What it's like to live in Bonham
Bonham is a small city in Texas with rent below the national average, crime rates well below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a growing population. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Bonham deals with household incomes below the national average, college degree attainment below the national average, a poverty rate above the national average, and hot summers.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Growing population
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Low college degree attainment
- High poverty rate
- Hot summers
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Bonham compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
What it takes to move to Bonham
Based on Bonham's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,146
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $42,920 a year
- 41% of Bonham renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 24% below US
$1,073/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,073 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall.
41% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
3.9% county unemployment
Unemployment in Fannin County is 3.9%, 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.
Fannin County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 70% below US
97 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 813/100k · Bonham Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 16% below US
22 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 21.9 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 10% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 92°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 35°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. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 58% below US
15% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a working-class city, and college degree rates reflect that. Trades, manufacturing, and service industries tend to dominate the local economy, which is a strength for some fields and a real constraint for others.
Schools
5 public schools inside the boundary
There are 5 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1, 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 Chickasaw National Recreation Area (76 miles away).
Bottom line
Bonham's strongest points are rent below the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and college degree attainment below the national average. A year of median rent ($1,073/mo) equals 22% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, anyone prioritizing low crime, and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Bonham
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