Houston was named multiple times in an open-ended survey asking Americans where in the U.S. they'd like to live.
Why it matters: The survey didn't have a drop-down or multiple-choice option. Respondents actually typed in Houston as their choice when asked where they would like to live and where the best job opportunities are.
About 2,000 people nationwide were asked to name the top three U.S. towns or cities they would most like to live in someday.
New York, Los Angeles, Miami, San Diego and Chicago took the top five spots, while Houston ranked 11th.
Zoom out: The marketing firm also did its own "best cities" rankings using hard metrics like GDP and unemployment and softer indicators like TripAdvisor reviews and Instagram activity.
Houston came in 13th overall. Dallas was 14th, Austin was 15th and San Antonio was 41st.
The Dallas area was No. 11 for livability, No. 20 for lovability and No. 6 for prosperity.
The intrigue: The report's authors highlighted record Port of Houston traffic in 2024, Chevron's headquarters being moved to town and relatively affordable housing, among other things, as reasons for the region's allure.
"H-Town is a coveted hometown for the best and brightest on earth and beyond," the ranking's authors wrote. "Houston keeps defying gravity."
Between the lines: The results reflect cities' perception and image, not necessarily reality.
