Town in Johnson County, part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metro

Living in Joshua, TX

C

394th of 745Texas towns of 1,000 to 10,000 people
Overall score 47 of 100
107th of 181 in the Dallas-Fort Worth area

Joshua earns a grade of C on our index, 394th of 745 Texas towns of 1,000 to 10,000 people. It does best on internet access and schools, and trails on cost of living and getting around.

  • Pricey
  • Fast-growing
  • Cost of living scores low (7 of 100)
  • Getting around scores low (13 of 100)
Map of Texas showing where Joshua isHoustonSan AntonioAustinJoshua
Where Joshua is in Texas.
Population
9,352+18.3% since 2020
Median rent
$1,361about the same as Texas
Median home value
$338,10019% higher than Texas
Household income
$68,117Median
Average commute
30 minOne way
Violent crime
95Per 100k, 2025

What it's like to live in Joshua

Joshua sits about 43 miles from downtown Dallas, in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metro. 9,352 people lived here in 2025, up 18.3% from 2020, so it is one of the faster-growing places in Texas. It is spread out.

Places locals use include Joshua City Park & Splash Pad and Joshua School and Public Library.

The median age is 36.7, 35% of households have children, 63% of homes are owned by the people living in them and the typical household earns $68,117 a year (13% lower than the Texas median).

Pros of living in Joshua

  • Strong public schools. 100% of the 5 rated campuses here earn an A or B from the Texas Education Agency.
  • Low violent crime. 95 violent crimes per 100,000 people in 2025, 75% lower than the Texas rate.
  • Growing fast. The population grew 18% from 2020 to 2025, which usually means new homes, shops and jobs.

Cons of living in Joshua

  • Homes are pricey for local incomes. The median home costs 5.0 times the median household income, against 3.6 times across Texas.
  • Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of tornadoes, heat waves and hail as very high here.

Who Joshua suits

  • FamiliesA reasonable fit: 100% of rated schools earn an A or B and violent crime is 75% lower than the Texas rate. Compared with similar Texas places, it beats 65% for families.
  • Young professionalsNot the best fit: household income is 13% lower than the Texas median, with 32 restaurants and 4 cafes in town. Compared with similar Texas places, it beats 27% for young professionals.
  • RetireesNot the best fit: 14% of working-age adults are uninsured and violent crime is 75% lower than the Texas rate. Compared with similar Texas places, it beats 28% for retirees.
  • Remote workersA reasonable fit: 96% of homes have broadband and the median rent of $1,361 is about the same as the Texas median. Compared with similar Texas places, it beats 55% for remote workers.
  • People on a budgetNot the best fit: the median rent of $1,361 is about the same as the Texas median. Compared with similar Texas places, it beats 2% for people on a budget.

Joshua report card

Ten grades, one for each part of daily life we measure. Most compare Joshua with other US towns of 1,000 to 10,000 people. Schools, safety and errands compare it with other Texas towns of 1,000 to 10,000 people.

  • Cost of living: grade F

    Median rent $1,361, homes cost 5.0x income.

    7 of 100 vs US towns

  • Jobs and income: grade C

    Median household income $68,117, 2.7% unemployed.

    44 of 100 vs US towns

  • Schools: grade A-

    5 rated campuses, 100% rated A or B.

    82 of 100 vs TX towns

  • Safety: grade B-

    95 violent crimes per 100k, 601 property crimes per 100k.

    63 of 100 vs TX towns

  • Errands and things to do: grade C+

    4 grocery stores, 32 restaurants, 3 parks mapped in town.

    53 of 100 vs TX towns

  • Getting around: grade D-

    Average commute 30 min, 8.3% work from home.

    13 of 100 vs US towns

  • Education levels: grade C

    28% have a bachelor’s degree.

    42 of 100 vs US towns

  • Health: grade D+

    14% of adults uninsured.

    28 of 100 vs US towns

  • Home ownership: grade C

    63% of homes owner-occupied.

