Which Texas City Gives You the Best Overall Fit?

Six tracked cities spanning $1,073 in El Paso to $1,729 in Austin.

EverydayBudd Editorial · Data as of July 27, 2026 · Rent, income, home value and commute from the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 2024 5-year estimates); crime from the FBI Crime Data Explorer (2024). Other city comparison figures are illustrative estimates, not agency measurements.

Population

30.2M

ACS 2024

Median Rent

$1,403/mo

ACS 2024

Median Income

$78,476/yr

ACS 2024

Median Home Value

$283,800

ACS 2024

Cheapest RentEl Paso$1,073/mo

Lowest Rent ShareFrisco16.1% of income

Best CommuteLubbock15 min avg

Top RatedEl PasoScore 64

How affordable is Texas on local pay?

Statewide, a median rent of $1,403/mo set against a median household income of $78,476/yr comes to 21.5% of gross income (ACS 2024). Budget guides often cite 30% of income as the mark for comfortable rent, though that's a convention rather than a rule. Texas's 21.5% sits under it.

The cheapest rent isn't automatically the most affordable place to earn a living. El Paso has the lowest rent at $1,073/mo, yet Frisco leaves more of a local paycheck intact: rent runs 16.1% of median income there, against 21.6% in El Paso. Lowest rent and lowest share of local wages are two separate answers, and only the second one accounts for what people here actually earn.

Texas is one of the clearest examples of why state-level labels are not enough. El Paso keeps median rent at $1,073 while Austin reaches $1,729 with a median household income of $93,658 and a 30.7% remote work rate. Same state, completely different math.

Some cities offer stronger value, some more energy, and others more comfort or better tradeoffs on safety and access. This page compares Texas cities so you can pick based on fit instead of hype.

12 Cities in Texas

Pick a city to see everything from crime data to commute patterns.

El Paso

Pop. 868,859

Rent $1,073Crime 109

Safety

Cost of Living

Roads & Traffic

Healthcare

El Paso data profile

Baseline metrics from public datasets. Real Census and FBI figures are marked sourced. Modeled categories are illustrative estimates.

Crime & Safety

Sourced data

Index vs. national average (2024)

Violent crime index109 · Near average

Property crime index117 · Near average

100 = national average (the tick). Lower is safer.

Public crime index data (2024). 100 = national average.

Cost of Living

Sourced data

Rent, income & tax burden

Median rent: $1,073/mo
Median household income: $59,745/yr
Rent-to-income: 21.6%
Effective income tax: 0%
Combined sales tax: 8.25%
Effective property tax: 2.3%

Monthly budget on $4,979/mo median income

Rent 22%

Remaining 78%

$1,073 rent, $3,906 left before other costs.

Rent & income: Census ACS 5-year estimates. Tax: illustrative effective-rate estimate, not from filed records.

Commute Reality Check

Sourced data

Distribution & mode split (2024)

Mean commute: 21.3 min
Median commute: 22 min
90th-percentile commute: 42 min
Super-commuters (60 min+): 3.8%
Drive alone: 75.4%
Transit: 0.9%
Work from home: 8.9%
Walk: 0.2%
Bike: 0.5%
Carpool: 11.6%

How people get to work

Drive 75%

Census ACS 5-year (B08303, B08006, B08013, B08301). WFH trend vs 2019 national baseline.

Healthcare Access

Illustrative estimate

8-dimension health system assessment

Overall access: 55/100

Illustrative healthcare access proxy scores (0-100). Modeled estimate, not official data.

Quality of Life

Illustrative estimate

7 livability dimensions

Housing cost: 68/100

Illustrative quality-of-life proxy scores (0-100). Modeled estimate, not official data.

Environmental Quality

Illustrative estimate

Air & water safety (2023)

Median AQI: 52

Illustrative estimates modeled on EPA AQS (air) and EPA SDWIS / EWG (water) methodology. Not official EPA measurements.

Natural Disaster & Climate Risk

Illustrative estimate

8-hazard risk profile (2024)

Overall risk: 30/100

Illustrative risk estimates modeled on FEMA NRI, NOAA, USGS, EPA methodology. Not official FEMA data.

Internet & Connectivity

Illustrative estimate

Broadband speeds & access (2024)

Median download (Mbps): 135

Illustrative estimates modeled on FCC BDC, Ookla, NTIA methodology. Not official FCC data.

Food Environment

Illustrative estimate

Food access & diversity (2024)

Food score: 40/100

Illustrative estimates modeled on USDA Food Environment Atlas methodology. Not official USDA data.

Migration Patterns

Illustrative estimate

Who's moving in & out (2022, modeled estimate)

Net migration: -5,800

Illustrative estimates modeled on IRS SOI, Census ACS mobility, PEP methodology. Not official IRS data.

School Quality

Illustrative estimate

Spending, outcomes & equity (2023)

Per-pupil spending: $9,840

Illustrative estimates modeled on NCES, NAEP, ED Data Express methodology. Not official NCES data.

Economic Resilience

Illustrative estimate

Industry mix & business dynamism (2023)

Top industry: Military & Government (18.5%)

Illustrative estimates modeled on BLS, Census BDS, BEA methodology. Not official BLS data.

Utility Costs

Illustrative estimate

Seasonal curves & energy mix (2023)

Total per month: $215/mo

Illustrative estimates modeled on EIA, NREL, EPA WaterSense methodology. Not official EIA data.

Pet Friendliness

Illustrative estimate

Dog parks, vet access & pet housing (2023)

Pet score: 48/100

Illustrative estimates modeled on Trust for Public Land, AVMA methodology. Not official figures.

Parks & Outdoor Access

Illustrative estimate

Park walkability, trails & nature reach (2023)

Park score: 38/100

Illustrative estimates modeled on Trust for Public Land ParkScore, EPA EnviroAtlas methodology. Not official figures.

View full dashboard for El Paso

Austin

Pop. 2,283,371

Rent $1,729Crime 109

Safety

Cost of Living

Roads & Traffic

Healthcare

Austin data profile

Baseline metrics from public datasets. Real Census and FBI figures are marked sourced. Modeled categories are illustrative estimates.

Crime & Safety

Sourced data

Index vs. national average (2024)

Violent crime index109 · Near average

Property crime index117 · Near average

100 = national average (the tick). Lower is safer.

