What it's like to live in Farmers Branch
Farmers Branch is a small city in Texas with household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Farmers Branch deals with rent well above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and hot summers.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Growing population
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- Air quality concerns
- Hot summers
How Farmers Branch compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Farmers Branch
Based on Farmers Branch's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,728
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $74,560 a year
- 42% of Farmers Branch renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$72,920
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $36,460
- Homes cost 4.0× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 32% above US
$1,864/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,864 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices run above average, with a median around $364,600. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $364,600 · 42% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
3.9% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.9%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 60% below US
133 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 2031/100k · Farmers Branch 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. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 20% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers run seriously hot, with average highs pushing 96°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 40°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 3.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 47% above US
53% 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
9 public schools inside the boundary
There are 9 public schools inside the boundary and 7 private schools. 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.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Waco Mammoth National Monument (93 miles away).
Bottom line
Farmers Branch's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks. A year of median rent ($1,864/mo) equals 25% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (20% of workers here already work from home), and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
Other places near Farmers Branch
All Texas guides →Moving to Addison →
3 mi away · pop. 17,290
Rent $1,784/mo · Income $73,854
Compare with Farmers Branch →Moving to Carrollton →
4 mi away · pop. 133,740
Rent $1,735/mo · Income $101,396
Compare with Farmers Branch →Moving to Coppell →
7 mi away · pop. 42,154
Rent $2,022/mo · Income $146,235
Compare with Farmers Branch →Moving to Irving →
7 mi away · pop. 256,492
Rent $1,619/mo · Income $81,830
Compare with Farmers Branch →Not sure Farmers Branch is the one?
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