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Living in
Watauga.
About
Life in Watauga
Watauga is a community of 23,336 people in Texas. The median household income is $91,669, median rent runs about $1,982 per month, and median home values are around $250,500. Unemployment is low at 4%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Watauga at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
11.3%
Foreign-Born
11.4%
Broadband Internet
95.5%
of households
Population Growth
-2.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics11.4% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Watauga: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Watauga, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (40.2%), and 13.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.7%
of residents
65 and Older
14.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
34.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
16.8%
of households
Married Couples
55.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.91
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 41% above TX average
Rent, home values, and income in Watauga
In Watauga, rent runs 41% above the TX average, and home values are 12% below the TX average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
49.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
27.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,274
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
78.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1984
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $271,592 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for TX
Unemployment in Watauga and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Tarrant County, which includes Watauga, is close to the TX average.
Unemployment rate
Watauga: Tarrant County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Tarrant County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Watauga is about 1% of Tarrant County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Watauga Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area
Commute28.6 min avg
How Watauga residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Watauga, most residents drive alone to work (71%), and 49% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 13 mi
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
Major hub41.3M 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 67% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Watauga runs 67% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
108.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
960.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Watauga Police Department
Natural DisastersHail most common — 39 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
99.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Tarrant County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Tarrant County, which includes Watauga, the most common type is hail, with 39 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 39 | Hail | $10.7M |
| 2024 | 39 | Hail | $4.7M |
| 2023 | 38 | Hail | $4.5M |
| 2022 | 39 | Drought | $497,500 |
| 2021 | 27 | Hail | $829.4M |
| 2020 | 31 | Hail | $497,000 |
| 2019 | 41 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.0M |
| 2018 | 19 | Hail | $181,000 |
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.
3 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Tarrant County, county-wide
Watauga is about 1% of Tarrant County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality56 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Tarrant County, which includes Watauga, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
56
Good Days
116
per year
Moderate Days
219
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
Tarrant County, county-wide
Watauga is about 1% of Tarrant County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate93°F summers, 37°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Watauga has hot summers (avg high 93°F) and mild winters (avg low 37°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
75°/55°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
93°/74°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
76°/56°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
57°/37°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
37.6"
Annual Snowfall
2.0"
Hot Days/Year
97
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
32
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
81
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56°F | 36°F | 2.17" |
| Feb | 59°F | 39°F | 2.56" |
| Mar | 67°F | 47°F | 3.25" |
| Apr | 75°F | 54°F | 3.25" |
| May | 82°F | 64°F | 4.33" |
| Jun | 90°F | 71°F | 4.33" |
| Jul | 94°F | 75°F | 2.78" |
| Aug | 94°F | 75°F | 2.55" |
| Sep | 87°F | 68°F | 2.70" |
| Oct | 77°F | 56°F | 4.60" |
| Nov | 65°F | 45°F | 2.58" |
| Dec | 57°F | 37°F | 2.88" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Watauga
Uninsured
17.2%
of residents
No hospitals inside Watauga's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Medical City North Hills
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.7 mi away · North Richland Hills
Medical City Alliance
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4 mi away · Fort Worth
Saint Camillus Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.2 mi away · Hurst
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.
Education14.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Watauga
Watauga's student/teacher ratio is 14.2:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 24.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
24.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Watauga (within 15 miles)
Tarrant County College District
9.3 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 42,300 students · in-state tuition $1,998 · 25% graduate · median earnings $45,883 (10 yrs after entry)
The University of Texas at Arlington
12.7 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 32,294 students · in-state tuition $11,950 · 58% graduate · median earnings $72,508 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 11,026 students · in-state tuition $63,590 · 82% graduate · median earnings $77,334 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,741 students · in-state tuition $40,844 · 42% graduate · median earnings $56,582 (10 yrs after entry)
Universal Technical Institute-Dallas Fort Worth
14.6 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 1,610 students · 66% graduate · median earnings $58,939 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 284 students · in-state tuition $20,640 · 30% graduate · median earnings $46,558 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Waco Mammoth National Monument, 88 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Watauga
Watauga has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Waco Mammoth National Monument (88 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Waco Mammoth National Monument
National Monument
88 mi awayPublic Libraries in Watauga
Watauga Public Library
7109 Whitley Rd, Watauga
Cities Near Watauga
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Watauga?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Watauga FAQ
Is Watauga, Texas affordable?⌄
Watauga's median rent is $1,982/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $91,171/year. Median home value is $250,500.
Is Watauga, Texas safe?⌄
Watauga's violent crime rate was 109 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 961 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Watauga, Texas?⌄
Tarrant County, which includes Watauga, has an unemployment rate of 3.9%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Watauga, Texas?⌄
The cost of living in Watauga is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,982/month and median household income is $91,171/year. The median home value is $250,500. About 50% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Watauga, Texas?⌄
The average commute in Watauga is 29 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