Denton, Texas

In a recent analysis of U.S. cities that qualify as “boomtowns” Denton finished number 2 among 500 different cities ranked. Based on positive trends in employment, new business, population growth and household income, Denton kind of has it all in a reasonably sized package. A college town, with a smashing music scene, it also has affordable housing with outsized average incomes and falling unemployment rates.

Here's a local's point of view on living here:
I moved here in 2008 for college and stayed after graduation. I really didn't experience the city until I graduated and started actually seeing what the town had to offer. In college I stuck to going to chain restaurants and the square was not the place to be 8-10 years ago.

Since 2012, I've come to feel like part of a community that cares for the city we live in. Its big enough that there's plenty to do, see, and enjoy but not too small that it is boring or lack of new things popping up. It took some time to get situated and really feel like Denton was my home, but it's really worth it.I like being a part of the arts community in town as well. It's so cool to see thriving and interesting artists around town and see those people making an impact in the community. Denton is great for grassroots things and community engagement.

Denton is one of the fastest growing cities in the country and if someone tells you that doesn’t carry any headaches with it we’d say they’re crooked as a barrel of fish hooks (Texas saying). Traffic here can be brutal and the roads are under heavy construction it seems all the time so just be prepared to have to navigate that whole scene. The pandemic reduced much of this but Texas went back to work in person more than most places and traffic seems to be picking back up where it left off pre-2020.

Here's a local's pov on the growth:
I would say its getting expensive as the growth happens (just like anywhere else), Construction, and road rage seems to be much worse. We are in an apartment for the time being, 2 bedroom 975 sq ft for $1600. It's going to get much uglier when they start the 380 expansion on the east side of Loop 288.

Denton is an active college town and a jumping downtown serves both the college kids and young professionals. It has been rated near the top of “America’s Most Underrated Party Towns”. With two Universities inside the city limits things can get a bit nuts near the town’s square where the majority of the bars and restaurants sit. All that said Denton also has plenty of suburban neighborhoods where you can steer clear of the revelry and raise your little ones in peace and quiet. Denton also hopes a large Arts and Jazz Festival and has a growing music scene so if you want to hang in the more “burb-style” neighborhoods most of the time, but some downtown for an occasional night out, Denton has you covered.

If you're interested in details on all the happenings check out the Denton calendar of events: https://www.discoverdenton.com/events/calendar/?view=list&sort=date