Texas dominates prosperous city rankings

​​​SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Six Texas cities snagged spots on RentCafé’s list of the 20 most prosperous cities in the U.S. 

Odessa ranked first, boasting a 91 percent change in home value from 2000 to 2016. Incomes in the city grew 38 percent, and population increased by 25 percent. The poverty rate and unemployment rate dropped 36 and 24 percent, respectively. 

Other Texas cities in the top 20 are No. 7 Pearland, No. 9 Brownsville, No. 10 Midland, No. 14 Fort Worth, and No. 16 El Paso. 

According to RentCafé​, U.S.-wide crude oil production saw a 50 percent boost between 2000 and 2016, and Texas produces over a third of the nation’s crude oil. The increase in the petroleum industry activity bolstered the Midland-Odessa area’s economy.

California had the second most number of cities on the list with five. ​​​​​