If you’re looking for a place in Texas to call home, don’t be scared off by the home prices in Austin and Dallas. There are plenty of affordable cities, towns and suburbs in Texas but you need to know where to look.
When deciding on the best place for your family to live you will have to weigh many factors against cost, including the local school system and crime rate. If you’re relocating for a job, be sure and ask about suburbs which could be cheaper.
A local real estate agent who has years of knowledge of the area will guide your home search to the neighborhood that best meets all your needs.
Pecos
Pecos is a desert town that Forbes named the fastest-growing small town in the U.S. in 2012. Its growth has been helped along by nearby oil fields, but other main industries include farming and agriculture. Close to the border with Mexico, the weather can be quite hot.
Median home values are just $44,700 and median household income is $51,364. The highest paying jobs are found in mining, oil and gas, and agriculture. It’s a relatively safe town with a low crime rate. Schools have a student to teacher ratio of 14 to 1.
Pearland
Families who live in Pearland enjoy great shopping, an open-air mall, and multiple golf courses.
Median home values are $265,100, which is extremely affordable given that the median household income is $102,124. As a suburb of Houston, just 20 minutes from downtown, Pearland residents can enjoy a low cost of living but easy access to over 25 Fortune 500 employers.
You’ll also be living in a safe community with a low crime rate. Pearland also has excellent schools with an average student to teacher ratio of 15 to 1.
Post
Located in the Great Plains, Post has small town, family-friendly vibe. Unemployment is low and the town has had strong job growth recently. Restored historic buildings, small shops, and restaurants line the main street.
House in Post are cheap, with a median value of $72,800, relatively inexpensive when compared to median household income of $46,214. Top employers are in the health care and social assistance, mining and oil and gas, and public administration industries.
While schools have good student to teacher ratios at 10 to 1, the small school system does have lower test scores.
Monahans
If you live in Monahans you’ll enjoy visiting nearby state park Monahans Sandhills where you can go sand surfing, picnic, or play football. It’s got great weather, temperatures can reach the 60’s even in January.
The median home values for the city are $111,000, and rose 8.3% last year. Median household income is $55,313 and the crime rate is 56% lower than the national average. If you work in the oil and gas industry, quarrying, or health care, you will be able to find a job in Monahans.
La Feria
La Feria is about an hour from the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge and the beaches on South Padre Island. If you can’t make it to the beach, your kids can splash around at the Aquatic Center. It has extremely hot summers but mild winters.
Homes are reasonably priced, with a median home value of $74,900 but median household income is only $34,945. Employers are concentrated in the manufacturing, educational, and healthcare industries. La Feria is inexpensive but the crime rate is higher and schools aren’t great.
If you’re thinking about buying a property in one of these cities you should talk to a top-rated real estate agent in that area. They’ll help you navigate the home buying process and uncover additional cost-savings opportunities. Reach out to be connected with a Clever Partner Agent today!