Despite the charm of the small town, young adults who grow up in one often leave their home towns to experience urban life in the big city. But lately, they haven’t been staying there. Since 2020, many young people are coming back to small towns. Young adults 25-44 have been flocking to metro areas with fewer than a million residents, or even to rural regions.
Advantages of Living in Small Towns in Texas
Why do people like living in small towns in Texas? Small-town living in Texas usually comes with wide open spaces, a close community spirit, and an easygoing way of life.
Community and Connection
In a small town, people know and care about each other. Some say small town living in Texas is like having a big extended family. Neighbors look out for one another – helping with yard work, checking on elderly residents, or bringing meals during tough times.
Community events like local festivals, town hall meetings, and high school sports bring everyone together, creating a warm, supportive environment where people genuinely connect and feel like they truly belong. Everyone tends to recognize each other, wave when passing by, and people are always ready to lend a hand or offer support when someone is in need.
Education and Schools in Small Towns
Small towns often take great pride in their local schools, with tight-knit communities investing heavily in education. Class sizes are often smaller and because everyone knows each other, there’s typically more parental involvement and a strong sense of community support for both students and teachers.
Small-town schools frequently have dedicated staff who are deeply connected to the community, offer personalized attention to students, and can provide a nurturing learning environment. If you’re considering moving to a small town, be sure to research the local school district’s performance, graduation rates, extracurricular opportunities, and overall educational quality to ensure it meets your family’s needs.
Safety and Security
Nationwide statistics show much lower crime rates in small towns and rural areas than in larger cities. In small towns, people tend to feel safer because everyone knows each other and neighbors naturally watch out for one another’s property and well-being. The close-knit community means suspicious activities are quickly noticed, creating a sense of collective security where residents look out for each other like an extended family.
Cost of Living
Those who move to a small town often enjoy a lower cost of living than they would find in a large city. Your housing dollar goes farther in a small town, meaning you can buy a larger house for the same budget. And lower housing, food, and entertainment costs equate to spending less overall.
Quality of Life
Smaller towns tend to have a slower pace of life that enhances family time and cultivates personal well-being. Less exposure to traffic and fewer people competing for resources lends to a calmer, more peaceful existence.
Challenges of Small-Town Living
Before packing up and driving out of town, there are a few things to consider about small town living in Texas. For example, a small town doesn’t offer all the excitement and entertainment that a big city does. You may do a little more driving to get to a concert or a sushi restaurant. But if you choose a small town in a great location, such as Justin, TX — which is just a short drive to Denton and Fort Worth — you can enjoy the best of what these cities have to offer as well as the charms of a small town.
Here are a few factors to consider about living in one of the small towns in Texas.
Commuting
With more people working or attending college remotely, some won’t have a commute at all. However, if you must commute to a job or school every day, that can be a consideration when living in a rural small town. With limited public transportation, residents will depend on personal vehicles to travel to work or school. However, even a small town offers job opportunities and ways to earn a living nearby.
Fitting In
Moving into a small town can be an adjustment as new residents meet their neighbors. But this isn’t always true. When you move to a small town to buy a home in a master-planned community like Treeline by Hillwood, this isn’t a problem, thanks to our Lifestyle by Hillwood℠ placemaking approach. This robust lifestyle program offers hundreds of events and activities yearly to help new residents fit into the community and make new friends. Examples include community-wide celebrations, small affinity group gatherings, special age-appropriate activities for kids, craft workshops, concerts, movies, community markets, and much more.
Tips for Moving to a Small Town in Texas
Changing communities and purchasing a new home are big decisions you should not take lightly. If you plan to move to a small town, it is critical to define your priorities, considering all the factors that impact your lifestyle.
Set Your Budget
Determine the price range that fits into your budget. Even if you’re moving to a small town with lower housing costs, it is essential to know your financial limits before committing to a home. But price is not the only consideration.
Define Lifestyle Priorities
Carefully identify your lifestyle preferences. How do you want to live? Do you want to be close to nature? Do you love to be involved in community activities? What amenities are a must-have for you and your family?
Do Your Research
Take a little time to learn about different communities. Where are they located? What resources do you need close to home, such as healthcare facilities, schools, entertainment, and higher education? Social media groups and online forums can be helpful resources for talking with others about available communities.
Visit Towns in Person
There is nothing like visiting a community in person to fully soak in the surroundings, check out the local shops and services, and get to know the spirit of the place. Get a sense for the atmosphere. Does it feel like home to you? Can you see your family living here?
Chat with a few locals, find out what is available in the community, and take a tour. Even a robust online experience doesn’t give you the in-person experience of a personal visit.
Assess Property Values and Market Trends
Do a housing market analysis so you are comfortable with the pricing in the area and can understand the long-term investment potential. Homes in growing communities like those in small towns near Denton, TX, tend to hold their value or appreciate. Several online platforms offer property value information.
Also check property tax rates so you know what to expect. Rates vary with each town but you should be aware of your future property tax liability.
Consider Lifestyle Changes
If you’ve most recently lived in a bustling urban environment or a large city suburb, consider whether living in a new home community in a slower-paced rural area fits your family’s lifestyle. Discuss it as a family and be sure that everyone has clear expectations. To help ease the transition, look for opportunities to get involved in local events or organizations, which can help you integrate into the community more easily.
FAQs about the Best Small Towns in Texas
What are the best small towns in Texas?
The best small towns to live in Texas are where you feel at home and find a fit for your family. Do a little research. Ultimately, it will help inform your decision and save you from a poor fit. Check out the Best Small Towns near Fort Worth.
How many small towns are in Texas?
It depends on how you define a small town. If a small town has up to 5,000 residents, then out of 1,225 municipalities, 848 cities or towns in Texas can be called small towns.
What is the most underrated city in Texas?
Searching on the internet, several lists of the most underrated cities in Texas pop up. Each uses different criteria and lists different towns. Take a look through some of the sites for inspiration.
Explore Treeline in Justin, One of the Best Small Towns in North Texas to Live In
Treeline by Hillwood is a new home community in Justin, one of the fastest-growing small towns in Texas. About 30 minutes from Denton to the north and Fort Worth to the south, Justin offers a small-town lifestyle convenient to big city amenities. Located in Denton County, one of the fastest growing counties in the U.S., Treeline was designed to have all the family-friendly amenities and easy access to nature that is common in a small town. But its convenient location gives families, couples, and singles access to everything a big city can offer.
With its rural setting, long list of amenities, community-centered design, excellent school system, and rich lifestyle program, Treeline by Hillwood in Justin represents the best small-town living in Texas. So, if you’re looking for small-town Texas homes for sale, look no further than Treeline in Justin, Texas, opening in early 2025. Contact us or check out our builders for more information!
