City profile · Texas · Census ACS 2023

Buda, TX

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Buda - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

15,487
Residents
$111,179
Median income
$410,100
Median home
$1,852
Median rent (state)

Buda - the verdict

Buda ranks in the 84th percentile for household income and the 38th percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

84th
percentile, household income
78th
percentile, home value
78th
percentile, median rent
38th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Buda, TX

15,487 people live in Buda, Texas - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $111,179 per year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 4.7%. Buda's housing stock carries a median value of $410,100, and the median resident age is 36.1 years. About 49.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 69.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 68 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 63% from five years earlier. Buda reports a comparatively low crime rate: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 1768.1 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, below the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Texas tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Texas scores 97.1 (Near Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,852 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Texas run around $223, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 90.6 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

15,487 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Texas

Median Household Income

$111,179 /yr

Poverty 4.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

97.1 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Texas average

How does Buda compare to other US cities?

Where Buda sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 84% higher than other cities
Home value 78% pricier than other cities
Median rent 78% pricier than other cities
Safety 38% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Texas, Buda ranks #412 of 624 Texas cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Buda against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Texas only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Texas-relative analysis

Median Home Value is Buda's strongest outlier among Texas cities

Among the 1,505 Texas cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Buda ranks #127 - the 92nd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Buda only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#184 of 1,520
88th percentile in Texas
Median Gross Rent
#139 of 1,663
87th percentile in Texas
Median Home Value
#127 of 1,505
92nd percentile in Texas
Poverty Rate
#1,147 of 1,663
31st percentile in Texas
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#135 of 1,663
92nd percentile in Texas

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Texas only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

84thIncome percentile
38thSafety percentile

84th percentile nationally for median household income · 38th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Buda's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Buda's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 48 Avg. percentile National median
Buda's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Buda's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$410,100 22nd percentile more affordable than 22% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Buda $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Buda, TX Buda, TX's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Buda, TX-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Buda, TX median $111,179/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Buda, TX's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Buda, TX. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 49.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 69.6%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
15,487
Median Income
$111,179
Median Home Value
$410,100
Median Age
36.1
Poverty Rate
4.7%
Labor force participation
69.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
49.8%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1768.1
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
135.1
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1633.0
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
15
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
15,000 residents15,500 residents16,000 residents16,500 residents 202020212022202320242025 15,301 residents 16,166 residents ▲ +5.7%
Buda's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
68
housing units authorized
Single-Family
43
detached homes
Multifamily
25
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
4.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 184
2020 160
2021 184
2022 36
2023 39
2024 68

Permit volume decreased 63% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
77.5%
Carpool
3.6%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
18.9%

Based on 8,002 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Texas - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$130
avg/month
Natural Gas
$45
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$48
avg/month
Total Utilities
$223
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Texas state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Texas state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Buda sits in

Cost of Living Index
97.1
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,852/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
90.6 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Texas

Aldine
15,434 people
Canyon
15,398 people
Uvalde
15,344 people
Palmview
15,650 people
Rio Grande City
15,258 people
Mineral Wells
15,130 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Buda's 15,487 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Greenwood, CO
15,485 people
Bemidji, MN
15,490 people
Traverse City, MI
15,491 people
Batavia, NY
15,494 people
Yankton, SD
15,501 people
Alpine, CA
15,470 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Buda's $111,179 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Wakefield-Peace Dale, RI
$111,200 median income
Dammeron Valley, UT
$111,146 median income
Black Diamond, FL
$111,142 median income
Bright, IN
$111,140 median income
Village Shires, PA
$111,218 median income
Holly Springs, GA
$111,224 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Buda, TX Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Buda, TX - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 77.9% 14.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 31.1% White 77.9% Black or African American 1.6% Asian 0.4% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 5.1% Two or more races 14.8% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Buda compares to nearby Texas cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Buda (this city) 15,487 $111,179
Aldine 15,434 $40,916
Canyon 15,398 $68,233
Uvalde 15,344 $50,967
Census ACS 5-year FIPS TX FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Buda, TX?

What is the population of Buda, TX? +

Buda, TX counts 15,487 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Buda, TX? +

In Buda, the typical household earns $111,179 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Buda? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Buda; the closest available measure is the Texas state average, a cost of living index of 97.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Texas vary by metro area.

Is Buda, TX safe? +

Buda has a total crime rate of 1768.1 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Buda, TX? +

Homes in Buda carry a median value of $410,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.