What it's like to live in Belton
Belton is a small city in Texas with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, crime rates well below the national average, and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Belton deals with household incomes below the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and hot summers.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Fast-growing population
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Air quality concerns
- High rent burden for renters
- Hot summers
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Belton compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Belton
Based on Belton's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,504
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $50,080 a year
- 61% of Belton renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$51,740
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $25,870
- Homes cost 4.4× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 11% below US
$1,252/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,252 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $258,700. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $258,700 · 61% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.1% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.1%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 73% below US
97 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1955/100k · Belton Police Department · 2024 data
Getting around▼ 12% below US
23 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 22.8 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 11% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 94°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 38°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 21% below US
28% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 28%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
13 public schools inside the boundary
There are 13 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13:1, well below 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 (42 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Belton's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks. A year of median rent ($1,252/mo) equals 25% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Belton
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