Public crime index data (2024). 100 = national average.

Cost of Living

Sourced data

Rent, income & tax burden

Median rent: $1,729/mo
Median household income: $93,658/yr
Rent-to-income: 22.2%
Effective income tax: 0%
Combined sales tax: 8.25%
Effective property tax: 1.9%

Monthly budget on $7,805/mo median income

Rent 22%

Remaining 78%

$1,729 rent, $6,076 left before other costs.

Rent & income: Census ACS 5-year estimates. Tax: illustrative effective-rate estimate, not from filed records.

Commute Reality Check

Sourced data

Distribution & mode split (2024)

Mean commute: 16.4 min
Median commute: 22 min
90th-percentile commute: 46 min
Super-commuters (60 min+): 4.5%
Drive alone: 56%
Transit: 2%
Work from home: 30.7%
Walk: 0.8%
Bike: 1%
Carpool: 6.4%

How people get to work

Drive 56%

WFH 31%

Census ACS 5-year (B08303, B08006, B08013, B08301). WFH trend vs 2019 national baseline.

Healthcare Access

Illustrative estimate

8-dimension health system assessment

Overall access: 69/100

Illustrative healthcare access proxy scores (0-100). Modeled estimate, not official data.

Quality of Life

Illustrative estimate

7 livability dimensions

Housing cost: 42/100

Illustrative quality-of-life proxy scores (0-100). Modeled estimate, not official data.

Environmental Quality

Illustrative estimate

Air & water safety (2023)

Median AQI: 44

Illustrative estimates modeled on EPA AQS (air) and EPA SDWIS / EWG (water) methodology. Not official EPA measurements.

Natural Disaster & Climate Risk

Illustrative estimate

8-hazard risk profile (2024)

Overall risk: 40/100

Illustrative risk estimates modeled on FEMA NRI, NOAA, USGS, EPA methodology. Not official FEMA data.

Internet & Connectivity

Illustrative estimate

Broadband speeds & access (2024)

Median download (Mbps): 260

Illustrative estimates modeled on FCC BDC, Ookla, NTIA methodology. Not official FCC data.

Food Environment

Illustrative estimate

Food access & diversity (2024)

Food score: 75/100

Illustrative estimates modeled on USDA Food Environment Atlas methodology. Not official USDA data.

Migration Patterns

Illustrative estimate

Who's moving in & out (2022, modeled estimate)

Net migration: 26,300

Illustrative estimates modeled on IRS SOI, Census ACS mobility, PEP methodology. Not official IRS data.

School Quality

Illustrative estimate

Spending, outcomes & equity (2023)

Per-pupil spending: $11,240

Illustrative estimates modeled on NCES, NAEP, ED Data Express methodology. Not official NCES data.

Economic Resilience

Illustrative estimate

Industry mix & business dynamism (2023)

Top industry: Technology (18.5%)

Illustrative estimates modeled on BLS, Census BDS, BEA methodology. Not official BLS data.

Utility Costs

Illustrative estimate

Seasonal curves & energy mix (2023)

Total per month: $228/mo

Illustrative estimates modeled on EIA, NREL, EPA WaterSense methodology. Not official EIA data.

Pet Friendliness

Illustrative estimate

Dog parks, vet access & pet housing (2023)

Pet score: 82/100

Illustrative estimates modeled on Trust for Public Land, AVMA methodology. Not official figures.

Parks & Outdoor Access

Illustrative estimate

Park walkability, trails & nature reach (2023)

Park score: 74/100

Illustrative estimates modeled on Trust for Public Land ParkScore, EPA EnviroAtlas methodology. Not official figures.

View full dashboard for Austin

Fort Worth

Pop. 918,915

Rent $1,509Crime 109

Safety

Cost of Living

Roads & Traffic

Healthcare

Fort Worth data profile

Baseline metrics from public datasets. Real Census and FBI figures are marked sourced. Modeled categories are illustrative estimates.

Crime & Safety

Sourced data

Index vs. national average (2024)

Violent crime index109 · Near average

Property crime index117 · Near average

100 = national average (the tick). Lower is safer.

Public crime index data (2024). 100 = national average.

Cost of Living

Sourced data

Rent, income & tax burden

Median rent: $1,509/mo
Median household income: $79,507/yr
Rent-to-income: 22.8%
Effective income tax: 0%
Combined sales tax: 8.25%
Effective property tax: 2.2%

Monthly budget on $6,626/mo median income

Rent 23%

Remaining 77%

$1,509 rent, $5,117 left before other costs.

Rent & income: Census ACS 5-year estimates. Tax: illustrative effective-rate estimate, not from filed records.

Commute Reality Check

Sourced data

Distribution & mode split (2024)

Mean commute: 23.3 min
Median commute: 24 min
90th-percentile commute: 56 min
Super-commuters (60 min+): 7.9%
Drive alone: 71.7%
Transit: 0.5%
Work from home: 14%
Walk: 0.1%
Bike: 0.5%
Carpool: 10.6%

How people get to work

Drive 72%

WFH 14%

Census ACS 5-year (B08303, B08006, B08013, B08301). WFH trend vs 2019 national baseline.

Healthcare Access

Illustrative estimate

8-dimension health system assessment

Overall access: 63/100

Illustrative healthcare access proxy scores (0-100). Modeled estimate, not official data.

Quality of Life

Illustrative estimate

7 livability dimensions

Housing cost: 55/100

Illustrative quality-of-life proxy scores (0-100). Modeled estimate, not official data.

Environmental Quality

Illustrative estimate

Air & water safety (2023)

Median AQI: 50

Illustrative estimates modeled on EPA AQS (air) and EPA SDWIS / EWG (water) methodology. Not official EPA measurements.

Natural Disaster & Climate Risk

Illustrative estimate

8-hazard risk profile (2024)

Overall risk: 39/100

Illustrative risk estimates modeled on FEMA NRI, NOAA, USGS, EPA methodology. Not official FEMA data.

Internet & Connectivity

Illustrative estimate

Broadband speeds & access (2024)

Median download (Mbps): 198

Illustrative estimates modeled on FCC BDC, Ookla, NTIA methodology. Not official FCC data.

