What it's like to live in Missouri City
Missouri City 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 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. Missouri City deals with rent well above the national average, commute times longer than most cities, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and hot summers.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Highly educated workforce
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- Above-average commute times
- High rent burden for renters
- Hot summers
- Above-average rainfall
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Missouri City compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Missouri City
Based on Missouri City's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,862
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $77,240 a year
- 62% of Missouri City renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$62,280
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $31,140
- Homes cost 3.3× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 37% above US
$1,931/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $1,931 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 are reasonable, with a median around $311,400. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $311,400 · 62% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 14% above US
4.9% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.9%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 54% below US
151 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 978/100k · Missouri City Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 17% above US
30 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 30.4 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. 8 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 92°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 45°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 16% above US
42% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 42% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
19 public schools inside the boundary
There are 19 public schools inside the boundary and 9 private schools. 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 Big Thicket National Preserve (93 miles away).
Bottom line
Missouri City'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 ($1,931/mo) equals 25% of the median household income here, more than 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 anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Missouri City
All Texas guides →Moving to Stafford →
5 mi away · pop. 17,401
Rent $1,519/mo · Income $87,432
Compare with Missouri City →Moving to Sienna →
5 mi away · pop. 24,992
Rent $2,837/mo · Income $177,837
Compare with Missouri City →Moving to Fresno →
5 mi away · pop. 24,560
Rent $2,028/mo · Income $91,264
Compare with Missouri City →Not sure Missouri City is the one?
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