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Moving to
University Park.
The Census tops out at $250,000+ for household income; it doesn't publish exact figures above that.
What it's like to live in University Park
University Park is a small city in Texas with household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. University Park deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and hot summers.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Air quality concerns
- Hot summers
How University Park compares
Median household income
The Census tops out at $250,000+ for household income; it doesn't publish exact figures above that.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to University Park
Based on University Park's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$6,544
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $130,880 a year
- 46% of University Park renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$372,360
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $186,180
- Homes cost 7.4× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 132% above US
$3,272/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $3,272 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 steep, with a median around $1,861,800. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $1,861,800 · 46% 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▼ 87% below US
44 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 1481/100k · University Park Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 33% below US
17 min average commute
Commutes run short here, averaging 17.3 minutes. That's an underrated perk of living in a smaller or well-planned city, where time isn't lost sitting in traffic. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 23% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers run seriously hot, with average highs pushing 96°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 40°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 152% above US
91% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
5 public schools inside the boundary
There are 5 public schools inside the boundary and 3 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1, 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 Waco Mammoth National Monument (89 miles away).
Bottom line
University Park'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 home prices well above the national average. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (23% of workers here already work from home), and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
Other places near University Park
All Texas guides →Moving to Dallas →
4 mi away · pop. 1,307,930
Rent $1,472/mo · Income $70,518
Compare with University Park →Moving to Farmers Branch →
7 mi away · pop. 36,645
Rent $1,864/mo · Income $91,186
Compare with University Park →Moving to Addison →
8 mi away · pop. 17,290
Rent $1,784/mo · Income $73,854
Compare with University Park →Moving to Richardson →
10 mi away · pop. 118,731
Rent $1,857/mo · Income $98,111
Compare with University Park →Not sure University Park is the one?
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