Food Environment

Illustrative estimate

Food access & diversity (2024)

Food score: 48/100

Illustrative estimates modeled on USDA Food Environment Atlas methodology. Not official USDA data.

Migration Patterns

Illustrative estimate

Who's moving in & out (2022, modeled estimate)

Net migration: 9,800

Illustrative estimates modeled on IRS SOI, Census ACS mobility, PEP methodology. Not official IRS data.

School Quality

Illustrative estimate

Spending, outcomes & equity (2023)

Per-pupil spending: $10,480

Illustrative estimates modeled on NCES, NAEP, ED Data Express methodology. Not official NCES data.

Economic Resilience

Illustrative estimate

Industry mix & business dynamism (2023)

Top industry: Aerospace & Defense (14.2%)

Illustrative estimates modeled on BLS, Census BDS, BEA methodology. Not official BLS data.

Utility Costs

Illustrative estimate

Seasonal curves & energy mix (2023)

Total per month: $242/mo

Illustrative estimates modeled on EIA, NREL, EPA WaterSense methodology. Not official EIA data.

Pet Friendliness

Illustrative estimate

Dog parks, vet access & pet housing (2023)

Pet score: 54/100

Illustrative estimates modeled on Trust for Public Land, AVMA methodology. Not official figures.

Parks & Outdoor Access

Illustrative estimate

Park walkability, trails & nature reach (2023)

Park score: 44/100

Illustrative estimates modeled on Trust for Public Land ParkScore, EPA EnviroAtlas methodology. Not official figures.

View full dashboard for Fort Worth

San Antonio

Pop. 2,558,143

Rent $1,324Crime 109

Safety

Cost of Living

Roads & Traffic

Healthcare

San Antonio data profile

Baseline metrics from public datasets. Real Census and FBI figures are marked sourced. Modeled categories are illustrative estimates.

Crime & Safety

Sourced data

Index vs. national average (2024)

Violent crime index109 · Near average

Property crime index117 · Near average

100 = national average (the tick). Lower is safer.

Public crime index data (2024). 100 = national average.

Cost of Living

Sourced data

Rent, income & tax burden

Median rent: $1,324/mo
Median household income: $65,056/yr
Rent-to-income: 24.4%
Effective income tax: 0%
Combined sales tax: 8.25%
Effective property tax: 2.1%

Monthly budget on $5,421/mo median income

Rent 24%

Remaining 76%

$1,324 rent, $4,097 left before other costs.

Rent & income: Census ACS 5-year estimates. Tax: illustrative effective-rate estimate, not from filed records.

Commute Reality Check

Sourced data

Distribution & mode split (2024)

Mean commute: 21.2 min
Median commute: 23 min
90th-percentile commute: 48 min
Super-commuters (60 min+): 5.3%
Drive alone: 68.3%
Transit: 2%
Work from home: 13.5%
Walk: 0.3%
Bike: 0.8%
Carpool: 12.4%

How people get to work

Drive 68%

Carpool 12%

WFH 14%

Census ACS 5-year (B08303, B08006, B08013, B08301). WFH trend vs 2019 national baseline.

Healthcare Access

Illustrative estimate

8-dimension health system assessment

Overall access: 64/100

Illustrative healthcare access proxy scores (0-100). Modeled estimate, not official data.

Quality of Life

Illustrative estimate

7 livability dimensions

Housing cost: 62/100

Illustrative quality-of-life proxy scores (0-100). Modeled estimate, not official data.

Environmental Quality

Illustrative estimate

Air & water safety (2023)

Median AQI: 46

Illustrative estimates modeled on EPA AQS (air) and EPA SDWIS / EWG (water) methodology. Not official EPA measurements.

Natural Disaster & Climate Risk

Illustrative estimate

8-hazard risk profile (2024)

Overall risk: 41/100

Illustrative risk estimates modeled on FEMA NRI, NOAA, USGS, EPA methodology. Not official FEMA data.

Internet & Connectivity

Illustrative estimate

Broadband speeds & access (2024)

Median download (Mbps): 185

Illustrative estimates modeled on FCC BDC, Ookla, NTIA methodology. Not official FCC data.

Food Environment

Illustrative estimate

Food access & diversity (2024)

Food score: 49/100

Illustrative estimates modeled on USDA Food Environment Atlas methodology. Not official USDA data.

Migration Patterns

Illustrative estimate

Who's moving in & out (2022, modeled estimate)

Net migration: 10,400

Illustrative estimates modeled on IRS SOI, Census ACS mobility, PEP methodology. Not official IRS data.

School Quality

Illustrative estimate

Spending, outcomes & equity (2023)

Per-pupil spending: $10,680

Illustrative estimates modeled on NCES, NAEP, ED Data Express methodology. Not official NCES data.

Economic Resilience

Illustrative estimate

Industry mix & business dynamism (2023)

Top industry: Military & Government (16.2%)

Illustrative estimates modeled on BLS, Census BDS, BEA methodology. Not official BLS data.

Utility Costs

Illustrative estimate

Seasonal curves & energy mix (2023)

Total per month: $225/mo

Illustrative estimates modeled on EIA, NREL, EPA WaterSense methodology. Not official EIA data.

Pet Friendliness

Illustrative estimate

Dog parks, vet access & pet housing (2023)

Pet score: 56/100

Illustrative estimates modeled on Trust for Public Land, AVMA methodology. Not official figures.

Parks & Outdoor Access

Illustrative estimate

Park walkability, trails & nature reach (2023)

Park score: 48/100

Illustrative estimates modeled on Trust for Public Land ParkScore, EPA EnviroAtlas methodology. Not official figures.

View full dashboard for San Antonio

Dallas

Pop. 7,637,387

Rent $1,472Crime 109

Safety

Cost of Living

Roads & Traffic

Healthcare

Dallas data profile

Baseline metrics from public datasets. Real Census and FBI figures are marked sourced. Modeled categories are illustrative estimates.

Crime & Safety

Sourced data

Index vs. national average (2024)

Violent crime index109 · Near average

Property crime index117 · Near average

100 = national average (the tick). Lower is safer.

Public crime index data (2024). 100 = national average.

Cost of Living

Sourced data

Rent, income & tax burden

Median rent: $1,472/mo
Median household income: $70,518/yr
Rent-to-income: 25%
Effective income tax: 0%
Combined sales tax: 8.25%
Effective property tax: 2%

Monthly budget on $5,877/mo median income

Rent 25%

Remaining 75%

$1,472 rent, $4,405 left before other costs.

