Houston is earning high praise for its prosperity, love and sustainability in a prestigious new report from Canada-based real estate and tourism marketing advisors Resonance Consultancy.

The annual “America’s Best Cities” report ranks the relative qualities of place, cultural diversity and economic prosperity for America’s top cities with metropolitan populations of 500,000 or more. These top 100 cities are “the engines of their regional and national economies and, more importantly, the global economy,” according to the report.

Houston ranked No. 10 on the list, with New York City (No. 1), Chicago (No. 2) and Los Angeles (No. 3) claiming the coveted top three spots.

Resonance refers to its 2023 “World’s Best Cities” report when describing Houston’s achievements, specifically reiterating how the city appears as an underdog among major Texas cities, particularly Austin.

“Austin may garner attention, but the Lone Star State’s promise of attracting Californians and New Yorkers is quietly being fulfilled in Houston,” the report reiterated.

Houston’s reputation as the Space City, combined with its vibrant culture (fueled by major events such as the Houston International Film Festival-WorldFest and various Juneteenth celebrations) are two prominent qualities in the report.

Of course, you can’t forget Houston’s strong economic ties to the oil and gas industry, with over a dozen major employers recently ranked among the best companies to work for. US News and World Report.

“While hometown companies like ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil and Phillips 66 have ensured that 40 percent of Houston’s economy is tied directly or indirectly to oil and gas, the city’s energy talent has made it an unlikely energy destination. green,” the report states. “According to a recent McKinsey report, up to $250 billion in investment could be headed Houston’s way by 2040 to leverage its skilled workforce and existing infrastructure.”

Additionally, Houston’s dining scene ranked fourth in the report’s restaurant subcategory, above popular foodie cities like San Francisco, Las Vegas and Miami. Resonance described the city’s “underrated” culinary scene as a tripartite fusion of Southern Soul, barbecue and Mexican influences “then tempered with global cuisine.”

For locals and die-hards looking for restaurant recommendations, the report yields just one: Newly opened in late August in Midtown, whose talented executive chef Sergio Hidalgo and sommelier/general manager Danny Davis blend “southern Mexican cuisine with the magic of West Africa”.

Elsewhere in Texas, Austin (No. 15) and Dallas (No. 16) ranked among the top 20 U.S. cities, with San Antonio at 32nd nationally. Landing outside the top 50 in the report were El Paso (No. 83) and McAllen (No. 88).

The top 10 American cities, according to Resonance Consultancy, are:

• No. 1 – New York, New York
• No. 2 – Chicago, Illinois
• No. 3 – Los Angeles, California
• No. 4 – Miami, Florida
• No. 5 – Las Vegas, Nevada
• No. 6 – San Francisco, California
• No. 7 – Boston, Massachusetts
• No. 8 – Washington, DC
• No. 9 – Seattle, Washington
• No. 10 – Houston, Texas

The full list of cities and the report’s methodology can be found at worldsbestcities.com.