New Braunfels, Texas, USA
The Travel
BY NOAH STAATS
Summary
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New Braunfels, Texas offers lower property costs, great schools, and attractions, making it an affordable and family-friendly city to live in.
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The housing industry in New Braunfels is booming, with average home prices sitting at $321,825 and affordable rents at $978.51 per month.
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New Braunfels has a neighborly atmosphere and a 31% lower crime rate than the national average, making it a safe and welcoming place to call home.
New Braunfels, Texas, has become the city of new beginnings for many US residents in the past few years. Starting as a somewhat unknown town in the Lone Star State and quickly transforming into a major suburb where Austin and Dallas transplants flock, New Braunfels is just shy of 100,000 people (and the number is expected to keep growing).
This town is known for attractions, including Schlitterbahn Waterpark, Landa Park, Natural Bridge Caverns, New Braunfels Farmers Market, and countless others, is the perfect place to start or grow a family in 2024, which is why everyone is coming here. Of course, you won't see infrastructure like Dallas or Austin (yet), but New Braunfels offers opportunities for more types of people than larger Texas cities.
Why Is Everyone Heading To New Braunfels, Texas?
Lower property costs, great schools, and attractions, plus growing infrastructure make this small Texas city a must-live for 2024
People tubing in the Comal River in New Braunfels, Texas
With the entire United States looking for cheaper living costs, the city of New Braunfels has shot up the news cycle's roster for many months, all for good reason. This town, northeast of San Antonio, has been bringing new home buyers, families, workers, and dreamers to the Lone Star State for years, but it's only just begun.
What makes New Braunfels better than Dallas or Austin (plus any established Texas city) is that there's still affordability. At 15% cheaper than the national average and boasting an 'income to live comfortably' near $60,000, New Braunfels feels like one of the last true middle-class-friendly areas to start fresh for couples and families.
To put this in perspective, you'd need to make $78,000+ to be comfortable in Austin, while Dallas is closer to $65,000+. Again, New Braunfels does beat these other cities in house prices and overall cost to live, so for a growing family or even a single person; it's a great place to start over.
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Annual income needed to be comfortable in New Braunfels: ~$60,000
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Annual income needed to be comfortable in Austin: ~$80,000
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Annual income needed to be comfortable in Dallas: ~$65,000
Another city that could be an alternative to Austin is Wimberley, Texas, which offers a pleasant quality of life.
New Braunfels Has A Booming Housing Industry
With homes in the $300K range, rents at under $1,000, and space to grow, New Braunfels feels like paradise
An aerial view of the town and church in New Braunfels, Texas, USA
One of the main reasons we're seeing New Braunfels beat out Austin and Dallas this year is that the city is cheaper to own and rent property in across the board. For 2024, average home prices sit at $321,825, while renting each month should set most people back around $978.51.
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Average house sold in New Braunfels: $321,825
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Average monthly rent in New Braunfels: $978.51
If you wanted to buy or rent in Austin, you'd be paying closer to $530,990 for a home versus $980 to $1,782 to rent. In Dallas, you have the average home price falling close to $368,800 and rentals averaging $1,575.
Again, these numbers are only averages so you could find one place more expensive or less expensive than the other in certain markets/zip codes. However, New Braunfels, across the spectrum, is looking like a cheaper option for home buyers and renters for this year.
It's worth noting that in recent years, Austin has become one of the most expensive cities in Texas to live in.
Job Opportunities: The city has experienced a significant economic boom, with a growing job sector. In recent years, it has attracted major investments, such as a $110 million automotive manufacturing plant by Continental, creating over 500 new jobs.
The town of Magnolia, TX is an excellent alternative to Houston, another big and sometimes overrated city for those looking for quiet neighborhoods and affordable prices.
There's Just Something Special About New Braunfels, Texas
A neighborly feeling and plenty to do make New Braunfels worth checking out
A restaurant in Gruene, New Braunfels, Texas, USA
With all the financial stuff out of the way, it's worth noting how special New Braunfels is as a city. This is the type of community where you'd learn your neighbor's name and face and get to know your local delivery drivers, restaurant workers, and all other people you run into.
From a safety and security standpoint, you also see New Braunfels with 31% lower crime rates per 100,000 people, making it one of the safer bets in Texas and the United States.
There are so many reasons to love it here. Maybe it's time to call New Braunfels home!
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Safer than big cities: New Braunfels boasts a 31% lower crime rate than the national average.
There are many underrated alternatives to Austin and Dallas, and New Braunfels might be worth checking out!