Rent & income: Census ACS 5-year estimates. Tax: illustrative effective-rate estimate, not from filed records.

Commute Reality Check

Sourced data

Distribution & mode split (2024)

Mean commute: 21.7 min
Median commute: 24 min
90th-percentile commute: 53 min
Super-commuters (60 min+): 6.6%
Drive alone: 66.6%
Transit: 2.1%
Work from home: 15.8%
Walk: 0.2%
Bike: 0.8%
Carpool: 11.8%

How people get to work

Drive 67%

WFH 16%

Census ACS 5-year (B08303, B08006, B08013, B08301). WFH trend vs 2019 national baseline.

Healthcare Access

Illustrative estimate

8-dimension health system assessment

Overall access: 71/100

Illustrative healthcare access proxy scores (0-100). Modeled estimate, not official data.

Quality of Life

Illustrative estimate

7 livability dimensions

Housing cost: 52/100

Illustrative quality-of-life proxy scores (0-100). Modeled estimate, not official data.

Environmental Quality

Illustrative estimate

Air & water safety (2023)

Median AQI: 52

Illustrative estimates modeled on EPA AQS (air) and EPA SDWIS / EWG (water) methodology. Not official EPA measurements.

Natural Disaster & Climate Risk

Illustrative estimate

8-hazard risk profile (2024)

Overall risk: 41/100

Illustrative risk estimates modeled on FEMA NRI, NOAA, USGS, EPA methodology. Not official FEMA data.

Internet & Connectivity

Illustrative estimate

Broadband speeds & access (2024)

Median download (Mbps): 215

Illustrative estimates modeled on FCC BDC, Ookla, NTIA methodology. Not official FCC data.

Food Environment

Illustrative estimate

Food access & diversity (2024)

Food score: 55/100

Illustrative estimates modeled on USDA Food Environment Atlas methodology. Not official USDA data.

Migration Patterns

Illustrative estimate

Who's moving in & out (2022, modeled estimate)

Net migration: 21,400

Illustrative estimates modeled on IRS SOI, Census ACS mobility, PEP methodology. Not official IRS data.

School Quality

Illustrative estimate

Spending, outcomes & equity (2023)

Per-pupil spending: $11,840

Illustrative estimates modeled on NCES, NAEP, ED Data Express methodology. Not official NCES data.

Economic Resilience

Illustrative estimate

Industry mix & business dynamism (2023)

Top industry: Professional Services (11.5%)

Illustrative estimates modeled on BLS, Census BDS, BEA methodology. Not official BLS data.

Utility Costs

Illustrative estimate

Seasonal curves & energy mix (2023)

Total per month: $248/mo

Illustrative estimates modeled on EIA, NREL, EPA WaterSense methodology. Not official EIA data.

Pet Friendliness

Illustrative estimate

Dog parks, vet access & pet housing (2023)

Pet score: 56/100

Illustrative estimates modeled on Trust for Public Land, AVMA methodology. Not official figures.

Parks & Outdoor Access

Illustrative estimate

Park walkability, trails & nature reach (2023)

Park score: 45/100

Illustrative estimates modeled on Trust for Public Land ParkScore, EPA EnviroAtlas methodology. Not official figures.

View full dashboard for Dallas

Houston

Pop. 7,122,240

Rent $1,361Crime 109

Safety

Cost of Living

Roads & Traffic

Healthcare

Houston data profile

Baseline metrics from public datasets. Real Census and FBI figures are marked sourced. Modeled categories are illustrative estimates.

Crime & Safety

Sourced data

Index vs. national average (2024)

Violent crime index109 · Near average

Property crime index117 · Near average

100 = national average (the tick). Lower is safer.

Public crime index data (2024). 100 = national average.

Cost of Living

Sourced data

Rent, income & tax burden

Median rent: $1,361/mo
Median household income: $64,813/yr
Rent-to-income: 25.2%
Effective income tax: 0%
Combined sales tax: 8.25%
Effective property tax: 2.1%

Monthly budget on $5,401/mo median income

Rent 25%

Remaining 75%

$1,361 rent, $4,040 left before other costs.

Rent & income: Census ACS 5-year estimates. Tax: illustrative effective-rate estimate, not from filed records.

Commute Reality Check

Sourced data

Distribution & mode split (2024)

Mean commute: 23.7 min
Median commute: 25 min
90th-percentile commute: 55 min
Super-commuters (60 min+): 7.4%
Drive alone: 67.7%
Transit: 3.2%
Work from home: 13%
Walk: 0.5%
Bike: 0.8%
Carpool: 10.6%

How people get to work

Drive 68%

WFH 13%

Census ACS 5-year (B08303, B08006, B08013, B08301). WFH trend vs 2019 national baseline.

Healthcare Access

Illustrative estimate

8-dimension health system assessment

Overall access: 72/100

Illustrative healthcare access proxy scores (0-100). Modeled estimate, not official data.

Quality of Life

Illustrative estimate

7 livability dimensions

Housing cost: 55/100

Illustrative quality-of-life proxy scores (0-100). Modeled estimate, not official data.

Environmental Quality

Illustrative estimate

Air & water safety (2023)

Median AQI: 55

Illustrative estimates modeled on EPA AQS (air) and EPA SDWIS / EWG (water) methodology. Not official EPA measurements.

Natural Disaster & Climate Risk

Illustrative estimate

8-hazard risk profile (2024)

Overall risk: 51/100

Illustrative risk estimates modeled on FEMA NRI, NOAA, USGS, EPA methodology. Not official FEMA data.

Internet & Connectivity

Illustrative estimate

Broadband speeds & access (2024)

Median download (Mbps): 205

Illustrative estimates modeled on FCC BDC, Ookla, NTIA methodology. Not official FCC data.

Food Environment

Illustrative estimate

Food access & diversity (2024)

Food score: 53/100

Illustrative estimates modeled on USDA Food Environment Atlas methodology. Not official USDA data.

Migration Patterns

Illustrative estimate

Who's moving in & out (2022, modeled estimate)

Net migration: 14,200

Illustrative estimates modeled on IRS SOI, Census ACS mobility, PEP methodology. Not official IRS data.

