is the largest city in Texas with a population of over 2 million. It is often considered the most attractive urban location in the state.

It is estimated that almost 20% of the residents of Houston were not born in the US. But most of them integrate very well through common activities such as sports, an area for which Houston is known due to its many athletic teams.

The city also has an interesting arts scene, with the Houston Theatre District being a great area to explore – it has 9 theatre performing arts groups in an area of just a few thousand square feet.

You can see a variety of performances influenced by both North and South American culture here.

2. San Antonio: 1,547,253

San Antonio is the second-largest city in the state of Texas. As a major military and sports city, it can be said that San Antonio encourages an active lifestyle. High standards of living and high wages also make it an excellent place to live.

San Antonio is also a great place to visit due to its many attractions. For outdoor activities, you can simply walk the River Walk to get some fresh air and stop for a cup of coffee or a quick lunch at one of the restaurants in the area.

The San Fernando Cathedral is also a place of interest as the city has a large percentage of Hispanics of the Catholic faith, making this cathedral an important San Antonio landmark.

3. Dallas: 1,343,573

Dallas was initially a city that relied on farming and the trading of livestock. Since its humble beginnings, it has managed to diversify its economy further. Entertainment, energy, and financial services are now growing in the city.

It all started when AT&T decided to move its headquarters to Dallas. Exxon Mobile, Vistra Energy, and even Atmos Energy eventually moved here as well, prompting many people from in and from outside the state to follow suit.

In 2015 Dallas saw all of these merits nationally recognized. Forbes Magazine called it the “place to be” when it comes to setting up a company or finding a good job.

4. Austin: 978,908

Austin is the third-largest city in the state. It attracts people from all over the country for its excellent facilities and low housing costs. It is smaller than Dallas, but it also has excellent employment opportunities.

You can work in the military if you live in Austin, but tech giants also have a strong presence here. Blizzard, AMD, Apple, eBay, PayPal, and HostGator are often taking on new staff in Austin.

5. Fort Worth: 909,585

Fort Worth is a growing Texas city with a population of nearly 1 million. It represents strong potential for economic growth right behind the state’s most populous cities.

Radio Shack and American Airlines both have headquarters in Fort Worth, providing job opportunities for its residents. You can even visit the American Airlines C.R. Smith Museum here. If you’re after one-of-a-kind urban architecture, you need to stop by the Fort Worth Water Gardens.

This unique fountain makes this large Texas city a bit more bearable during the high summer heat.

6. El Paso: 681,728

El Paso enjoys great popularity in the media through its features in Hollywood movies. It has multiple annual events that are unique in comparison to other Texas cities.

For example, you can see the KLAQ Great River Raft Race here every year. It also hosts one of the largest Hispanic festivals in the South – Fiesta de las Flores – which takes place here every year.

It has multiple live events, including music and military-inspired, and excellent shopping opportunities. These events often attract up to 30,000 visitors from all around the state.

7. Arlington: 398,854

Arlington is a large city in Texas with excellent leisure activities and economic prospects. Sports fans come here to see the Texas Rangers or Dallas Cowboys play live.

The economic prospects of the city are also good. There’s a General Motors plant here that has growth potential, and the University of Texas and Six Flags employ thousands who live in this city.

8. Corpus Christi: 326,586

The city of Corpus Christi benefits from the largest inland port in the Gulf of Mexico. Because of this, there is a strong military presence here.

There are more than 6,000 locals employed by the army in Corpus Christi, but the city also offers excellent oil resources and a fine selection of tourist attractions.

The city is near King Ranch, one of the largest ranches in the world with a total surface area of thousands of square miles. It’s an excellent resource for the state’s food industry.

9. Plano: 287,677

Image: Flickr / Eric Fredericks

Plano is a growing town in Texas that isn’t as popular as Austin but still has a good economy. Its residents can work for some of the large companies that have a presence in this city.

Capital One Finance employs more than 5,000 people in Plano, and DXC B-2-B employs thousands as well. Bank of America Loans, Toyota, and Red Bee Media also employ thousands of Plano’s residents.

10. Laredo: 262,491

The city of Laredo is the 10th largest in the state of Texas. It sits right on the Mexican border and as such represents one of the largest municipalities situated at the Southern U.S. border.

It has the largest land entrance to the U.S., and it plays a pivotal role for those crossing into North America from Central and South America.