F

Luling, TX

Source:

Affordability Score: 36/100

Population: 7,683 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Luling, TX aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 7,683 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of F (36/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $57,621, median home value of $217,500, median rent of $1,038 per month, and 12.2% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,852 per month (studio $1,474, 1BR $1,562, 3BR $2,347, 4BR $2,760). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $10,504 per year, consuming 18% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Pressure points are education, rent, childcare. Unemployment currently reads 4.1% and poverty 9.0% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income D
$57,621
Median household income
Education F
12.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing D
3.8x
Home value $217,500 vs income
Commute D
28 min
Average commute time
Rent F
$1,852/mo
2BR fair market rent (39% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare F
$10,504/yr
Center-based infant care (18% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$57,621
▼ 7% vs national
Per Capita Income
$31,099
Unemployment Rate
4.1%
Poverty Rate
9.0%

Housing

Median Home Value
$217,500
▼ 21% vs national
Median Rent
$1,038/mo
Owner Occupied
69.6%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,852/mo
▲ 54% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,474
1BR
$1,562
2BR
$1,852
3BR
$2,347
4BR
$2,760

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
12.2%
▼ 18 ppt vs national
High School+
51.0%
Median Age
43.9
Avg. Commute
28 min
▲ 2 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$10,504/yr
18% of income
Toddler (Center)
$9,828/yr
Preschool (Center)
$9,516/yr
School-Age (Center)
$8,996/yr

What This Means

Luling, TX receives an overall affordability grade of F (36/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 7,683. Challenges include education and rent and childcare. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Luling, TX affordable?
Luling, TX receives an overall affordability grade of F (36/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $57,621. Median home value is $217,500.
What is the cost of living in Luling?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,038/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,852/mo. Infant childcare $10,504/yr. Median home value $217,500.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →