Stories & Success

Recognitions

The Brazos Valley routinely receives high marks for its business atmosphere and quality of life from a wide array of outlets. Below, you'll find a number of recognitions and rankings showcasing why our area is so great.

Be sure to also check out more about why companies are doing business here and why their employees enjoy living here.

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Niche - College Station (2022)
Overall Grade: A

  • #14 - Cities with the Best Public Schools in America (top 6%)

  • #22 - Best Cities to Raise a Family in America (top 10%)

  • #27 - Best Cities to Live in America (top 11%)

Niche - Bryan (2022)
Overall Grade: B+

  • #66 - Most Diverse Places to Live in Texas (top 6% in Texas, top 4% in America)

OpenPhone - College Station (2022)

  • #12 - Fastest-Growing Cities for Small Business in America (#1 in Texas)

Heartland Forward - College Station/Bryan (2022)

  • #2 - Most Dynamic Metros with Less Than 500,000 People in Texas

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Milken Institute - College Station/Bryan (2022)

  • #4 - Best-Performing Small Cities in Texas

  • #27 - Best-Performing Small Cities in the U.S. (out of 201 MSAs)

SmartAsset - College Station/Bryan (2022)

  • #17 - Best Housing Markets for Growth and Stability (out of 400 U.S. metro areas)

SmartAsset - College Station (2022)

  • #15 - Safest Cities in America (out of 200 of the U.S.'s largest cities)

Insurify - College Station (2022)

  • #1 City in Texas for Young Families

  • #5 City in the U.S. for Young Families

BestColleges - College Station (2022)

  • One of the 10 Best Texas Cities to Work In

U-Haul - College Station/Bryan (2022)

  • #1 in Texas on the U-Haul Growth Index

  • #7 in the U.S. on the U-Haul Growth Index

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Best College Town in Texas (Top 25 in America)

"The home of Texas A&M University was named the most educated city in Texas, and 11th most educated in the U.S. by Money magazine in 2006. Texas A&M’s status as a land, sea, and space-grant institution leads to a great deal of research in the area, as well as a stronger economy. Current research projects are being performed by big names such as NASA, the National Institute of Health, the National Science Foundation, and Office of Naval Research." (BestCollegeReviews.org, 2022)

24/7 Wall St. - College Station/Bryan (2022)

  • #9 - U.S. City Economies Growing the Fastest Before the Pandemic

Simplemost - College Station (2021)

  • One of the Fastest Growing Cities Everyone Wants to Move To

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Stacker - College Station (2021)

  • #25 - 100 Best Cities to Raise a Family

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Business Insider - College Station/Bryan (2020)

  • One of the Texas Cities America is in Love With

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Livability - College Station (2020)

  • #4 - Best Places to Live in Texas

  • #58 - Best Places to Live in the US (more than 1,000 cities examined)

"College Station is quickly establishing itself as a high-tech, research-centric community -- and biotech and energy companies have taken notice, setting up shop in the area's 'Biocorridor.' Plus, residents get small-town charm while staying connected to four major U.S. cities -- Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio and Houston are all just a quick trip away."
Livability.com
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WalletHub - College Station (2020)

  • #20 - Fastest Growing Cities in the U.S.

  • #6 - Fastest Growing Cities in Texas

  • #13 - Fastest Growing Mid-Sized Cities in the U.S. (Among 256 Cities)

WalletHub - Bryan (2020)

  • #3 - Fastest Growing Small-Sized Cities in Texas

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Downtown Bryan: A Great Place in Texas

"As with many communities, Bryan's downtown central business district experienced steady decline after World War II. However, in 2001, the City developed a Downtown Master Plan, which was key to Downtown Bryan's redevelopment and revitalization. Steady phased public investment to implement the plan sparked new business interests, including more than 50 restaurants, bars, and retail shops, four public theatres, three art galleries, and the renovated 50-room LaSalle Hotel, originally built in 1929." (American Planning Association)

Past Years of Rankings
Rankings in 2019

SmartAsset - College Station (2019)

  • #3 - Top Cities for Career Opportunities in the U.S.

  • #1 - Top Cities for Career Opportunities in Texas

Forbes - College Station/Bryan (2019)

  • #1 - Best Small Places for Business and Careers in Texas

  • #2 - Best Small Places for Business and Careers in the U.S.

  • #2 - Best Small Places for Cost of Business in Texas

  • #13 - Best Small Places for Cost of Business in the U.S.

  • #2 - Best Small Places for Job Growth in Texas

  • #22 - Best Small Places for Job Growth in the U.S.

  • #1 - Best Small Places for Education in Texas

  • #28 - Best Small Places for Education in the U.S.

SmartAsset - College Station (2019)

  • #16 - Top Boomtowns in America (out of 500 cities)

24/7 Wall Street - College Station/Bryan (2019)

  • #3 in Texas - America's Cheapest (Most Affordable) Cities Where Everyone Wants to Live Right Now

  • #39 in the U.S. - America's Cheapest (Most Affordable) Cities Where Everyone Wants to Live Right Now

Rankings in 2018

Livability - College Station (2018)

  • #1 - Best College Towns in Texas

  • #6 - Best College Towns in the US

Forbes - College Station/Bryan (2018)

  • #2 - Small Cities Creating the Most Business Services Jobs

Business Facilities - College Station/Bryan (2018)

  • #1 - Fastest Job Growth Rate in Texas (Mid-Sized Metro Areas)

  • #8 - Fastest Job Growth in the US (Mid-Sized Metro Areas)

  • #1 - Food Processing Employment (per capita) in Texas

  • #10 - Food Processing Employment (per capita) in the US

CardRates.com - College Station (2018)

  • #1 - 10 Cities Primed for Economic Growth & Opportunity

Kiplinger - College Station/Bryan (2018)

  • 15 Satellite Cities Poised to Thrive

TopManagementDegrees.com - College Station (2018)

  • #15 - Best US Towns for Small Business

Rankings in 2017

Headlight Data - College Station/Bryan (2012-2017)

  • #9 - Millennial (ages 25-34) Population Growth in the U.S. (Metro Areas with <500,000 Population)

  • #4 - MillennX (ages 34-39) Population Growth in the U.S. (Metro Areas with <500,000 Population)

  • #5 - Generation X (ages 40-54) Population Growth from in the U.S. (Metro Areas with <500,000 Population)

  • #7 - Baby Boomer (ages 55-69) Population Growth from in the U.S. (Metro Areas with <500,000 Population)

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