    41 of 100 vs US towns

  • Internet access: grade A-

    96% of homes have broadband.

    83 of 100 vs US towns

Where Joshua stands out compared with Texas

Better than Texas

  • Adults 18 to 64 without health insurance: 14%6 points lower than Texas (20%)
  • Homes with broadband internet: 96%5 points higher than Texas (91%)
  • Unemployment rate: 2.7%3 points lower than Texas (5.3%)

Worse than Texas

  • Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent: 82%31 points higher than Texas (52%)
  • Home value to income: 5.0x37% higher than Texas (3.6x)
  • Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher: 28%6 points lower than Texas (34%)

Cost of living in Joshua

Rent is the cost most newcomers feel first. The median rent in Joshua is $1,361 a month, about the same as the Texas median of $1,403. To keep that rent at 30% of income, a household needs to earn about $54,000 a year. Right now 82% of renters here pay more than 30% of their income on rent.

HUD sets fair market rents for this area at $1,481 for a one-bedroom, $1,745 for a two-bedroom and $2,284 for a three-bedroom (fiscal year 2027). These figures include utilities and describe a modest unit, so newer apartments often ask for more.

The median home is worth $338,100, 19% higher than the Texas median. With 20% down and a 30-year loan at 7.28%, the monthly payment comes to about $1,851 before tax, or $2,328 with property tax. That is $967 a month more than the median rent, so renting is the cheaper monthly choice unless you plan to stay for years.

Texas has no state income tax, but property taxes are among the highest in the country. The median homeowner in Joshua pays $5,726 a year, 35% higher than the Texas median of $4,232. Budget for it, along with homeowners insurance, which our numbers do not include.

Typical rent by apartment size

Fair market rent by bedroom count in JoshuaStudio$1,4611 bedroom$1,4812 bedrooms$1,7453 bedrooms$2,2844 bedrooms$2,866
HUD fair market rent for FY2027, Fort Worth-Arlington, TX HUD Metro FMR Area. This is what a typical, modest unit rents for, including utilities.
MeasureHereTexasUS
Median rentAbout the same as Texas$1,361$1,403$1,413
Median home value19% higher than Texas$338,100$283,800$332,700
Home value to income37% higher than Texas5.0x3.6x4.1x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent31 points higher than Texas82%52%51%
Median property tax per year35% higher than Texas$5,726$4,232$3,119
Homes owned by the people living in themAbout the same as Texas63%63%65%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Texas199719921980

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$2,328
Mortgage payment
$1,851
Property tax
$477
Median rent, for comparison
$1,361

Based on a $338,100 home in Joshua, 20% down and a 30-year loan at 7.28% (Freddie Mac average, week of 2026-10-01). Property tax is the median paid locally, or the county median where the local figure is not published. Insurance and fees are not included.

Is Joshua safe?

In 2025, Joshua Police Department reported 9 violent crimes and 57 property crimes. That works out to 95 violent crimes per 100,000 people, 75% lower than the Texas rate of 387, and 601 property crimes per 100,000, 71% lower than the state rate.

Violent crime is down about 20% since 2021, based on the yearly rates below.

Crime rates describe the whole area a police department covers. Some streets are much quieter than the average and some are busier, so look at the neighborhood grades and visit at different times of day.

Violent crimes per 100,000 people in Joshua by yearTexas9520212022202320242025

Violent crimes per 100,000 people by year. The dashed line is the Texas rate for 2025.

Violent crime
95
per 100k, Texas 387
Property crime
601
per 100k, Texas 2,086
Property crimes per 100,000 people in Joshua by yearTexas60120212022202320242025

Property crimes per 100,000 people by year.

Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer, Joshua Police Department, 2025. Rates count reported crimes only and cover the area this police department serves.

Schools in Joshua

Joshua has 5 public school campuses with a 2025 state rating inside the city, and 100% of them earn an A or B. Most students here are served by Joshua ISD.