School Quality

Illustrative estimate

Spending, outcomes & equity (2023)

Per-pupil spending: $12,480

Illustrative estimates modeled on NCES, NAEP, ED Data Express methodology. Not official NCES data.

Economic Resilience

Illustrative estimate

Industry mix & business dynamism (2023)

Top industry: Energy & Mining (17.4%)

Illustrative estimates modeled on BLS, Census BDS, BEA methodology. Not official BLS data.

Utility Costs

Illustrative estimate

Seasonal curves & energy mix (2023)

Total per month: $255/mo

Illustrative estimates modeled on EIA, NREL, EPA WaterSense methodology. Not official EIA data.

Pet Friendliness

Illustrative estimate

Dog parks, vet access & pet housing (2023)

Pet score: 52/100

Illustrative estimates modeled on Trust for Public Land, AVMA methodology. Not official figures.

Parks & Outdoor Access

Illustrative estimate

Park walkability, trails & nature reach (2023)

Park score: 42/100

Illustrative estimates modeled on Trust for Public Land ParkScore, EPA EnviroAtlas methodology. Not official figures.

View full dashboard for Houston

Arlington

Pop. 397,742

Rent $1,470Crime 109

Arlington data profile

Baseline metrics from public datasets. Real Census and FBI figures are marked sourced. Modeled categories are illustrative estimates.

Crime & Safety

Sourced data

Index vs. national average (2024)

Violent crime index109 · Near average

Property crime index117 · Near average

100 = national average (the tick). Lower is safer.

Public crime index data (2024). 100 = national average.

Cost of Living

Sourced data

Rent, income & tax burden

Median rent: $1,470/mo
Median household income: $75,171/yr
Rent-to-income: 23.5%
Effective income tax: 0%
Combined sales tax: 8.25%
Effective property tax: 2.1%

Monthly budget on $6,264/mo median income

Rent 23%

Remaining 77%

$1,470 rent, $4,794 left before other costs.

Rent & income: Census ACS 5-year estimates. Tax: illustrative effective-rate estimate, not from filed records.

Commute Reality Check

Sourced data

Distribution & mode split (2024)

Mean commute: 23.1 min
Median commute: 25 min
90th-percentile commute: 55 min
Super-commuters (60 min+): 7.1%
Drive alone: 72.4%
Transit: 0.3%
Work from home: 13.1%
Walk: 0.1%
Bike: 0.6%
Carpool: 10.9%

How people get to work

Drive 72%

WFH 13%

Census ACS 5-year (B08303, B08006, B08013, B08301). WFH trend vs 2019 national baseline.

Quality of Life

Illustrative estimate

7 livability dimensions

Housing cost: 55/100

Illustrative quality-of-life proxy scores (0-100). Modeled estimate, not official data.

Economic Resilience

Illustrative estimate

Industry mix & business dynamism (2023)

Top industry: Entertainment & Logistics (12%)

Illustrative estimates modeled on BLS, Census BDS, BEA methodology. Not official BLS data.

Utility Costs

Illustrative estimate

Seasonal curves & energy mix (2023)

Total per month: $244/mo

Illustrative estimates modeled on EIA, NREL, EPA WaterSense methodology. Not official EIA data.

Pet Friendliness

Illustrative estimate

Dog parks, vet access & pet housing (2023)

Pet score: 52/100

Illustrative estimates modeled on Trust for Public Land, AVMA methodology. Not official figures.

Parks & Outdoor Access

Illustrative estimate

Park walkability, trails & nature reach (2023)

Park score: 38/100

Illustrative estimates modeled on Trust for Public Land ParkScore, EPA EnviroAtlas methodology. Not official figures.

View full dashboard for Arlington

Corpus Christi

Pop. 317,419

Rent $1,292Crime 109

Corpus Christi data profile

Baseline metrics from public datasets. Real Census and FBI figures are marked sourced. Modeled categories are illustrative estimates.

Crime & Safety

Sourced data

Index vs. national average (2024)

Violent crime index109 · Near average

Property crime index117 · Near average

100 = national average (the tick). Lower is safer.

Public crime index data (2024). 100 = national average.

Cost of Living

Sourced data

Rent, income & tax burden

Median rent: $1,292/mo
Median household income: $67,394/yr
Rent-to-income: 23%

Monthly budget on $5,616/mo median income

Rent 23%

Remaining 77%

$1,292 rent, $4,324 left before other costs.

Rent & income: Census ACS 5-year estimates. Tax: illustrative effective-rate estimate, not from filed records.

Commute Reality Check

Sourced data

Distribution & mode split (2024)

Mean commute: 20.1 min
Median commute: 19 min
90th-percentile commute: 35 min
Super-commuters (60 min+): 4.6%
Drive alone: 80.3%
Transit: 1.2%
Work from home: 5.3%
Walk: 0.2%
Bike: 0.5%
Carpool: 10.3%

How people get to work

Drive 80%

Census ACS 5-year (B08303, B08006, B08013, B08301). WFH trend vs 2019 national baseline.

Economic Resilience

Illustrative estimate

Industry mix & business dynamism (2023)

Top industry: Energy & Petrochemical (20.8%)

Illustrative estimates modeled on BLS, Census BDS, BEA methodology. Not official BLS data.

Utility Costs

Illustrative estimate

Seasonal curves & energy mix (2023)

Total per month: $225/mo

Illustrative estimates modeled on EIA, NREL, EPA WaterSense methodology. Not official EIA data.

Pet Friendliness

Illustrative estimate

Dog parks, vet access & pet housing (2023)

Pet score: 48/100

Illustrative estimates modeled on Trust for Public Land, AVMA methodology. Not official figures.

Parks & Outdoor Access

Illustrative estimate

Park walkability, trails & nature reach (2023)

Park score: 36/100

Illustrative estimates modeled on Trust for Public Land ParkScore, EPA EnviroAtlas methodology. Not official figures.

View full dashboard for Corpus Christi

Plano

Pop. 290,594

Rent $1,841Crime 109

Plano data profile

Baseline metrics from public datasets. Real Census and FBI figures are marked sourced. Modeled categories are illustrative estimates.

