star-spangled flop

Texas fizzles again on 2026 list of most patriotic states in U.S.

Texas Capitol building with state and US flags

Texas ranks 45th for the second year in a row.

Texas has fizzled out once again as one of the least patriotic places in the U.S., according to a new report.

WalletHub's report, "Most Patriotic States in America (2026)", was released just ahead of America's 250th anniversary and compares the military and civic engagement levels across all 50 states. Factors such as the number of veterans per 1,000 civilian residents, the share of adults who voted in the 2024 presidential election, and volunteer rates were used to determine which states are the "most patriotic."

The Lone Star State sits at 45th out of 50 for the second year in a row. Texas first earned its surprising rank as the 6th least patriotic state in 2025, after previously ranking 36th in 2024. Texas' performance across the two main categories in the study remains unchanged year-over-year, with the state ranking 13th nationally for its military engagement and 47th in civic engagement.

Texas has the third-highest average number of military enlistees in the U.S., but it has the second-lowest percentage of adults who voted in the 2024 presidential election.

WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said the most patriotic states in America — this year they are Virginia, Montana, and Vermont — have high voter turnouts, a large share of residents who are veterans or active military, and boast a large share of the population that volunteers with local or national organizations.

Essentially, patriotism can be found in places where residents are "actively working to improve conditions for your fellow Americans," says WalletHub.

"Being a patriot means loving your country and its people while also recognizing its flaws and striving to make it the best it can be," the report's author wrote.

At least Texas is more patriotic than the bottom five states in the report: Florida (No. 46), Alabama (No. 47), Louisiana (No. 48), New York (No. 49), and Arkansas (No. 50).

The top 10 most patriotic states in America this year are:

No. 1 – Virginia
No. 2 – Montana
No. 3 – Vermont
No. 4 – Colorado
No. 5 – Oregon
No. 6 – North Dakota
No. 7 – Washington
No. 8 – Maryland
No. 9 – Minnesota
No. 10 – New Hampshire

texas wallethub reports 4th of july

GIVING IT 210 PERCENT

San Antonio banks top spot among America's most entrepreneurial cities

Photo by Andrés Góngora/ Pexels

San Antonio's entrepreurial spirit is alive and well

San Antonio businesses may seem to be shuttering at a rapid clip, but a new report from GoDaddy says that’s not curbing the city’s hustle. The 210 took the top spot on the web hosting company’s new list of America's Most Entrepreneurial Cities.

Alamo City jumped 11 percent year-over-year in small business growth, launching 9,232 new businesses. Each of those projects averaged five new jobs, according to GoDaddy's research, creating a ripple effect in the local economy.

The new business ventures took on various shapes, from traditional storefronts to online shops, and probably underestimated San Antonio’s real entrepreneurial spirit. During the recent NBA Finals, many locals took the opportunity to hawk Spurs merch that was not exactly sanctioned, but certainly kept spending in the city limits.

One thing driving the can-do attitude? Affordable housing. For the first time in the report’s history, GoDaddy partnered with real estate marketplace Zillow to dive deeper into what makes entrepreneurship work.

Zillow data revealed that the city's typical home value sits at $278,644, well under the national average of $366,712, and average rent runs $1,398 against the $1,930 national norm. The group’s Market Heat Index landed squarely at a neutral 50, giving no advantage to buyers or sellers — allowing business owners to plant roots without sticker shock.

"A thriving local economy and a thriving housing market tend to go hand in hand," said Zillow Chief Economist Mischa Fisher in a release. "When housing is attainable and plentiful, entrepreneurs feel more confident putting down roots and businesses find it easier to attract and keep talent.”

Elsewhere, Sun Belt states like Florida and New Mexico dominated the rankings, but El Paso was the only other Texas city to make the list. GoDaddy said a lack of state income tax was a particular draw for Texas and Florida founders. Much of the list diverged from what’s seen as the traditional hubs of business.

"The footprint of American entrepreneurship is shifting deeper into non-traditional places," said Alexandra Rosen, GoDaddy's small business economist. "The idea that you need to be in a major coastal city to build something has evolved.”

The top 10 most entrepreneurial cities in America are:

No. 1 — San Antonio, Texas
No. 2 — Miami, Florida
No. 3 — Milwaukee, Wisconsin
No. 4 — El Paso, Texas
No. 5 — Portland, Oregon
No. 6 — Fresno, California
No. 7 — Bronx, New York
No. 8 — Tampa, Florida
No. 9 — Albuquerque, New Mexico
No. 10 — Washington, D.C.

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