What it's like to live in Nacogdoches
Nacogdoches is a small city in Texas with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Nacogdoches deals with household incomes below the national average, hospital ratings below the national average, a poverty rate above the national average, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Short commutes
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Below-average hospital ratings
- High poverty rate
- High rent burden for renters
- Hot summers
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Nacogdoches compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Nacogdoches
Based on Nacogdoches's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$1,928
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $38,560 a year
- 54% of Nacogdoches renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$37,200
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $18,600
- Homes cost 4.7× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 32% below US
$964/mo median rent
Rent here is genuinely low, with median rent around $964 a month. Money stretches further here than in most of the country. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $186,000. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $186,000 · 54% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.7% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.7%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 10% below US
296 violent crimes per 100k
Crime runs about typical for a city this size. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, and one overall rate doesn't tell the whole story, so a neighborhood-level look matters more than the headline stat.
Property crime 1674/100k · Nacogdoches Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 40% below US
16 min average commute
Commutes run short here, averaging 15.7 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; 7% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 92°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 38°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
2 hospitals
There are 2 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 2.5 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 13% below US
31% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 31% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
12 public schools inside the boundary
There are 12 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13:1, 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 Big Thicket National Preserve (81 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Nacogdoches's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and hospital ratings below the national average. A year of median rent ($964/mo) equals 29% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Nacogdoches
All Texas guides →Moving to Henderson →
39 mi away · pop. 13,385
Rent $1,007/mo · Income $61,285
Compare with Nacogdoches →Moving to Jacksonville →
43 mi away · pop. 14,325
Rent $908/mo · Income $51,375
Compare with Nacogdoches →Moving to Kilgore →
55 mi away · pop. 13,470
Rent $1,010/mo · Income $66,295
Compare with Nacogdoches →Not sure Nacogdoches is the one?
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