Crime & Safety

Sourced data

Index vs. national average (2024)

Violent crime index109 · Near average

Property crime index117 · Near average

100 = national average (the tick). Lower is safer.

Public crime index data (2024). 100 = national average.

Cost of Living

Sourced data

Rent, income & tax burden

Median rent: $1,841/mo
Median household income: $112,253/yr
Rent-to-income: 19.7%
Effective income tax: 0%
Combined sales tax: 8.25%
Effective property tax: 1.9%

Monthly budget on $9,354/mo median income

Rent 20%

Remaining 80%

$1,841 rent, $7,513 left before other costs.

Rent & income: Census ACS 5-year estimates. Tax: illustrative effective-rate estimate, not from filed records.

Commute Reality Check

Sourced data

Distribution & mode split (2024)

Mean commute: 18.4 min
Median commute: 24 min
90th-percentile commute: 51 min
Super-commuters (60 min+): 5.3%
Drive alone: 61.5%
Transit: 0.7%
Work from home: 27.5%
Walk: 0.2%
Bike: 0.7%
Carpool: 6.8%

How people get to work

Drive 62%

WFH 28%

Census ACS 5-year (B08303, B08006, B08013, B08301). WFH trend vs 2019 national baseline.

Healthcare Access

Illustrative estimate

8-dimension health system assessment

Overall access: 75/100

Illustrative healthcare access proxy scores (0-100). Modeled estimate, not official data.

Quality of Life

Illustrative estimate

7 livability dimensions

Housing cost: 42/100

Illustrative quality-of-life proxy scores (0-100). Modeled estimate, not official data.

Economic Resilience

Illustrative estimate

Industry mix & business dynamism (2023)

Top industry: Technology & Corporate HQ (15%)

Illustrative estimates modeled on BLS, Census BDS, BEA methodology. Not official BLS data.

Utility Costs

Illustrative estimate

Seasonal curves & energy mix (2023)

Total per month: $246/mo

Illustrative estimates modeled on EIA, NREL, EPA WaterSense methodology. Not official EIA data.

Pet Friendliness

Illustrative estimate

Dog parks, vet access & pet housing (2023)

Pet score: 64/100

Illustrative estimates modeled on Trust for Public Land, AVMA methodology. Not official figures.

Parks & Outdoor Access

Illustrative estimate

Park walkability, trails & nature reach (2023)

Park score: 52/100

Illustrative estimates modeled on Trust for Public Land ParkScore, EPA EnviroAtlas methodology. Not official figures.

View full dashboard for Plano

Lubbock

Pop. 264,814

Rent $1,182Crime 109

Lubbock data profile

Baseline metrics from public datasets. Real Census and FBI figures are marked sourced. Modeled categories are illustrative estimates.

Crime & Safety

Sourced data

Index vs. national average (2024)

Violent crime index109 · Near average

Property crime index117 · Near average

100 = national average (the tick). Lower is safer.

Public crime index data (2024). 100 = national average.

Cost of Living

Sourced data

Rent, income & tax burden

Median rent: $1,182/mo
Median household income: $60,895/yr
Rent-to-income: 23.3%

Monthly budget on $5,075/mo median income

Rent 23%

Remaining 77%

$1,182 rent, $3,893 left before other costs.

Rent & income: Census ACS 5-year estimates. Tax: illustrative effective-rate estimate, not from filed records.

Commute Reality Check

Sourced data

Distribution & mode split (2024)

Mean commute: 15.2 min
Median commute: 15 min
90th-percentile commute: 28 min
Super-commuters (60 min+): 3.5%
Drive alone: 77.3%
Transit: 0.7%
Work from home: 7.1%
Walk: 0.5%
Bike: 0.8%
Carpool: 11.3%

How people get to work

Drive 77%

Census ACS 5-year (B08303, B08006, B08013, B08301). WFH trend vs 2019 national baseline.

View full dashboard for Lubbock

Irving

Pop. 256,492

Rent $1,619Crime 109

Irving data profile

Baseline metrics from public datasets. Real Census and FBI figures are marked sourced. Modeled categories are illustrative estimates.

Crime & Safety

Sourced data

Index vs. national average (2024)

Violent crime index109 · Near average

Property crime index117 · Near average

100 = national average (the tick). Lower is safer.

Public crime index data (2024). 100 = national average.

Cost of Living

Sourced data

Rent, income & tax burden

Median rent: $1,619/mo
Median household income: $81,830/yr
Rent-to-income: 23.7%

Monthly budget on $6,819/mo median income

Rent 24%

Remaining 76%

$1,619 rent, $5,200 left before other costs.

Rent & income: Census ACS 5-year estimates. Tax: illustrative effective-rate estimate, not from filed records.

Commute Reality Check

Sourced data

Distribution & mode split (2024)

Mean commute: 19.3 min
Median commute: 23 min
90th-percentile commute: 46 min
Super-commuters (60 min+): 4.8%
Drive alone: 65.5%
Transit: 1%
Work from home: 20%
Walk: 0.2%
Bike: 0.4%
Carpool: 10.9%

How people get to work

Drive 66%

WFH 20%

Census ACS 5-year (B08303, B08006, B08013, B08301). WFH trend vs 2019 national baseline.

Healthcare Access

Illustrative estimate

8-dimension health system assessment

Overall access: 66/100

Illustrative healthcare access proxy scores (0-100). Modeled estimate, not official data.

View full dashboard for Irving

Frisco

Pop. 219,304

Rent $2,014Crime 109

Frisco data profile

Baseline metrics from public datasets. Real Census and FBI figures are marked sourced. Modeled categories are illustrative estimates.

Crime & Safety

Sourced data

Index vs. national average (2024)

Violent crime index109 · Near average

Property crime index117 · Near average

100 = national average (the tick). Lower is safer.

Public crime index data (2024). 100 = national average.

Cost of Living

Sourced data

Rent, income & tax burden

Median rent: $2,014/mo
Median household income: $150,212/yr
Rent-to-income: 16.1%

Monthly budget on $12,518/mo median income

Rent 16%

Remaining 84%

$2,014 rent, $10,504 left before other costs.

Rent & income: Census ACS 5-year estimates. Tax: illustrative effective-rate estimate, not from filed records.

