Lubbock, Texas
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Lubbock, TX.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Lubbock, TX?
Lubbock, TX has a MapsToIt housing cost index of 75 (among the more affordable large markets in this catalog; 100 = U.S. avg). Median home value is about $197,900 and median rent about $1,137, against national ACS medians of $303,400 and $1,348. Median household income is roughly $60,487. Typical commute is 17 minutes; summer highs average 92°F. Violent-offense rates run about 1008.1 per 100k (catalog avg 559.5).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 75U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $197,900U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $1,137U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $60,487U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 4.3%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 17 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 1008.1per 100k · catalog avg 559.5
- Summer high
- 92°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Lubbock compares with a U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals) or a MapsToIt catalog average (crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 272,086City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $60,487Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year23% below U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 75ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year25% below U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $197,900City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year35% below U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $1,137City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year16% below U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 4.3%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-10-19 · July 2026Near U.S. rate (4.2%)U.S. 4.2% - Avg commute
- 17 min32% below catalog avgCatalog avg 25 min
- Walk Score
- 3522% below catalog avgCatalog avg 45
- Violent crime rate
- 1008.1per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)80% above catalog avgCatalog avg 559.5 - Property crime rate
- 4606.3per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)53% above catalog avgCatalog avg 3005.3 - Summer high
- 92°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals5.0 pts above catalog avgCatalog avg 87°F
- Winter low
- 29°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals6.0 pts below catalog avgCatalog avg 35°F
- Annual rainfall
- 18.3 inAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals45% below catalog avgCatalog avg 33.2 in
- Sunny days
- 302As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals13% above catalog avgCatalog avg 268
Population trend
Lubbock grew 17.7% from 231,105 in 2010 to 272,086 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Lubbock, TX expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Lubbock's housing cost index is 75 versus 100 nationally — among the more affordable large markets in this catalog. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($197,900 vs $303,400) and rents ($1,137 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 75 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $197,900 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $1,137 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Lubbock, TX?
Typical ownership costs center near $197,900, while median gross rent is about $1,137 a month. Against a median household income of $60,487, rent alone is roughly 23% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $197,900
- Median rent $1,137/month
- Median household income $60,487
What is the job market like in Lubbock, TX?
County unemployment recently ran 4.3% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Lubbock is about $60,487 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 4.3% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $60,487
How long is the typical commute in Lubbock, TX?
Average one-way commute time is about 17 minutes, with Walk Score near 35/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 17 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 35/100
Is Lubbock, TX safer than similar U.S. cities?
Published violent-offense rates are about 1008.1 per 100k and property about 4606.3 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 559.5 and 3005.3. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.
- Violent 1008.1 per 100k
- Property 4606.3 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in Lubbock, TX?
Normals show summer highs near 92°F, winter lows near 29°F, about 18.3 inches of rain, and roughly 302 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 92°F
- Winter low 29°F
- 18.3 in rain · 302 sunny days
Lubbock, Texas counts about 272,086 residents inside the city limits. Median household income is roughly $60,487, while the ACS housing-cost index sits near 75 — among the more affordable large markets in this catalog on housing costs (100 ≈ U.S. average). Entry home prices around $197,900 still look attainable compared with coastal metros.
Lubbock is compact enough that a single wrong neighborhood choice is easy to feel day to day — visit at commute hour before signing. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI crime figures, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Lubbock with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Hot summers, sprawling freeways, and no state income tax dominate comparisons. Roughly 302 sunny days a year give outdoor routines unusual calendar reliability. Plan on roughly 17 minutes each way for a typical commute; Walk Score is about 35. Unemployment recently ran near 4.3%, broadly in line with many large U.S. counties. FBI CIUS Table 8 violent-offense rates run comparatively high (~1008.1 per 100k), so block-by-block due diligence is especially important.
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Lubbock city, 1600000US4845000) — As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Lubbock County, July 2026 — As of 2026-10-19 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019), city offenses per 100k — As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00023042 LUBBOCK) — As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-10-19