Neighborhood in Joshua, Johnson County

Living in Central Joshua, Joshua

D+

4th of 4areas in Joshua
Overall score 30 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Joshua overall: C

Central Joshua covers part of Joshua, TX, home to about 2,000 people. It gets a D+, in the bottom third of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 4th of 4 areas we score in Joshua. It does best on schools and worst on getting around.

  • Getting around scores low (18 of 100)
  • Tornado risk is very high

Closest everyday places

Grocery store0.5 mi
Pharmacy2.7 mi
Park1.0 mi
Cafe0.8 mi
Restaurant0.8 mi
Gym1.0 mi
Hospital or urgent care4.1 mi
Childcare1.9 mi
Library1.0 mi

Straight-line distance from the middle of where people live. Overture Maps.

Population
2,050
Median rent
$1,710
Median home value
$379,000
Household income
$83,500
Average commute
37 min
Homes owned
52%
Loading map

What it's like to live in Central Joshua

Central Joshua is an area in Joshua with about 2,100 residents, homes built around 1985, a mix of owners and renters and 38% of households with children.

It grades D+ against every neighborhood in Texas and ranks 4th of 4 areas in Joshua, which grades C overall.

Pros of living in Central Joshua

  • Well-rated schools nearby. 3 of the 3 closest public schools are rated A or B.
  • Groceries close by. The nearest grocery store is about 0.5 miles from the middle of the neighborhood.

Cons of living in Central Joshua

  • Pricier rent than the city. Median rent is $1,710, 26% higher than the Joshua median.
  • Higher poverty. 39% of residents live below the poverty line, against 19% across Joshua.
  • Longer commutes. The average commute is 37 minutes, against 30 for Joshua as a whole.
  • Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of tornadoes, heat waves and wildfires as very high in this part of town.

Central Joshua report card

Each grade compares Central Joshua with every neighborhood in Texas. Safety is not graded for single neighborhoods because police report crime for the whole city.

  • Cost of living: grade D

    Median rent $1,710, homes cost 4.5x income.

    24 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Jobs and income: grade D+

    Median household income $83,500, 4.0% unemployed.

    27 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Schools: grade B+

    Nearby schools average 87 of 100 on the state rating.

    78 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Safety: no grade

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

    No score vs TX areas

  • Errands and things to do: grade C

    Some everyday stores and services within a mile of homes.

    41 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Getting around: grade D

    Average commute 37 min, 3.9% work from home.

    18 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Education levels: grade C+

    34% have a bachelor’s degree.

    49 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Health: grade D+

    14% of adults uninsured.

    28 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Home ownership: grade B-

    52% of homes owner-occupied.

    63 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Internet access: grade C

    91% of homes have broadband.

    41 of 100 vs TX areas

Central Joshua compared with Joshua

Better than Joshua

  • Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent: 62%20 points lower than Joshua (82%)
  • Median household income: $83,50023% higher than Joshua ($68,117)
  • Vacant homes: 0%7 points lower than Joshua (7.3%)

Worse than Joshua

  • People below the poverty line: 39%20 points higher than Joshua (19%)
  • Homes owned by the people living in them: 52%10 points lower than Joshua (63%)
  • Median rent: $1,71026% higher than Joshua ($1,361)

Closest public schools

Texas Education Agency 2025 ratings. Check the attendance zone for any address with the district.

  • BPlum Creek ElementaryElementary, Joshua ISD1 mi
  • AJoshua H S Ninth Grade CampusMiddle, Joshua ISD1 mi
  • BJoshua High SchoolHigh, Joshua ISD1.1 mi

Cost of living in Central Joshua

Median rent in Central Joshua is $1,710 a month, 26% higher than the Joshua median. A household would need about $68,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.

The median home is worth $379,000, 12% higher than the Joshua median, which means a monthly payment of about $2,532 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.

MeasureHereJoshuaTexas
Median rent26% higher than Joshua$1,710$1,361$1,403
Median home value12% higher than Joshua$379,000$338,100$283,800
Home value to income9% lower than Joshua4.5x5.0x3.6x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent20 points lower than Joshua62%82%52%
Homes owned by the people living in them10 points lower than Joshua52%63%63%
Vacant homes7 points lower than Joshua0%7.3%9.4%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Joshua198519971992

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$2,532
Mortgage payment
$2,075
Property tax
$457
Median rent, for comparison
$1,710

Based on a $379,000 home in Central Joshua, 20% down and a 30-year loan at 7.28% (Freddie Mac average, week of 2026-10-01). Property tax is the median for the surrounding Census tract, or the county where that is not published. Insurance and fees are not included.

Work, income and getting around

MeasureHereJoshuaTexas
Median household income23% higher than Joshua$83,500$68,117$78,476
Unemployment rate1 points higher than Joshua4.0%2.7%5.3%
People below the poverty line20 points higher than Joshua39%19%14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher6 points higher than Joshua34%28%34%
Average commute20% higher than Joshua37 min30 min27 min
Workers who work from home4 points lower than Joshua3.9%8.3%14%
Workers who walk, bike or take transitAbout the same as Joshua1.5%0.5%2.6%
Homes with broadband internet5 points lower than Joshua91%96%91%

Natural hazard risk

FEMA National Risk Index for the Census tracts in this area.

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

Who lives in Central Joshua

Under 1838%
18 to 3418%
35 to 6427%
65 and over17%
Race and ethnicity
White52%
Hispanic or Latino28%
Black0%
Asian0%
Other or more than one race20%

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

Other neighborhoods in Joshua

  1. 1B+WildwoodMedian rent $1,620
  2. 2C+Oak Trail EstatesMedian rent $1,780
  3. 3CJoshua MeadowsMedian rent $1,020

Similar neighborhoods in other cities

Areas elsewhere in Texas with the closest mix of grades.

  1. C-East RosenbergRosenberg
  2. D+North Missouri CityMissouri City
  3. C+Pine MeadowsTomball

Questions about Central Joshua

Is Central Joshua a good place to live?

Central Joshua covers part of Joshua, TX, home to about 2,000 people. It gets a D+, in the bottom third of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 4th of 4 areas we score in Joshua. It does best on schools and worst on getting around.

How much does it cost to live in Central Joshua?

Median rent in Central Joshua is $1,710 a month, 26% higher than the Joshua median. The median home is worth $379,000, 12% higher than the Joshua median. A median home costs 4.5x the median household income, compared with 5.0x across Joshua.

What schools serve Central Joshua?

The closest rated public schools are Plum Creek Elementary (elementary, rated B), Joshua H S Ninth Grade Campus (middle, rated A) and Joshua High School (high, rated B). School zones can differ from the closest school, so check with the district.

This area groups 1 Census block group in this part of Joshua that have no neighborhood name on the map. Sources: US Census Bureau 2020-2024 ACS 5-year, CDC PLACES 2025, Texas Education Agency, FEMA National Risk Index, Overture Maps. How we grade.