Commute Reality Check

Sourced data

Distribution & mode split (2024)

Mean commute: 17.8 min
Median commute: 26 min
90th-percentile commute: 56 min
Super-commuters (60 min+): 7.1%
Drive alone: 53.5%
Transit: 0.1%
Work from home: 37.8%
Walk: 0.1%
Bike: 0.4%
Carpool: 5.9%

How people get to work

Drive 54%

WFH 38%

Census ACS 5-year (B08303, B08006, B08013, B08301). WFH trend vs 2019 national baseline.

View full dashboard for Frisco

Rent and Income Across Twelve Texas Cities That Barely Match

Texas tracks twelve metros in our dashboard, and the range across them is wide. El Paso holds rent at $1,073/month on $59,745 income, the most affordable metro we track in the state. Frisco sits at the other end at $2,014 on $150,212. That's a $941 monthly rent gap and a $90,467 income gap inside the same state, under the same tax code, with the same zero-state-income-tax advantage that draws so many relocators.

The cities that most people think of first (Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio) form a middle band that still contains huge variation. Austin's $1,729 median rent runs well above Houston's $1,361, but Austin's $93,658 median income is higher too. Houston charges less and earns less; Austin charges more but generates enough income to keep its rent-to-income ratio at 22.2%, against Houston's 25.2%. Dallas splits the difference at $1,472 rent on $70,518 income, a 25% ratio that's tighter than Houston's despite the higher sticker price.

San Antonio and El Paso occupy the true affordable tier for a major Texas metro. San Antonio's $1,324 rent on $65,056 income produces a 24.4% ratio. El Paso's $1,073 on $59,745 hits 21.6%, the leanest rent-to-income math of any major metro core in the state. Only Frisco and Plano beat it, and they get there on six-figure incomes rather than cheap rent. Both San Antonio and El Paso are genuine options for households that want Texas's no-income-tax benefit without Austin or Dallas pricing.

Fort Worth is no longer our only Dallas-Fort Worth entry, and the metroplex is where the tracked set has real depth now. Fort Worth runs $1,509 on $79,507 with a 14% work-from-home share, handing you the DFW labor market without Dallas rent. Arlington sits between the two downtowns at $1,470 on $75,171, close enough to AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field that game traffic is a real part of living there. Irving holds $1,619 on $81,830, and Las Colinas inside it is corporate-park DFW in its purest form.

Then the Collin County pair breaks the pattern. Plano runs $1,841 on $112,253, Frisco $2,014 on $150,212. Frisco's 16.1% rent-to-income ratio is the lowest of any Texas city we track and its 37.8% work-from-home share is the highest, which is roughly what you'd expect from a place that landed the PGA of America headquarters and the Cowboys' training campus inside a decade. These are the cities the "best places to live in Texas" lists actually name, and they don't look anything like Houston or El Paso in the data.

Lubbock and Corpus Christi belong to no big metro at all. Lubbock runs $1,182 on $60,895, with Texas Tech setting the rhythm of the local economy and the shortest mean commute in the state at 15.2 minutes. Corpus Christi holds $1,292 on $67,394, a port and refinery town where 80.3% of workers drive in alone, the highest solo-driving share we record anywhere in Texas.

Texas doesn't have one cost of living. It runs several cost tiers at once, and picking the wrong tier for your income is the fastest way to feel squeezed in a state that's supposed to feel affordable.

Austin is where this gets pointed, because the search results invert it. Ask what you need to earn to live comfortably there and the popular answers scatter: SmartAsset lands near $98,550, GOBankingRates puts it past $122,229, and other 2024-2025 write-ups run from the high $50,000s to roughly $114,000. Every one of those is a model, a 50-30-20 split or a living-wage formula, not a measurement of anyone's actual budget. Set them against what Austin households really earn, a median of $93,658 on ACS 2024 data, and most of those "comfortable" thresholds land above the real median income. The figure the internet says you need to earn in Austin is usually higher than what the typical Austin household actually brings home. Rent against that real income runs 22.2% here, and that ratio is the part the salary models leave out.

What Separates Texas Commutes Is Who Still Drives to an Office

Lubbock has the shortest commute of the Texas cities we track, a mean 15.2 minutes one way, and Houston the longest at 23.7 (ACS 2024). That one is mostly a size story. The gap worth reading is Austin against Houston, 16.4 minutes against 23.7, because those two are the same order of metro and the difference isn't distance. It's about who still drives to an office.

Austin runs a 30.7% work-from-home share, the highest of any big Texas metro and one of the highest in the country. Only Frisco beats it statewide. Nearly a third of Austin's workforce skips the commute entirely, which is why a fast-growing city sitting on top of a permanently jammed I-35 still posts a shorter average trip than Dallas or Houston. Strip the remote workers out and Austin's road commute would look a lot like everyone else's.

Houston is the older bargain: 67.7% drive alone, only 13% work remote, and the freeways carry the load. Houston's super-commuter share is 7.4%, roughly one worker in fourteen spending over an hour each way, and its 90th-percentile trip reaches 55 minutes. Fort Worth and Dallas sit closer to Houston's pattern than Austin's, 7.9% and 6.6% super-commuters respectively, car-dependent and spread across enormous metros.

El Paso is the quiet outlier that proves the point. It posts a 21.3-minute mean on 75.4% solo driving, and the commute stays short anyway because the city is compact and its jobs sit close to its housing. A low remote share, almost no transit, and still a fast trip, because geography rather than mode split is doing the work there. San Antonio lands in the middle at 21.2 minutes.

Transit barely registers anywhere in the state. Houston's 3.2% is the best Texas offers, which tells you the real mode choice here is car versus laptop, not car versus train. That's the lens that actually separates these cities.

These are ACS 2024 numbers, and that's the part the ranking articles miss. The Texas Monthly and SmartAsset pieces people find on this exact question run on Census data from 2018 to 2021, before Austin's remote share settled at its current level. On the old data Austin looks like just another sprawling Texas metro. It doesn't commute like one anymore.

Picking Your Texas City by What Your Household Actually Needs

With twelve metros tracked, Texas offers real optionality, but only if you match the city to your specific situation instead of chasing generic "best of" lists.

Remote workers earning $80K+: Austin. Its 30.7% WFH rate and $93,658 median income reflect an economy built around remote-capable professionals. The $1,729 rent is high for Texas but still runs well below comparable tech hubs like Denver, Seattle, or the Bay Area. If you want the DFW job market instead, Fort Worth pairs a 14% remote share with rent below Dallas's.

