C+

Universal City, TX

Source:

Affordability Score: 60/100

Population: 20,139 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Universal City, TX aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 20,139 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of C+ (60/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $74,783, median home value of $267,000, median rent of $1,356 per month, and 33.3% 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 $1,426 per month (studio $1,077, 1BR $1,177, 3BR $1,830, 4BR $2,132). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $8,892 per year, consuming 12% 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. Unemployment currently reads 4.8% and poverty 8.3% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income C+
$74,783
Median household income
Education C
33.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing D
3.6x
Home value $267,000 vs income
Commute C-
25 min
Average commute time
Rent B
$1,426/mo
2BR fair market rent (23% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare B-
$8,892/yr
Center-based infant care (12% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$74,783
▲ 21% vs national
Per Capita Income
$39,417
Unemployment Rate
4.8%
Poverty Rate
8.3%

Housing

Median Home Value
$267,000
▼ 3% vs national
Median Rent
$1,356/mo
Owner Occupied
52.6%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,426/mo
▲ 19% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,077
1BR
$1,177
2BR
$1,426
3BR
$1,830
4BR
$2,132

Safety

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

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
33.3%
▲ 3 ppt vs national
High School+
60.0%
Median Age
35.3
Avg. Commute
25 min
▼ 1 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$8,892/yr
12% of income
Toddler (Center)
$8,320/yr
Preschool (Center)
$8,112/yr
School-Age (Center)
$7,748/yr

What This Means

Universal City, TX receives an overall affordability grade of C+ (60/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 20,139. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Universal City ZIP Codes
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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Universal City, TX affordable?
Universal City, TX receives an overall affordability grade of C+ (60/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $74,783. Median home value is $267,000.
What is the cost of living in Universal City?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,356/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,426/mo. Infant childcare $8,892/yr. Median home value $267,000.
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 →