North Texas recently ranked No. 6 nationwide for senior living communities. (Age Cymru/Unsplash).
Dallas-Fort Worth is one of the best places in the country for senior living communities. Here’s what you need to know.
Sorting through senior living options can be difficult. From having to narrow down the type of community that meets you or your loved one’s needs, to ensuring you find something within your budget, it may take longer than originally anticipated to make the right decision. One plus for North Texas residents? US News & World Report actually ranked Dallas-Forth Worth No. 6 overall in the US for the highest number of quality senior living communities. The organization published its 2026 Best Senior Living Ratings on Tuesday, and several Texas cities made the cut, with DFW ranking the highest of the bunch.
To compile its rankings, US News relies on surveys gathered from residents at over 3,000 senior living facilities across the country—their families are also polled to determine a clearer understanding of everyone’s opinion of the communities and the amenities they provide. Dallas-Fort Worth ranked highest of the Texas cities because DFW has 39 senior living communities that are deemed the “best” of every available option. Houston was next in line with 25, followed by Austin with 17 and San Antonio with 15. A complete breakdown of the rankings and how they’re tallied up can be found here.
US News stated that the company was ultimately looking at several contributing factors when deciding which facilities were better than others. The 2026 report stated, “At each care level, accolades were awarded for high performance in Food, Feeling of Home, Management & Staff, and Enrichment.” Additional elements were considered for communities providing more specific levels of care, such as memory facilities.
Here’s why Dallas-Fort Worth ranked so highly
According to US News & World Report, Dallas-Fort Worth is considered one of the best places for quality senior living communities because 39 separate facilities received high scores on components such as:
- Caregiving and safety
- Activities and dining
- Staff responsiveness and management
- Social engagement and overall value
Liz Pearce, who serves as US News’s director, senior living, said in the official report that conducting this survey each year is important because, “By 2030, one in five Americans will be of retirement age, and while every individual’s path is different, many will eventually look to reside in a senior living community.” She added, “Whether seeking an active independent lifestyle or specialized care, US News’ 2026 Best Senior Living ratings help families navigate these options by identifying communities where residents and their families reported the highest levels of satisfaction.”
By having firsthand accounts of what the facilities are actually like for people who live there every day, it gives families across Texas the opportunity to make the best, most informed decision possible when looking at different communities for themselves or their family members. Things like the quality of food, number of activities, and whether a facility provides an environment that feels like home are some of the most important factors to consider. And, according to US News & World Report, these 10 are the best of the best of DFW’s impressive facilities:
- The Monarch at Richardson – Richardson
- Appletree Court – Richardson
- Pegasus Landing of Chisholm Trail – Keene
- Presbyterian Village North – Dallas
- Legacy Oaks of Midlothian Senior Living – Midlothian
- Sunrise of Plano – Plano
- Silverado – Southlake
- Brookdale Denton South – Denton
- Brookdale Oak Hollow – Bedford
- Brookdale Creekside – Plano
Hopefully this information helps you choose the most comfortable and exciting senior living option available.
