What it's like to live in Webster
Webster is a small city in Texas with home prices that remain within reach 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. Webster deals with household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Affordable home prices
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Air quality concerns
- High rent burden for renters
- Hot summers
- Very rainy — 60" of rain per year
How Webster compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Webster
Based on Webster's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,786
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $55,720 a year
- 54% of Webster renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$56,280
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $28,140
- Homes cost 4.6× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,393/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,393 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 $281,400. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $281,400 · 54% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.5% county unemployment
Unemployment in Harris County is 4.5%, 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.
Harris County (county-wide)
Safety▲ 47% above US
485 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 4183/100k · Webster Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
28 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 27.8 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 9 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 91°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 48°F. It's a wet climate overall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
2 hospitals
There are 2 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 4.0 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforceNear US average
38% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 38% 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
3 public schools inside the boundary
There are 3 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12:1, 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 (78 miles away).
Bottom line
Webster's strongest point is home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,393/mo) equals 27% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Webster
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