What it's like to live in Mansfield
Mansfield is a smaller city in Texas with household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, a highly educated workforce, and a population that has grown fast since 2020. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Mansfield 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
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Highly educated workforce
- Fast-growing population
- Strong hospital ratings
- 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 Mansfield compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Mansfield
Based on Mansfield's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,908
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $78,160 a year
- 55% of Mansfield renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$82,140
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $41,070
- Homes cost 3.4× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 38% above US
$1,954/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $1,954 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices run above average, with a median around $410,700. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $410,700 · 55% 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▼ 68% below US
106 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 1189/100k · Mansfield Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 10% above US
29 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 28.6 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 15% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 95°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 39°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
3 hospitals
There are 3 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 4.5 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 18% 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
29 public schools inside the boundary
There are 29 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1, close to 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 (67 miles away).
Bottom line
Mansfield'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 commute times longer than most cities. A year of median rent ($1,954/mo) equals 19% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (15% of workers here already work from home), and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
Other places near Mansfield
All Texas guides →Moving to Arlington →
9 mi away · pop. 397,742
Rent $1,470/mo · Income $75,171
Compare with Mansfield →Moving to Grand Prairie →
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Rent $1,629/mo · Income $81,619
Compare with Mansfield →Moving to Cedar Hill →
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