If you’ve been keeping up with our newsletter, it’s no surprise that 2025 was a packed year for our city. We’re taking a look back at what some national outlets and organizations ranked Fort Worth.

🏗️ Fort Worth on the rise

DFW ranked No. 1 on the list of the top growth metros by the U-Haul Growth Index.
Fort Worth was ranked No. 1 in the US in processing development permits.
FTW is one of the top rising powerhouses in the US, ranking No. 5 on its list of best large cities for economic growth.
Forbes also ranked Panther City as No. 5 out of 10 top cities for entrepreneurs.

✈️ Travel + lifestyle recognition

FTW was listed No. 1 on Travel + Leisure’s “Best Places to Live in Texas.”
Fort Worth ranked No. 4 on Reader’s Digest’s list of the “16 Best Places to Travel in 2026 for Memory-Making Adventures,” joining international destinations like Milan and Seoul.
DFW International Airport was rated No. 4 for overall customer satisfaction at a mega airport in North America.

🎶 Arts, culture + things we love

Fort Worth's Kimbell Art Museum was rated No. 1 best free attraction in the state of Texas.
Dickies Arena was listed at No. 4 on Billboard’s top venues with a 10,001-15,000 capacity. Last year, the venue grossed $74.3 million.
Goldee’s Barbecue ranked No. 3 on the “Top 50 best BBQ of 2025” list, and Dayne’s Craft BBQ came in at No. 7.

Bonus brag

TCU students ranked No. 1 happiest, according to The Princeton Review.

Pro tip: Check out our City Guides to find out what the buzz is about + see how we do in 2026 by subscribing (for free) to our daily newsletter.