Cost of living in different parts of Texas (Houston, Dallas: crime, house)

[supfromthesite]

What are some of the highest and lowest cost of living places in Texas?

Obviously for highest you have Austin. People on this site have been talking about Dallas going up too. Does this include the Fort Worth portion of the Metroplex? Houston is lower than Dallas for sure, and then San Antonio is the lowest of the big 4 metros. How does Fredericksburg compare to the big cities? Is it in Houston territory? What are some other small towns that are high now? Marfa? I know the hill country towns tend to be pretty expensive, and towns outside of the big cities.

For cheapest it has to be some places in west or south Texas. Laredo and the RGV have been going up a bit but still might be the cheapest cities in Texas. I know for west Texas Midland is high. How does it compare to the big cities? If somebody is working in Midland and making the same money they were making in Houston will they save more money you think?

[ChristieP]

Fredericksburg is crazy expensive due to it being a resort/retiree town, and also due to it being in the Hill Country.

[LocalPlanner]

East TX is fairly reasonable, I'd add that to the affordable list.

Generally, the fewer high-income jobs in an area, the more affordable it will tend to be, because you don't have the folks who can afford to bid prices up for homes, land etc. The exceptions are places like the Hill Country, where affluent retirees and remote workers take on that role.

I believe Fort Worth, and especially its southern suburbs, are a bit more affordable than Dallas - except the east / SE suburbs of Dallas which aren't (yet) terribly expensive. Note that FW's NE suburbs ARE expensive, though.

It should be noted that, land costs aside, it actually costs as much or more to build a home in rural areas and small towns as it does in many metro area suburbs, because you don't have the production builders who get economies of scale.

[tcualum]

Fort Worth homes are now a lot more expensive than they used to be.

[Dopo]

It's tricky for big cities
there's areas of Houston that are affordable, but there's also area that you can't find a house under $250/sq. ft.

[ChristieP]

Originally Posted by LocalPlanner

I believe Fort Worth, and especially its southern suburbs, are a bit more affordable than Dallas - except the east / SE suburbs of Dallas which aren't (yet) terribly expensive. Note that FW's NE suburbs ARE expensive, though.

The SE suburbs of Dallas (Pleasant Grove, Seagoville, Balch Springs) are still inexpensive due to the higher crime and poor-quality schools.

[supfromthesite]

Originally Posted by tcualum

Fort Worth homes are now a lot more expensive than they used to be.

This is true with most places I think.

Is Fort Worth more expensive than Houston?

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by ChristieP

The SE suburbs of Dallas (Pleasant Grove, Seagoville, Balch Springs) are still inexpensive due to the higher crime and poor-quality schools.

What about Mesquite and Forney?

[tmtex]

Originally Posted by LocalPlanner

What about Mesquite and Forney?

The last time I was in mesquite it was a dump. Forney is all new housing. That whole area is . I doubt its cheap.

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by tmtex

The last time I was in mesquite it was a dump. Forney is all new housing. That whole area is . I doubt its cheap.

The price of new housing has gone up everywhere, but I'm wondering if it may be more affordable in the SE suburbs (Mesquite also has new subdivisions) than other suburban areas of DFW.