Top-rated campuses include A G Elder Elementary and Joshua H S Ninth Grade Campus. The average rating score across all campuses is 87 out of 100, against a Texas median of 81.

Texas districts usually assign students by attendance zone rather than the closest campus, so check the zone for a specific address with the district before you sign a lease or buy.

Schools grade
82
of 100 vs Texas towns
Average rating
87
Texas median 81

Ratings are the 2025 Texas Education Agency A to F accountability ratings. Always check which school serves a specific address with the district.

Top-rated schools

  • AA G Elder ElementaryElementary, Joshua ISD92 of 100
  • AJoshua H S Ninth Grade CampusMiddle, Joshua ISD91 of 100
  • BJoshua High SchoolHigh, Joshua ISD87 of 100
  • BH D Staples ElementaryElementary, Joshua ISD83 of 100
  • BPlum Creek ElementaryElementary, Joshua ISD83 of 100

Best neighborhoods in Joshua

We grade 4 areas inside Joshua. The top three are Wildwood (B+), Oak Trail Estates (C+) and Joshua Meadows (C). If price matters most, Joshua Meadows has the lowest median rent among areas graded C or better, at $1,020 a month. Oak Trail Estates is the priciest, at $1,780. Use the map to color the city by any grade, or the sliders to rank areas by what you care about.

Loading map
    All 4 Joshua neighborhoods, A to Z

    Daily life in Joshua

    Everyday places mapped inside Joshua, from Overture Maps. Well-known spots include Joshua City Park & Splash Pad, City of Joshua Parks And Recreation, Joshua School and Public Library.

    The average one-way commute is 30 minutes, 14% longer than the Texas average. 8% of workers work from home. Fewer than 3% walk, bike or take transit to work, so plan on driving for almost everything.

    Downtown Dallas is about 43 miles away in a straight line. Many people who live in Joshua work elsewhere in the metro, so test the drive at rush hour before you commit.

    The median household income is $68,117, income per person is $34,394, unemployment is 2.7% and 28% of adults hold a bachelor's degree.

    Grocery stores
    4
    Pharmacies
    2
    Restaurants
    32
    Cafes
    4
    Bars
    1
    Parks
    3
    Gyms
    5
    Hospitals and urgent care
    0
    Childcare
    2
    Libraries
    1

    Jobs, income and education

    MeasureHereTexasUS
    Median household income13% lower than Texas$68,117$78,476$80,734
    Income per person16% lower than Texas$34,394$40,752$44,673
    Unemployment rate3 points lower than Texas2.7%5.3%5.2%
    People below the poverty line5 points higher than Texas19%14%12%
    Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher6 points lower than Texas28%34%36%
    Adults with a high school diploma or higherAbout the same as Texas87%86%90%
    Adults 18 to 64 without health insurance6 points lower than Texas14%20%11%
    Homes with broadband internet5 points higher than Texas96%91%91%

    Getting to work

    MeasureHereTexasUS
    Average commute14% higher than Texas30 min27 min26 min
    Workers who work from home6 points lower than Texas8.3%14%15%
    Workers who work from home8.3%
    Workers who take transit0%
    Workers who walk0.5%
    Workers who bike0%

    Who lives in Joshua

    Under 1829%
    18 to 3418%
    35 to 6437%
    65 and over16%

    Median age 36.7 years. 35% of households have children.

    Race and ethnicity
    White73%
    Hispanic or Latino19%
    Black1.5%
    Asian0.3%
    Other or more than one race6.0%

    Shown for information only. It is never part of any grade.

    Weather in Joshua

    Joshua has a hot Texas climate. July highs average 95°F and January lows about 34°F. There are about 98 days a year at 90°F or above, and about 37 inches of rain a year.

    Average monthly high and low temperatures in Joshua30°50°70°90°57J61F68M76A83M91J95J95A88S78O67N58DRain

    Average daily high and low by month, °F, with rain below. NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals from Burleson, 4 mi away. Orange months average 90°F or more.

