Are you living the American dream? If you’re living in West Texas, you’ve got a better shot that most places, according to a study by SmartAsset on the best cities for living the American dream.
According to the SmartAsset criteria, an American dream city includes “homeownership, economic opportunity and diverse communities. For these people, they need to live in a city where homes, and mortgages, are affordable and where it’s possible to climb the economic ladder.”
And Texas, where half the cities in the Top 10 rankings are located, is the place to be. Fort Worth ranks No. 6, just below Round Rock and above Aurora, Colorado. (It also helps if your city is named Aurora. Aurora, Illinois is ranked No. 4). Odessa and Midland came in at No. 2 and No. 3 respectively while Amarillo notched No. 9. No. 1 was West Valley City, Utah.
Here’s what the study by SmartAsset, a financial technology company, had to say about Fort Worth.
Fort Worth is one of the most affordable cities in our top 10. Many residents in this city should be able to afford a home. The median home here is worth only $151,000, which is well below the national average. However, the homeownership rate is slightly low for our top 10 suggesting it takes more than affordable homes to encourage people to buy vs. rent.
Fort Worth is let down by its mobility score, however. This city ranks 132nd out of 250 cities in upward mobility for its residents.
For more on the study: https://smartasset.com/mortgage/the-best-cities-for-living-the-american-dream-in-2018