What it's like to live in Denton
Denton is a mid-size city in Texas with crime rates well below the national average, a highly educated workforce, a population that has grown fast since 2020, and hospitals with strong quality ratings. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Denton deals with air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and hot summers.
The good
- Low crime rates
- Highly educated workforce
- Fast-growing population
- Strong hospital ratings
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Air quality concerns
- High rent burden for renters
- Hot summers
How Denton compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Denton
Based on Denton's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,840
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $56,800 a year
- 58% of Denton renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$69,640
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $34,820
- Homes cost 4.6× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,420/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,420 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices run above average, with a median around $348,200. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $348,200 · 58% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.0% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.0%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 38% below US
205 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 1735/100k · Denton Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
24 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 23.7 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 14% 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 36°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
7 hospitals
There are 7 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 4.7 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 16% above US
42% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 42% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
36 public schools inside the boundary
There are 36 public schools inside the boundary and 4 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 Chickasaw National Recreation Area (86 miles away).
Bottom line
Denton's strongest points are crime rates well below the national average and a highly educated workforce; the main tradeoffs are air quality that falls short of national benchmarks and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin. A year of median rent ($1,420/mo) equals 22% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime and college-educated professionals.
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