    Natural hazard risk

    FEMA's National Risk Index says river flooding risk is low, hurricane risk is moderate, tornado risk is very high and hail risk is very high. Even in lower-risk areas, check the FEMA flood map for the exact address before you buy.

    • River floodingLow
    • HurricanesModerate
    • TornadoesVery high
    • HailVery high
    • Heat wavesVery high
    • WildfiresVery high
    • Winter stormsLow
    • Strong windHigh

    Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025, Census tract level averaged for the city. Check the FEMA flood map for any address before you buy.

    Places near Joshua

    Nearby, Burleson gets an A-, Keene gets a C- and Cleburne gets a C. Each is graded against Texas places of its own size, so a small town and a big city can both earn an A.

    1. A-BurlesonCity, 52,918 people3 mi
    2. C-KeeneTown, 6,691 people5 mi
    3. CCleburneSmall city, 34,344 people7 mi
    4. C+CrowleySmall city, 19,532 people8 mi
    5. B-GodleyTown, 2,809 people9 mi
    6. DAlvaradoTown, 6,307 people11 mi

    Joshua in the Dallas-Fort Worth area

    How it ranks among 181 places in the metro.

    1. 1A+Flower Mound78,389 people26 mito downtown
    2. 2A+Trophy Club13,733 people29 mito downtown
    3. 3A+University Park25,155 people4 mito downtown
    4. 104C+Hackberry2,979 people26 mito downtown
    5. 105C+Paloma Creek3,016 people31 mito downtown
    6. 106CProvidence Village8,721 people33 mito downtown
    7. 107CJoshua8,550 people43 mito downtown
    8. 108CRendon14,632 people31 mito downtown
    9. 109CRunaway Bay1,717 people69 mito downtown
    10. 110CReno3,272 people48 mito downtown

    See all of the best suburbs of dallas-fort worth

    Living in Joshua: common questions

    Is Joshua, TX a good place to live?

    Joshua earns a grade of C on our index, 394th of 745 Texas towns of 1,000 to 10,000 people. It does best on internet access and schools, and trails on cost of living and getting around.

    How much does it cost to live in Joshua?

    Median rent in Joshua is $1,361 a month, about the same as the Texas median. The median home is worth $338,100, 19% higher than the Texas median. A median home costs 5.0x the median household income, compared with 3.6x across Texas. With 20% down at a 7.28% rate, the monthly payment on a median home is about $2,328, including property tax.

    Is Joshua safe?

    In 2025, Joshua Police Department reported 95 violent crimes per 100,000 people, 75% lower than the Texas rate. Property crime was 601 per 100,000, 71% lower than the Texas rate.

    Are the schools good in Joshua?

    We found 5 rated public school campuses inside Joshua. 100% are rated A or B by the Texas Education Agency. Its schools score is 82 of 100 compared with other Texas towns of 1,000 to 10,000 people.

    What are the best neighborhoods in Joshua?

    Based on our scores, the top-rated areas in Joshua are Wildwood, Oak Trail Estates and Joshua Meadows. We score 4 areas in the city.

    Does Joshua flood?

    FEMA rates river flooding risk in Joshua as low, and coastal flooding as not rated. Hazards rated high or very high here: tornadoes, heat waves, hail, wildfires and strong wind. Always check the flood map for a specific address before you buy.

    What is the weather like in Joshua?

    Summers in Joshua peak at about 95°F in July, and January nights fall to about 34°F. Expect around 98 days a year at 90°F or hotter, and 37 inches of rain.

    How long is the commute in Joshua?

    The average one-way commute is 30 min, 14% higher than the Texas average. About 8.3% of workers work from home. It is about 43 miles from downtown Dallas.

    Sources: US Census Bureau 2020-2024 ACS 5-year and 2025 population estimates, CDC PLACES 2025, Texas Education Agency 2025 ratings, FBI Crime Data Explorer, FEMA National Risk Index, NOAA climate normals, HUD fair market rents, Overture Maps. Updated 2026-10-04. How we grade.