Population: 6,346,653
Average annual salary: $51,830
Quality of life: 6.4
Value: 7.5
Houston is a major player in the oil and gas, manufacturing, aerospace, and healthcare industries – it’s also home to 26 Fortune 500 companies. According to one local expert, “a paycheck goes further in Houston than it does in other major cities, with affordable housing and free or cheap attractions.” Plus, the city has an affinity for food, counting some 11,000 restaurants within its boundaries.