What it's like to live in Manvel
Manvel is a small city in Texas with household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, air quality that stays clean most of the year, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Manvel deals with rent well above the national average, long average commutes, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and hot summers.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Clean air
- Highly educated workforce
- Fast-growing population
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- Long commutes
- High rent burden for renters
- Hot summers
- Above-average rainfall
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Manvel compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Manvel
Based on Manvel's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$4,418
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $88,360 a year
- 62% of Manvel renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$67,740
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $33,870
- Homes cost 2.9× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 56% above US
$2,209/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $2,209 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 $338,700. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $338,700 · 62% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.6% county unemployment
Unemployment in Brazoria County is 4.6%, 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.
Brazoria County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 87% below US
44 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 812/100k · Manvel Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 35% above US
35 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 35.2 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; 12% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 93°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 48°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 13% above US
41% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 41% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
7 public schools inside the boundary
There are 7 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1, 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 Big Thicket National Preserve (89 miles away).
Bottom line
Manvel'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 long average commutes. A year of median rent ($2,209/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. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget and people who dread long commutes.
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