What it's like to live in Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg is a small city in Texas with county unemployment below 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. Fredericksburg deals with home prices well above the national average, household incomes below the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and hot summers.
The good
- Low unemployment in the county
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Growing population
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- High home prices
- Below-average household incomes
- High rent burden for renters
- Hot summers
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Fredericksburg compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Fredericksburg
Based on Fredericksburg's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,772
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $55,440 a year
- 52% of Fredericksburg renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$92,060
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $46,030
- Homes cost 7.1× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,386/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,386 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 $460,300. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $460,300 · 52% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
3.1% county unemployment
Unemployment in Gillespie County is 3.1%, a little below the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Gillespie County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 75% below US
84 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 619/100k · Fredericksburg Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 46% below US
14 min average commute
Commutes run short here, averaging 14.1 minutes. That's an underrated perk of living in a smaller or well-planned city, where time isn't lost sitting in traffic. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 13% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 93°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 36°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 4.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 20% above US
43% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 43% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
5 public schools inside the boundary
There are 5 public schools inside the boundary and 2 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 Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park (16 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Fredericksburg's strongest points are county unemployment below the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and household incomes below the national average. A year of median rent ($1,386/mo) equals 26% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers (county-wide unemployment is low), anyone prioritizing low crime, and people who want short commutes.
Other places near Fredericksburg
All Texas guides →Moving to Kerrville →
22 mi away · pop. 24,755
Rent $1,086/mo · Income $62,102
Compare with Fredericksburg →Moving to Boerne →
34 mi away · pop. 20,518
Rent $1,589/mo · Income $84,541
Compare with Fredericksburg →Moving to Scenic Oaks →
42 mi away · pop. 10,569
Rent $1,835/mo · Income $174,962
Compare with Fredericksburg →Not sure Fredericksburg is the one?
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