C

Willis, TX

Source:

Affordability Score: 58/100

Population: 28,966 · 2 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Willis, TX aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes covering 28,966 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of C (58/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $81,631, median home value of $257,533, median rent of $1,460 per month, and 23.6% 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 $1,573 per month (studio $1,280, 1BR $1,323, 3BR $2,116, 4BR $2,639). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $9,620 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. Pressure points are education, commute. Unemployment currently reads 5.0% and poverty 8.6% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income B-
$81,631
Median household income
Education F
23.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing C+
3.2x
Home value $257,533 vs income
Commute F
33 min
Average commute time
Rent B
$1,573/mo
2BR fair market rent (23% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare B-
$9,620/yr
Center-based infant care (12% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$81,631
▲ 32% vs national
Per Capita Income
$39,217
Unemployment Rate
5.0%
Poverty Rate
8.6%

Housing

Median Home Value
$257,533
▼ 6% vs national
Median Rent
$1,460/mo
Owner Occupied
77.6%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,573/mo
▲ 31% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,280
1BR
$1,323
2BR
$1,573
3BR
$2,116
4BR
$2,639

Safety

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

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
23.6%
▼ 6 ppt vs national
High School+
56.8%
Median Age
39.0
Avg. Commute
33 min
▲ 7 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$9,620/yr
12% of income
Toddler (Center)
$8,944/yr
Preschool (Center)
$8,684/yr
School-Age (Center)
$8,112/yr

What This Means

Willis, TX receives an overall affordability grade of C (58/100), aggregated from 2 ZIP codes with a total population of 28,966. Challenges include education and commute. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Willis ZIP Codes
View all 2 ZIP codes with demographics and individual scorecards
View ZIPs →

What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Willis, TX affordable?
Willis, TX receives an overall affordability grade of C (58/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $81,631. Median home value is $257,533.
What is the cost of living in Willis?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,460/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,573/mo. Infant childcare $9,620/yr. Median home value $257,533.
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 →