Garland is ranked No. 1 in Texas and No. 8 in the country on a recently released 2020 list of Best Cities for First-Time Homebuyers.
The study from personal finance website SmartAsset compared 185 cities using 12 metrics, including five-year home value appreciation, effective property tax rate, average commute time and violent crime rate.
Garland scored 91.64 of the study’s possible 100 points in the employment category, ranking third overall and best in Texas. The unemployment rate and change in median household income were contributing factors. The city posted a 32% growth in household income over five years.
Garland also featured a median home value increase of 56% between 2013 and 2018.
“With incomes rising, individuals may be able to put more money toward their savings and potential down payment,” the study said of Garland.
Other Texas cities in the overall top 30 included Frisco at No. 11, Irving at No. 12, Arlington at No. 18, Pasadena at No. 23, Plano at No. 24 and McKinney at No. 27.