Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denton, TX
VS
New Braunfels, TX
🏆 New Braunfels leads 16 of 23 categories
Denton
Texas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,921
Violent Crime Index
54
Population
142,262 ✓ Larger
New Braunfels
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
92,993
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Denton, TX
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (204.2 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $162/mo less ($1,264 vs $1,426)
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails New Braunfels by $13,906/yr
Higher unemployment (4.8% vs 3.8%)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than New Braunfels
New Braunfels, TX
Pros
23% less violent crime than Denton
Violent crime is well below the national average (156.4 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $13,906 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.8%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Denton
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,426/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
New Braunfels
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
New Braunfels
Median Income
$13,906
$85,827 vs $71,921/yr
New Braunfels
Violent Crime
23% lower
156.4 vs 204.2 per 100k
New Braunfels
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denton, TX | New Braunfels, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $296,100 | $290,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,264 ✓ Lower | $1,426⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,921 | $85,827 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.7 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 65 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 38.0% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% | 91.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DENTON ISD | COMAL ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.8°F | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 93.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.4" | 35.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,262 ✓ Larger | 92,993 |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs New Braunfels's 93.7 (US average = 100).
New Braunfels is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Braunfels leads 16 of 23 categories. Denton wins 7 and New Braunfels wins 16. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Denton to New Braunfels or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($296,100 vs $290,800 median home), income ($71,921 vs $85,827), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denton, TX and New Braunfels, TX are about 250 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.