What it's like to live in Stafford
Stafford is a small city in Texas with home prices that remain within reach, 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. Stafford deals with crime rates above the national average, hot summers, above-average rainfall, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Affordable home prices
- Highly educated workforce
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Crime above national average
- Hot summers
- Above-average rainfall
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Stafford compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Stafford
Based on Stafford's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,038
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $60,760 a year
- 34% of Stafford renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$51,540
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $25,770
- Homes cost 2.9× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,519/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,519 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $257,700. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $257,700 · 34% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.3% county unemployment
Unemployment in Fort Bend County is 4.3%, 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.
Fort Bend County (county-wide)
Safety▲ 37% above US
451 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 2606/100k · Stafford Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
26 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 26.2 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; 10% 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 45°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 15% 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
5 public schools inside the boundary
There are 5 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. 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 Big Thicket National Preserve (91 miles away).
Bottom line
Stafford's strongest points are home prices that remain within reach and a highly educated workforce; the main tradeoffs are crime rates above the national average and hot summers. A year of median rent ($1,519/mo) equals 21% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Stafford
All Texas guides →Moving to Sugar Land →
5 mi away · pop. 110,016
Rent $1,957/mo · Income $136,217
Compare with Stafford →Moving to Missouri City →
5 mi away · pop. 76,558
Rent $1,931/mo · Income $94,390
Compare with Stafford →Not sure Stafford is the one?
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