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Living in
New Braunfels.
About
Life in New Braunfels
Living in New Braunfels means you're choosing a city that's genuinely transformed itself in the last decade—it's been one of the fastest-growing places in America, and it shows in the energy and new development everywhere. The German Texan heritage gives the community real character—Wurstfest in November and Wassailfest in December aren't just tourist draws, they're neighborhood traditions that locals actually participate in—and the historic Gruene District with live music at Gruene Hall and dining in the old gristmill adds genuine cultural texture to weekend life. But here's the trade-off: summers are genuinely brutal and humid, with July and August regularly hitting 95°F, and the area sits in one of North America's most flood-prone zones—the 1998 floods caused $750 million in damage, so that's a real risk to understand before you move.
New Braunfels at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.4%
Foreign-Born
6.3%
Broadband Internet
95.0%
of households
Population Growth
+35.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.3% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in New Braunfels: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In New Braunfels, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (63.4%), and 17.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.5%
of residents
65 and Older
14.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
32.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
28.6%
of households
Married Couples
49.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.52
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 18% above TX average
Rent, home values, and income in New Braunfels
In New Braunfels, rent runs 18% above the TX average, and home values are 20% above the TX average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
48.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
20.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
94.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,500
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
65.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2006
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $345,353 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.9 pts below TX average
Unemployment in New Braunfels
Unemployment in New Braunfels is 0.9 percentage points lower than the TX average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What New Braunfels Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute27.1 min avg
How New Braunfels residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In New Braunfels, most residents drive alone to work (72%), and 65% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 24 mi
San Antonio International Airport (SAT)
Medium hub5.2M passengers boarded in 2025
- 44 mi
Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
Major hub10.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 32% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in New Braunfels runs 32% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
223.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,158.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
New Braunfels Police Department
Natural DisastersDrought most common — 22 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
92.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Comal County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Comal County, which includes New Braunfels, the most common type is drought, with 22 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 22 | Drought | $55,000 |
| 2024 | 15 | Hail | $2,000 |
| 2023 | 26 | Drought | $837,000 |
| 2022 | 21 | Drought | $16,000 |
| 2021 | 20 | Flash Flood | $152,000 |
| 2020 | 7 | Drought | $252,000 |
| 2019 | 14 | Hail | $318,000 |
| 2018 | 8 | Drought | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
50 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Comal County, county-wide
Air Quality52 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Bexar County, TX (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 30 miles from New Braunfels) is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
52
Good Days
158
per year
Moderate Days
196
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Bexar County, TX (30 mi away)
Climate93°F summers, 39°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
New Braunfels has hot summers (avg high 93°F) and mild winters (avg low 39°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
79°/55°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
93°/71°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
80°/56°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
64°/39°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
35.4"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
117
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
32
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
97
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 62°F | 37°F | 2.31" |
| Feb | 66°F | 40°F | 1.89" |
| Mar | 73°F | 48°F | 2.74" |
| Apr | 79°F | 54°F | 2.46" |
| May | 85°F | 64°F | 3.63" |
| Jun | 90°F | 70°F | 3.56" |
| Jul | 93°F | 72°F | 2.98" |
| Aug | 95°F | 71°F | 2.37" |
| Sep | 89°F | 66°F | 3.53" |
| Oct | 81°F | 56°F | 3.16" |
| Nov | 71°F | 46°F | 2.38" |
| Dec | 63°F | 40°F | 2.56" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in New Braunfels
New Braunfels has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
10.6%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Resolute Health Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Guadalupe Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13.5 mi away · Seguin
Christus Santa Rosa Hospital-san Marcos
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 14.6 mi away · San Marcos
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in New Braunfels
New Braunfels's student/teacher ratio is 15.5:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 38.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
27
within city limits
Private Schools
6
within city limits
College Degree Rate
38.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near New Braunfels (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,304 students · in-state tuition $37,800 · 56% graduate · median earnings $59,747 (10 yrs after entry)
College of Biomedical Equipment Technology
14.1 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 311 students · in-state tuition $25,000 · 83% graduate
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, 33 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for New Braunfels
New Braunfels has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being San Antonio Missions National Historical Park (33 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
National Historical Park
33 mi awayLyndon B Johnson National Historical Park
National Historical Park
48 mi awayEl Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
54 mi awayPublic Libraries in New Braunfels
New Braunfels Public Library
700 E Common St, New Braunfels
Westside Community Center Library
2932 S Ih 35, New Braunfels
Cities Near New Braunfels
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to New Braunfels?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
New Braunfels FAQ
Is New Braunfels, Texas affordable?⌄
New Braunfels's median rent is $1,654/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $86,021/year. Median home value is $339,400.
Is New Braunfels, Texas safe?⌄
New Braunfels's violent crime rate was 223 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1159 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in New Braunfels, Texas?⌄
New Braunfels has an unemployment rate of 3.3%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in New Braunfels, Texas?⌄
The cost of living in New Braunfels is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,654/month and median household income is $86,021/year. The median home value is $339,400. About 49% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in New Braunfels, Texas?⌄
The average commute in New Braunfels is 27 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from