Dual-income families earning $60K-$90K: San Antonio or Fort Worth. San Antonio's $1,324 rent and 2.5-million metro population provide a full-service city at a fraction of Austin's cost, just 80 miles south. Fort Worth ($1,509 rent, $79,507 income) gives access to the broader DFW job market while dodging Dallas's higher rent. Both cities keep commutes manageable for households where one or both adults drive to work.

Budget-first movers: El Paso. Its $1,073 rent is the lowest among the Texas cities we track, with a 21.6% rent-to-income ratio that's among the healthiest in the state. The tradeoffs are real: low remote-work adoption means your income likely depends on the local economy, and El Paso doesn't carry the cultural or career depth of the big four Texas metros.

Career-driven professionals needing a large labor market: Dallas or Houston. These are Texas's two largest job markets, and they serve different industries. Houston's economy tilts toward energy, healthcare, and logistics. Dallas leans corporate, finance, and tech. Houston's rent ($1,361) runs lower than Dallas's ($1,472), but Houston's commute pain is worse (23.7 min, 7.4% super commuter vs. 21.7 min, 6.6%). Dallas has slightly better remote-work penetration (15.8% vs. 13%), which may matter if hybrid arrangements are part of your plan.

Who should reconsider Texas: households that prioritize safety will find Texas's 109/117 crime composite above the national average across every tracked metro: Ohio (86/93) and Iowa (68/75) offer measurably better numbers. Anyone who wants functional public transit has almost no options, Houston's 3.2% transit rate is the state's highest, and it's not remotely enough for car-free living. And budget households earning under $50K will find that even Texas's cheapest cities require a car, health insurance, and the full suite of costs that a no-income-tax state doesn't offset.

Open any city card below to see the complete data (rent, income, crime, commute mode, remote-work rate, and composite score) for all twelve tracked Texas metros.

These calculators pair well with the Texas, TX dashboard.

Cost of Living ComparisonSide-by-side living costs between two cities Rent Affordability by CityHow much rent you can handle on your salary State Tax Move ImpactTax difference when relocating across state lines Commute Cost CalculatorGas, tolls, and wear on your daily drive Crime Risk Index ComparisonViolent and property crime rates head to head Rent vs. Buy AnalysisWhether buying makes financial sense in your market Moving Cost EstimatorBudget for movers, truck rental, and supplies Take-Home Salary CalculatorYour actual paycheck after federal and state taxes

How we calculate Texas cities scores

City scores blend federal baseline data with community reports from residents. The more reports a city has, the more the score reflects current conditions rather than historical averages.

Data sources

Sourced baseline: rent, income, home value and commute from the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 2024 5-year estimates); crime from the FBI Crime Data Explorer (2024).
Modeled inputs: healthcare access and the other city comparison figures are illustrative estimates, not official agency measurements.
Community reports: grocery prices, rent costs, crime incidents, road conditions, and hospital wait times submitted by residents, where any exist.
Verification: when residents submit reports with receipts, photos, or news links, those count double. Most cities we track carry few or no community reports today, so their scores rest on the sourced baseline above.

Category weights

The overall score is a weighted average of four categories:

Safety

25% weight

Cost of Living

30% weight

Roads & Traffic

20% weight

Healthcare

25% weight

Confidence tiers

Confidence tells you how reliable a score is based on report volume and recency:

High confidence: 50+ effective reports in the last 30 days
Medium confidence: 10-49 effective reports in 30 days
Low confidence: Fewer than 10 reports; score relies mainly on federal baseline data

Score formula

CityScore = (BaselineWeight × BaselineScore) + (CrowdWeight × CommunityScore)

CrowdWeight grows from 0% to 50% as reports accumulate. Verified reports count double.

Limitations: Federal data updates annually or quarterly, so baseline metrics may lag real-world changes by 6-18 months. Community scores depend on local participation, so cities with few reports rely more heavily on baseline data. Scores reflect city-wide averages, and individual neighborhoods can differ significantly.

Frequently Asked Questions About Texas

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does rent take the smallest bite of local income in Texas?

Frisco is the most affordable Texas city relative to local wages: rent runs 16.1% of the median household income there, per the Census Bureau's 2024 ACS 5-year estimates. That's $2,014/mo in median gross rent against $150,212/yr in income, the leanest rent-to-income share of the 12 Texas cities we track. Cheapest rent is a different question: El Paso has the lowest rent at $1,073/mo, but that eats 21.6% of the local median because wages are lower there. Open either city's card above for the full rent, income and commute breakdown.

Which of Texas's major cities has the cheapest rent?

El Paso has the lowest median rent of the 12 Texas cities we track, $1,073/month, per the Census Bureau's 2024 ACS 5-year estimates. That's against a Texas median of $1,403/month. Expand its card above for income, commute and the full breakdown.

How do Frisco and El Paso compare on rent and income?

Frisco stretches a local paycheck further than El Paso: rent is 16.1% of the median income there versus 21.6% in El Paso, per the Census Bureau's 2024 ACS 5-year estimates. Frisco runs $2,014/mo on $150,212/yr; El Paso $1,073/mo on $59,745/yr. El Paso is cheaper in raw rent, but Frisco leaves more once you measure rent against what people actually earn. Open both cards above to compare the full breakdown.

Where in Texas is the commute shortest?

Lubbock has the shortest commute of the 12 Texas cities we track, a mean of 15.2 minutes one way, per the Census Bureau's 2024 ACS 5-year estimates. That compares with a U.S. average of 26.8 minutes, and Houston sits at the other end at 23.7 minutes.

How do Houston and Lubbock compare on commute?

Houston and Lubbock sit 8.5 minutes apart on the average commute, per the Census Bureau's 2024 ACS 5-year estimates: Houston averages 23.7 minutes one way, Lubbock 15.2. The mode split tells the rest. Frisco has the highest work-from-home share at 37.8%, and Houston the most transit use at 3.2%.

Does Texas tax your paycheck?

Texas levies no state income tax on wages, so its median household income of $78,476/yr (U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 ACS 5-year estimates) lands closer to take-home than it would in a taxed state. That is the real draw for a lot of movers, not low rent.