C-

Taylor, TX

Source:

Affordability Score: 50/100

Population: 17,661 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Taylor, TX aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 17,661 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of C- (50/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $78,568, median home value of $297,500, median rent of $1,134 per month, and 22.2% 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 13% 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, commute. Unemployment currently reads 3.6% and poverty 7.4% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income B-
$78,568
Median household income
Education F
22.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing D
3.8x
Home value $297,500 vs income
Commute F
31 min
Average commute time
Rent C
$1,852/mo
2BR fair market rent (28% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare C
$10,504/yr
Center-based infant care (13% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$78,568
▲ 27% vs national
Per Capita Income
$38,738
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Poverty Rate
7.4%

Housing

Median Home Value
$297,500
▲ 8% vs national
Median Rent
$1,134/mo
Owner Occupied
76.6%
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+
22.2%
▼ 8 ppt vs national
High School+
57.0%
Median Age
42.2
Avg. Commute
31 min
▲ 5 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$10,504/yr
13% of income
Toddler (Center)
$9,828/yr
Preschool (Center)
$9,516/yr
School-Age (Center)
$8,996/yr

What This Means

Taylor, TX receives an overall affordability grade of C- (50/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 17,661. Challenges include education and commute. 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 Taylor, TX affordable?
Taylor, TX receives an overall affordability grade of C- (50/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $78,568. Median home value is $297,500.
What is the cost of living in Taylor?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,134/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,852/mo. Infant childcare $10,504/yr. Median home value $297,500.
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 →