8 Best Small Towns in Texas to Raise a Family in 2023 – Safe & Great Schools
We found the best small towns in Texas to raise a family based on quality of living, education, and crime rates so that you know where to settle in Texas.
There are many charming small towns scattered across the rolling hills of Texas, but not all of them are ideal to raise a family.
Therefore, we looked at all the data to determine the towns that offer the best infrastructure for young families. We prioritized places that have an excellent school system, low crime rates, lots of things to do around town, and an overall high standard of living.
We also made sure to include a mixture of towns at different price points so that you can find the town that suits your budget.
Best Small Towns in Texas to Raise a Family – Methodology
To find the best small towns in Texas to raise a family, we first have to define what we mean by “small town.” For this list, we only looked at places with a population of 10,000 people or fewer.
Then, we developed a large database with figures on several key aspects of living, including:
- Livability
- Cost of living
- Housing options
- Things to do
- School system
- Safety ratings
- Proximity to large cities
We placed an extra emphasis on the categories that matter most to young families, such as education, safety, and amenities.
Finally, we added up all the scores and created our final rankings.
8 Best Small Towns in Texas to Raise a Family in 2023
8. Shiner, Texas
Population: 2,162
Cost of Living Index: 6% Below Texas Average
Median Home Price: $249,000
Crime Rates: 85% Below Texas Average
Education Rating: A-
Location: Check on Google Maps
Shiner, Texas starts off our list of the best small towns in Texas to raise a family. This quaint little town is strategically located between three of Texas’ major cities. San Antonio, Houston, and Austin are all no more than a 2 hour drive away from Shiner.
Meanwhile, it is one of the most affordable small towns on this list. You can still find homes here for around $250,000.
7. Oak Ridge North, Texas
Population: 3,161
Cost of Living Index: 9% Above Texas Average
Median Home Price: $312,000
Crime Rates: 35% Below Texas Average
Education Rating: A
Location: Check on Google Maps
Oak Ridge North is a suburb of The Woodlands, which we named the best place to live in Texas for 2023.
It is a bit more dense than most of the towns on this list, but it offers easy access to Houston. The vibrant downtown core of The Woodlands is also just a 5 minute drive from Oak Ridge North.
6. Dalworthington Gardens, Texas
Population: 2,370
Cost of Living Index: 32% Above Texas Average
Median Home Price: $489,000
Crime Rates: 52% Below Texas Average
Education Rating: A-
Location: Check on Google Maps
Dalworthington Gardens is a suburb of Arlington and is located about 15 minutes from downtown Arlington and about 20 minutes from Fort Worth.
It is one of the best small towns in Texas to raise a family for those looking for access to a lot of green space and water.
Dalworthington Gardens features multiple parks while Lake Arlington is just 10 minutes from the town.
It also offers a great balance of safety and access to an excellent, well-rated school district.
5. Dripping Springs, Texas
Population: 5,708
Cost of Living Index: 23% Above Texas Average
Median Home Price: $868,000
Crime Rates: 79% Below Texas Average
Education Rating: A
Location: Check on Google Maps
Dripping Springs is a small community about 30 minutes from Austin that has been experiencing tremendous growth over the last 10 years. In fact, this small town has doubled in size since then.
It offers several independent restaurants and boutiques around its small town square and also features a handful of distilleries.
Meanwhile, its school district received an “A” rating from the Texas Education Agency, which makes it one of the best small towns in Texas to raise a family near Austin.
4. Willow Park, Texas
Population: 5,842
Cost of Living Index: 14% Above Texas Average
Median Home Price: $405,000
Crime Rates: 59% Below Texas Average
Education Rating: A+
Location: Check on Google Maps
Willow Park is located about 30 minutes west of Fort Worth and sits right on the idyllic Lake Weatherford.
Residents here enjoy this safe community, which has crime rates that are 59% below the state average, and also benefit from its top notch school system, which earned an A+ from AreaVibes.
3. Double Oak, Texas
Population: 3,068
Cost of Living Index: 50% Above Texas Average
Median Home Price: $783,000
Crime Rates: 91% Below Texas Average
Education Rating: A+
Location: Check on Google Maps
Double Oak, Texas has the distinction of having the lowest crime rates on this list, which makes it one of the best small towns in Texas to raise a family for those who strongly prioritize safety.
It is located about 40 minutes north of both Dallas and Fort Worth and is situated right between two lakes.
But, it is still close to many amenities, such as a Whole Foods, Target, and Kroger that are just outside the town.
2. Helotes, Texas
Population: 9,961
Cost of Living Index: 16% Above Texas Average
Median Home Price: $455,000
Crime Rates: 54% Below Texas Average
Education Rating: A+
Location: Check on Google Maps
Helotes is located on the outskirts of San Antonio and is about 30 minutes away from downtown San Antonio. It is also the biggest place on this list.
The town is filled with quiet, tree-lined neighborhoods and also offers a small commercial district in the center of town.
Helotes is also right next to the beautiful Government Canyon State Natural Area, where you can take canyon hikes and go on long bike rides.
1. Taylor Lake Village, Texas
Population: 3,571
Cost of Living Index: 14% Above Texas Average
Median Home Price: $352,000
Crime Rates: 78% Below Texas Average
Education Rating: A+
Location: Check on Google Maps
We think that Taylor Lake Village is the best small town in Texas to raise a family. This quiet little town is located about 40 minutes southwest of Houston and sits right on Clear Lake.
It is also close to the charming towns of Kemah and Seabrook.
Taylor Lake Village offers its residents an ideal blend of safety, education, and relative affordability.
There is also a strong sense of community here. For example, there are many events at the central Taylor Lake Village Community Park.
Best Small Towns in Texas to Raise a Family – Summary
We hope this review of the best small towns in Texas to raise a family gives you a good idea of where you may want to relocate to next.
We think that all of these towns offer a safe and quiet community for you to grow your family in.
All of these places also have stellar school systems, so you can be sure that your kids will receive a high quality educational experience.
We recommend that you visit some of these towns first so that you can see if their amenities and neighborhoods fit your vision of where to settle in Texas.
