2027 MNM LIVABILITY INDEX

New Braunfels

Texas (TX)

Best for: Families and remote workers seeking Hill Country recreation and access to both San Antonio and Austin

2027 CITY CLASSMedium City100,000–299,999 residents

Modern Livability81.0/ 100

AT A GLANCE

Everyday numbers

Population122,492

Median Home$339,400

Median Rent$1,654

Median Household Income$86,021

Cost of LivingRPP 94.7 (US=100; BEA 2024)

Average Commute28.0 min

Unemployment3.6% (BLS 2024 annual avg)

Metro AreaSan Antonio-New Braunfels, TX

2027 MODERN LIVABILITY SCORECARD

How this city actually lives

Twelve dimensions capture both hard data and the everyday experience traditional lists tend to miss.

81.0overall

Housing & Financial Reality77.0

Housing burden, taxes, insurance, utilities and what local incomes actually buy.

Ease of Living80.0

Errands, commute friction, parking, services and the effort required for daily life.

Safety & Stability86.0

Personal, neighborhood, road and environmental stability.

Economic Opportunity88.0

Jobs, wages, career mobility, employer diversity and economic resilience.

Health & Wellness80.0

Healthcare access, activity, mental wellness, healthy food and environmental health.

Beauty & Sense of Place87.0

Scenery, architecture, trees, cleanliness, public realm and distinct sense of place.

Mobility & Congestion61.0

Traffic delay, commute reliability, walking, cycling and transit usefulness.

Nature & Escape91.0

Trails, water, mountains, parks, public lands and how easily residents can escape.

Diversity & Belonging82.0

Diversity, integration, accessibility, newcomer friendliness and community connection.

Climate & Environment78.0

Comfortable weather, air quality, severe weather and environmental exposure.

Community & Culture79.0

Restaurants, arts, events, third places, recreation and social life.

Infrastructure & Connectivity82.0

Broadband, utilities, airport, highways, transit and essential connectivity.

THE THINGS OLD-SCHOOL LISTS MISS

What daily life feels like

Traffic / CongestionModerate. Peak-hour slowdowns occur on major corridors, but many everyday trips remain manageable.

Weekend EscapeExcellent. Major parks, mountains, coast, rivers or other regional recreation provide unusually strong weekend options.

WalkabilityAbout 25/100 citywide Walk Score. The city is generally car-dependent, so neighborhood choice strongly affects daily convenience.

Airport AccessGood to excellent. Regional airport access is practical, with larger nearby hubs expanding domestic and international options where needed.

Outdoor AccessExcellent. Trails, water, mountains or major parks make outdoor access a defining lifestyle advantage.

Healthcare AccessStrong to excellent. Major hospitals, outpatient networks and specialty providers offer practical routine and advanced-care access.

Air QualityGenerally manageable, with seasonal pollen, ozone, smoke or weather-related episodes as the main concerns.

Third Places / Social LifeGood to very good. Restaurants, parks, cafés, libraries and community events provide regular gathering places.

EDITORIAL VIEW

More than a number

Trajectory: Growing

WHY IT STANDS OUT

Why we chose it

New Braunfels is included in the 2027 MNM Livability Index as the #245 most populous U.S. city in the Census Bureau's 2025 estimates. Its strongest advantages are rapid growth; rivers; hill country access; strong incomes; san antonio-austin corridor. The clearest tradeoffs are rapid-growth traffic; heat; rising housing costs; flood risk; car dependence. The MNM profile balances housing, everyday ease, safety, opportunity, wellness, beauty, mobility, nature, belonging, climate, culture and infrastructure rather than relying on a single headline metric.

REAL LIFE

What living here actually feels like

New Braunfels feels shaped by rapid growth and its broader central texas / i-35 corridor setting. Neighborhood choice has a meaningful effect on commute, walkability, housing cost and overall day-to-day experience.

STRENGTHS