63 North Texas towns ranked. Which came out on top? Which sank to the bottom? And where does your community fall on the list?
The city's pitch: "Roanoke has friendly, small-town charm and the amenities of a big city in the heart of [North Texas]. Residents enjoy our heritage dating to the 1840s and the amenities including our thriving, popular downtown gathering place. In 2009, Roanoke was named the Unique Dining Capital of Texas (by the Texas State Legislature) and the city features more than 40 delicious restaurants and unique shops. We have an outstanding state-of-the-art recreation center offering fitness programs, a large gymnasium, cultural and recreational classes and child care. Our new soccer complex and baseball fields are home to active leagues, and Roanoke has many parks, including a beautiful community swimming pool and new Hawaiian Falls Waterpark. The library offers classes, storytimes and creative programming for children, teens and adults. Next door, the Community Center has available space for reserved use and regular activities for seniors. Enjoy the high quality of life, low taxes, and friendly neighborhoods Roanoke offers: from historic original old-town treasures to brand new luxury homes, upscale apartment living, and a variety of quality, reasonable housing options."