Its always nice to see these lists come out about how great living in the Texas Panhandle is. They all pretty much look at the same things, stuff like Cost of Living, Crime, Housing, Education and the like. While all these are fine and dandy and a good place to go  there's always more to a town than the numbers. the folks over at Niche.com which looks more at education recently took a look at the Panhandle and it looks like a few of our communities around Amarillo made the grade. If you need small town living here's a few suggestions.

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Canyon

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Michael J. Rivera/TSM
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Ah yes, Canyon seems to find itself on lists like these often and there's plenty of good reason, The quiet town of just a hair over 15,000 offers close access to Amarillo but still feels like a very separate place in it's own right. Canyon ISD receives high marks and there are plenty of community events that keep the calendar full. Add in West Texas A&M with local housing averaging out at $162,000 and you have a pretty solid package with great value.

Panhandle

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If you happen to find yourself heading east on US 60, take Broadway right into the heart of Panhandle and you'll find another town that scores high on livability in the Texas Panhandle, and wouldn't you know it, it's actually named Panhandle. The Conservative town is about 30 minutes east of Amarillo and the 2,600 folks who call it home are proud of the school ratings and a more rural way of life. Night life may not be the main story here but Amarillo isn't too far off. A quick stop at Brickstreet for a bite or Panther Pizza will have you feelin' right at home in no time.

Claude

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Down 287 is the neat town of Claude. The Panhandle town and county seat of Armstrong County with a population just over 1300 offers great schools and a rural feel too, Claude has an interesting tie to the Indiana Jones franchise as the final scene of "The Last Crusade" Where Indy, his father, Marcus and Sallah were riding off into the sunset was filmed here. A quick trip down State highway 207 will also put you into some very scenic areas of Palo Duro Canyon. Housing like most other areas is affordable and well under the national average, sitting at $132,000. Breakfast at the Burrow is a must.

Every rating has their rights and wrongs. What do you think? Perhaps Clarendon or Dumas should be on the list? Maybe Borger or Pampa? What makes your neck of the Panhandle special? Let us know on the app and while you're here, keep scrolling to check out a few other great towns nearby

The Somewhat Small Towns of the Texas Panhandle

Say what now? Somewhat small?

That's right. These are the towns that seem massive when compared to teensy weensie two-stoplight towns like Pringle (30) or Kerrick (25), but they're definitely not on the same level as cities like White Deer or Panhandle....much less Amarillo.

Buckle up! We've got a places to go and towns to see! These populations are well over 100, but way less than 1000.

All aboard the Somewhat Small Texas Panhandle Towns tour!

The Charm of Main Street and Downtown Borger, Texas

This once-lawless Wild West boomtown is now a quiet town of 13,000 nestled in the Texas Panhandle. Located 40 miles north of Amarillo and 13 miles from Lake Meredith, the city of Borger is your typical small town. Friendly faces and warm greetings will surround you as you stroll down Borger's Main Street--a trip we highly recommend you take at least once in your life time.

The Hidden Life of Chillicothe, the Littlest "Big Town" on US-287

If you've driven between Amarillo and Dallas at any point of your life, you've gone through Chillicothe. This sleepy town seems nearly abandoned at first glance.....but wait! There's a little glimmer of life in there yet....Take a look at what's stirring within the Iris Village.

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