Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Braunfels, TX
VS
San Tan Valley, AZ
🏆 New Braunfels leads 12 of 22 categories
New Braunfels
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,827
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
92,993
San Tan Valley
Arizona
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0
Median Household Income
$88,466 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62
Population
101,207 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Braunfels, TX
Pros
34% less violent crime than San Tan Valley
Violent crime is well below the national average (156.4 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $303/mo less ($1,426 vs $1,729)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 38.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (3.8%)
Cons
Median income trails San Tan Valley by $2,639/yr
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $2,639 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,729/mo
Higher unemployment (4.5% vs 3.8%)
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
New Braunfels
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 100.0 (100 = US avg)
New Braunfels
Violent Crime
34% lower
156.4 vs 235.7 per 100k
New Braunfels
Median Home Value
$13k less
$290,800 vs $304,000
New Braunfels
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.5% unemployment
San Tan Valley
Median Income
$2,639
$88,466 vs $85,827/yr
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
10.8°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 93.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Braunfels, TX | San Tan Valley, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper | 100.0 |
| Median Home Value | $290,800 ✓ Lower | $304,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,426⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,729⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,827 | $88,466 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 ✓ Safer | 56 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 62 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.0% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 91.7% | 92.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COMAL ISD | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.4°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.4" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,993 | 101,207 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% | 80.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Braunfels's cost of living index is 93.7 vs San Tan Valley's 100.0 (US average = 100).
New Braunfels is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, New Braunfels leads 12 of 22 categories. New Braunfels wins 12 and San Tan Valley wins 10. 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 New Braunfels to San Tan Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($290,800 vs $304,000 median home), income ($85,827 vs $88,466), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Braunfels, TX and San Tan Valley, AZ are about 828 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.