Richardson, TX

Answer 1

It’s likely that most non-Texans have never heard of Richardson, but that’s not due to anything the city lacks. This well-off suburb of Dallas is a major hub for telecommunications technology, and the economy has remained strong in the past few years, despite the country suffering a downturn. With that modest affluence as its base, it’s no wonder that Richardson is known throughout Texas for the strength of its schools, its rich and varied arts scene, and its high quality of life.

Richardson’s school system is truly exemplary, and is one of the main reasons this small city is consistently regarded as an excellent place to raise children. Many schools in the Richardson district are Blue Ribbon schools, the highest honor a school can be given by the United States government. The Texas Business and Education Coalition has also recognized 40% of Richardson’s school to be on its Honor Roll; the state average is 4%. Beyond statistics and awards, though, the overall spirit of the city clearly values education: as the physical home of the University of Texas in Dallas, the importance of high-quality education is seen by all.

But schools alone are not enough to truly enrich the lives of children; they also need culture—and adults certainly also benefit from taking the time to appreciate and create art and music! As the location of both the Wildflower and Cottonwood Arts Festivals, among others, this little city clearly still packs quite an artistic punch, and both the visual and musical arts are well respected and encouraged.

Beyond these obvious advantages, living in Richardson has a more amorphous but arguably even more important benefit: a high quality of life. Despite being so close to Dallas, the safety of Richardson’s streets is well-known, and crime rates are quite low. A ban on public smoking was passed in 2009, showing the city’s commitment to the health of its citizens, and with relatively low housing costs, fully owning one’s own home can be eventually realized. With all of these considerations in mind, it’s clear that Richardson would be excellent place to live—and to start, and raise, a family.