What it's like to live in Glenn Heights
Glenn Heights is a small city in Texas with crime rates well below the national average, a population that has grown fast since 2020, and schools with class sizes near the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Glenn Heights deals with rent well above the national average, commute times longer than most cities, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Low crime rates
- Fast-growing population
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- Above-average commute times
- Air quality concerns
- High rent burden for renters
- Hot summers
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Glenn Heights compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Glenn Heights
Based on Glenn Heights's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,350
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $67,000 a year
- 70% of Glenn Heights renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$61,920
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $30,960
- Homes cost 3.8× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 19% above US
$1,675/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,675 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $309,600. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $309,600 · 70% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.1% county unemployment
Unemployment in Dallas County is 4.1%, 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.
Dallas County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 33% below US
221 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 741/100k · Glenn Heights Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 28% above US
33 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 33.3 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 9 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 93°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 36°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 25% below US
27% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 27%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
4 public schools inside the boundary
There are 4 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1, close to the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Waco Mammoth National Monument (68 miles away).
Bottom line
Glenn Heights's strongest points are crime rates well below the national average and a population that has grown fast since 2020; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and commute times longer than most cities. A year of median rent ($1,675/mo) equals 25% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for people who dread long commutes and anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Glenn Heights
All Texas guides →Moving to DeSoto →
3 mi away · pop. 56,211
Rent $1,666/mo · Income $82,782
Compare with Glenn Heights →Moving to Lancaster →
6 mi away · pop. 40,820
Rent $1,704/mo · Income $68,302
Compare with Glenn Heights →Moving to Cedar Hill →
6 mi away · pop. 48,879
Rent $1,993/mo · Income $101,909
Compare with Glenn Heights →Not sure Glenn Heights is the one?
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