Best Places to Live in Tyler Metro Area, Texas

Although petroleum and related industries are still important, the city has diversified both commercially and culturally. Businesses in food processing, cotton and cottonseed oil, furniture, machining, forest products and retail distribution have developed. More recently the area has evolved into a healthcare and retail hub for the region; today the economy is relatively strong.

The well-kept downtown area has historic homes and is surrounded by mostly wooded, residential neighborhoods spreading mostly south into newer areas towards the suburban town of Whitehouse. Tyler does have some small cultural amenities, but on the whole there isn’t much to do. Outdoor recreation is available at nearby lakes and state parks. The most recent statistics show a rise in crime rate, which hurt the most recent ranking. On a Texas scale, the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex isn’t too far away, but the drive is long for some services and amenities.

The terrain is level to gently rolling with dense southern pine forests and intermittent agricultural land. The climate is mainly continental with a strong subtropical influence from the Gulf. Summer months are hot and fairly humid, but more comfortable than areas to the south near the Gulf. Winters are mild, with occasional, short periods of cold. Rainfall occurs as steady winter rains or as spring and summer thundershowers, which can be severe particularly in spring.