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Quality of Life in Cleburne, TX
A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.
What does Quality of Life tell us?
Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.
What does this tell us?
Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.
Cost of Living
5% below national average
The Real Cost of Living in Cleburne, TX for 2026
| Tier | Individual | Family (4) |
|---|---|---|
| Survival | $20k | $38k |
| Comfortable | $39k | $57k |
| Luxury | $110k+ | $171k+ |
| Elite (Top 5%) | $130k+ | $201k+ |
116%
The Area Signal
A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.
Hobbies
Explore the areaGroceries
1 within 10 miles
Gas
0 within 10 miles
Hospital
3 within 20 miles
Airport
DFW — Dallas Fort Worth International
Post Office
USPS — Burleson, TX
Critical Amenities
Quality-of-Life Analysis
Cleburne, Texas, presents a middle-market quality of life shaped by its role as a county seat in Johnson County, attracting a mix of established families, commuters to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, and workers in local manufacturing and logistics. With a cost-of-living index of 95—5% below the national average—the city offers a tangible affordability advantage over nearby suburbs like Burleson or Mansfield, where home values often exceed $350,000. The typical resident is a homeowner in a single-family house, with a median commute of roughly 27 minutes, reflecting a population that values space and lower housing costs over proximity to downtown Fort Worth.
How housing costs and everyday expenses compare to nearby cities
The median home value in Cleburne sits at $200,900, roughly half the median in Mansfield and about 30% less than in Burleson. Median rent of $1,283 is similarly competitive—about $300–$400 less per month than comparable rentals in Tarrant County suburbs. This affordability extends to utilities and groceries, both of which track below the national average. Property taxes in Johnson County hover around 2.2% of assessed value, which is typical for Texas but means a $200,900 home carries an annual tax bill near $4,420. For a household earning the local median income of roughly $62,000, the housing cost burden is manageable, with mortgage or rent consuming about 25–28% of gross income. The trade-off is a longer average commute—26.6 minutes—than in more expensive suburbs, though still shorter than the DFW regional average of 28 minutes. Residents driving to Fort Worth’s Alliance corridor or downtown can expect 35–45 minutes in typical traffic.
Schools, parks, and the daily rhythm of life in Cleburne
Cleburne Independent School District operates 12 campuses serving about 7,800 students, with Cleburne High School offering career and technical education tracks in welding, health science, and robotics. The district’s overall rating from the Texas Education Agency is a B, with several elementary schools earning A ratings. For daily errands and dining, the city’s commercial spine along Henderson Street and US-67 includes national chains like Walmart and H-E-B, plus local staples such as the Cleburne Farmers Market (April–October) and the historic Cleburne Downtown Square, which hosts a weekly farmers market and seasonal events. Outdoor recreation centers on Lake Pat Cleburne, a 1,500-acre reservoir with fishing, boating, and a 5-mile hiking trail, and the 40-acre Cleburne State Park, which offers camping and swimming. The city’s crime rate is slightly above the national average for property crime but below the Texas average for violent crime, with the Cleburne Police Department maintaining a community policing unit focused on neighborhood engagement. The daily rhythm is slower than in DFW proper—most restaurants close by 9 p.m., and nightlife is limited to a handful of bars and the historic Ritz Theatre for live shows.
Cleburne works best for buyers and renters who prioritize square footage and a yard over walkability and urban amenities. Families with school-age children, remote workers who can tolerate a 27-minute commute, and retirees seeking a lower-cost, quieter alternative to the metroplex will find the trade-offs worthwhile. Professionals who need daily access to downtown Fort Worth or DFW Airport should budget for a 40–50 minute drive each way. The city’s affordability is genuine, but it comes with a distinctly small-town pace—residents who value that rhythm will thrive here, while those seeking a vibrant nightlife or high-end retail should look closer to Fort Worth.
Crime in Cleburne, TX
Lower crime rates than 84% of comparable U.S. locations.
Violent CrimeViolent Crime Analysis
Property CrimeProperty Crime Analysis
Crime Analysis
Cleburne, Texas, presents a notably safer profile than many communities its size, with violent crime rates significantly below both state and national averages. The city recorded a violent crime rate of 159.9 incidents per 100,000 residents in the most recent reporting period, a figure that is roughly half the national average. Property crime, at 854.7 per 100,000, also trends lower than comparable suburban and exurban areas, though it remains a more common concern for residents.
Crime in context
When measured against broader Texas and U.S. benchmarks, Cleburne’s crime statistics are a clear outlier in a positive direction. The national violent crime rate hovers near 380 per 100,000, meaning Cleburne’s rate is about 58% lower. Property crime nationally sits around 1,950 per 100,000, making Cleburne’s rate roughly 56% lower. This places Cleburne in a favorable position compared to many other cities in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, where suburban crime rates have crept upward in recent years. The city benefits from being outside the immediate orbit of large urban centers where progressive prosecutorial policies—such as cash bail reform and reduced sentencing for repeat offenders—have been linked to rising recidivism and emboldened criminal activity. Cleburne’s local law enforcement and judicial approach remain more traditional, which correlates with its lower crime numbers.
What residents experience
For daily life in Cleburne, the low violent crime rate means that random acts of violence are rare. The most common safety issues involve theft from vehicles, burglary of storage sheds or outbuildings, and occasional vandalism—typical concerns for any growing exurban community. Residents report feeling safe walking downtown and using city parks during daylight hours. The property crime rate, while low overall, does see seasonal upticks, particularly during summer months when homes are vacant for vacations. Cleburne Police Department maintains a visible presence, and community policing initiatives are active, which helps keep the property crime rate from spiking. The city’s distance from larger metro areas also insulates it from the spillover effects of urban crime waves driven by lenient sentencing and catch-and-release policies in nearby counties.
Neighborhood-level variation in Cleburne is modest but worth noting. Older, established neighborhoods near the historic downtown square and along the Chisholm Trail Parkway corridor tend to have the lowest incident rates. Newer subdivisions on the city’s north and east sides also report very few crimes. Areas closer to the U.S. 67 corridor, particularly near motels and older apartment complexes, see slightly higher rates of property crime, though still below regional averages. Overall, Cleburne offers a safety profile that appeals to families and retirees seeking a lower-crime alternative to the DFW core, with the understanding that no community is entirely crime-free.
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-18T19:45:08.000Z
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