What it's like to live in Clute
Clute 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. Clute deals with college degree attainment below the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, hot summers, and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Clean air
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Low college degree attainment
- High rent burden for renters
- Hot summers
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Clute compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Clute
Based on Clute's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,260
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $45,200 a year
- 52% of Clute renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$54,340
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $27,170
- Homes cost 3.9× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 20% below US
$1,130/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,130 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $271,700. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $271,700 · 52% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.6% county unemployment
Unemployment in Brazoria County is 4.6%, 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.
Brazoria County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 36% below US
210 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 1615/100k · Clute Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 18% below US
21 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 21.2 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 91°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 48°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
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
7 public schools inside the boundary
There are 7 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Bottom line
Clute's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are college degree attainment below the national average and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin. A year of median rent ($1,130/mo) equals 19% 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.
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