What it's like to live in Addison
Addison is a small city in Texas with commutes that run shorter than most cities, a highly educated workforce, and schools with class sizes near the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Addison deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, crime rates above the national average, and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks.
The good
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Crime above national average
- Air quality concerns
- Hot summers
How Addison compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Addison
Based on Addison's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,568
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $71,360 a year
- 48% of Addison renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$96,400
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $48,200
- Homes cost 6.5× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 26% above US
$1,784/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,784 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices are steep, with a median around $482,000. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $482,000 · 48% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.1% county unemployment
Unemployment in Dallas County is 4.1%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Dallas County (county-wide)
Safety▲ 28% above US
422 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 4060/100k · Addison Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 17% below US
22 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 21.6 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 25% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 93°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 38°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 4.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 77% above US
64% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
1 public school inside the boundary
There is 1 public school inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1, close to the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Waco Mammoth National Monument (96 miles away).
Bottom line
Addison's strongest points are commutes that run shorter than most cities and a highly educated workforce; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,784/mo) equals 29% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit remote workers (25% of workers here already work from home), people who want short commutes, and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
Other places near Addison
All Texas guides →Moving to Farmers Branch →
3 mi away · pop. 36,645
Rent $1,864/mo · Income $91,186
Compare with Addison →Moving to Carrollton →
4 mi away · pop. 133,740
Rent $1,735/mo · Income $101,396
Compare with Addison →Not sure Addison is the one?
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