If you have been thinking of relocating to the USA, from elsewhere or another state, you may be considering Midlothian, Texas. Over the years, it has become an increasingly popular residential destination.
This town has been attracting aspiring homeowners and people who want to raise a family. But just how does the Midlothian, Tx cost of Living comparison hold up to other cities in Texas or even, America?
Midlothian forms part of the popular Ellis county, and it is only 25 miles south of Dallas, making it the perfect balance between small-town living and access to city life.
But how much does it cost to buy a home in Midlothian? And what is the general cost of living in terms of other aspects such as schools and transport?
This article will answer all your questions by providing a Midlothian, Tx cost of living comparison guide so that you can make an informed choice before you decide to move there.
After all, isn’t moving stressful enough without wondering whether you can afford to do it?
Midlothian is one of the largest cement producers in the Northern Texas region and is sometimes referred to as “The Southern Star”.
The city has recently attracted many new residential owners and businesses and has been described as the perfect place to raise a family.
This is because the city has a very strong sense of community due to the high rate of homeownership.
This can probably explain why the population growth stands at 6% annually and has increased 110,98% since the most recent census in 2010.
Places that reflect densification and population growth generally come with a higher cost of living and Midlothian is no different.
It has been found that the cost of living is, on average, slightly higher (7% to be exact) than the national average.
But, even taking this all into account, Midlothian scored 54 on a ranking of 273 cities in the USA.
And because the cost of living is estimated at 107,3% of the national average, it is still considered an average city, and not an expensive one.
For example, the area’s cost of living can be roughly compared to that of Phoenix or Dallas but still be cheaper than Miami, New York, and Chicago.
What this means is that you shouldn’t let a higher-than-average cost of living deter you from moving to Midlothian.
The cost of living being slightly higher than the national average is mostly since homeownership is higher in this city than in others.
So, can it be considered an affordable living destination? To clarify, we will first be looking at what you will pay for a home in Midlothian.
In terms of housing, the average price of a house in Midlothian is $384,445.
A rental unit will average a price of about $1204 a month, and a 2 bedroom home rental will cost you about $1,337.
This means that the cost of housing in Midlothian is 11% higher than the national average and, on average, about 15% more expensive than other areas in Texas.
But, this has not deterred people from investing in property here, and it shouldn’t deter you either.
Buying property in Midlothian is considered a great investment, especially considering an average increase in property value of about 26,4% a year.
In addition, the prices are low in comparison to other areas in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
In fact, the property market in Midlothian has boomed in recent years with 81% of the people who live there being permanent homeowners.
Many of these residents consider their property to be a good investment, especially regarding recent rankings that put Midlothian as Nr. 11 out of the “124 Best Suburbs To Buy A House In The Dallas-Fort Worth Area”.
Interestingly, it was also rated as the second-best place to raise a family in Ellis County.
Midlothian also has a livability score of 84% which is better than 95% of other areas in the United States.
According to a recent survey, 97% of the residents in Midlothian are happy to live there.
There has also been an increase in planned communities, where houses form part of a residential neighborhood and homeowners have access to shared amenities such as golf courses and shopping centers.
This has not only attracted investors and families to Midlothian but also businesses. Who said you can’t put a price on happiness?
Knowing the median salary in Midlothian can also assist you in determining whether you will be able to afford to live there on your salary.
In Midlothian, the median household income is $95,306 (54% more than the Texas average) and the median salary per individual stands at $48,070 (43% more than the state average).
This means that the household and personal income is higher in Midlothian than in other parts of Texas.
For example, given the average numbers, a household income of $95,000 will reduce to about $80,000 in Houston, Texas.
In order to determine whether you will be able to live on this salary, you need to take into account that you should spend no more than 28% of this salary on housing.
This means that an individual who earns the median income will have $13 459,6 to spend on housing. Considering that you can rent a house for $1,337 a month, this seems like a good option.
Of course, if you want to own property, the cost of housing will be influenced by other factors such as bond and mortgage costs.
In Midlothian, the living costs for people who are married with children have an annual expenditure of $94,063, which totals the cost of food, utilities, transport, healthcare, housing, and housing-related costs, and other miscellaneous expenses.
A single person has an annual expenditure of about $46,675.
When looking at the median incomes in Midlothian, it is evident that people generally earn enough to cover their expenses, but this will of course be dependent on your type of job.
The next section outlines the cost of general monthly expenses to make it easier to determine whether you can afford Midlothian on your salary.
The price of food and groceries in Midlothian is 5% lower than the national average and more or less the same as other areas in Texas, varying only slightly from food prices in Argyle and Houston.
It has been found that a single adult spends about $2,849 a year on food in Midlothian and a four-member family’s expenditure sits about $8,227 a year.
For a single adult, the numbers are slightly lower than the Texas average ($2,897) and the national average ($3,240).
For a family, the prices are also lower than the average yearly expenditure in Texas (8,366) and the national average ($9,354).
In terms of healthcare, the average total healthcare expenditure is more in Midlothian, when compared to the Texas average.
Annual healthcare is about $4,974 per adult, compared to an average of $3,948 in Texas.
But, Midlothian is only 1% higher than the national average of healthcare costs when comparing the price of doctor, dentist, optometrists, and veterinary visits.
In terms of this, you will pay $112.04 for a doctor’s visit, $96.25 for a dentist visit, and $104.98 for an optometrist visit. And a trip to the vet will cost you $52.65.
If you have children, you will need to know how much childcare will cost you in Midlothian.
For two children (approximately 4 and 8 years in age), childcare has an average annual price of $12,150.
This is lower than the national average of $14,853 and more or less the same as other areas in Texas.
The Midlothian Independent School district covers 112 square miles and includes a teacher-to-student ratio of 1 to 16.
Currently, there are about nine school facilities with over 7000 students and this area has an athletic complex worth about $14 million.
A daycare will probably cost you about $862 a month and a primary school will cost about $13402 a year.
There are also several private schools, which will be more expensive than public schools in the area.
Most people, almost 95% to be exact, in Midlothian commute to work.
Of these commuters, an estimated 76% commute to jobs outside of their city, and the average commute is about half an hour.
This makes sense when you take into account that most people probably work in the larger urban centers outside of Midlothian and when you consider that the city is adjacent to multiple highways and the Interstate-35.
This means that most people spend $10,794 on transportation, which is slightly more than the national average of $9,760.
If you don’t have a car, there are some public transport options available to you, such as the Dallas Area Rapid Transit System, which ranges from approximately $2 a ticket to $56 for a monthly pass. A 5-mile taxi ride will cost you about $17.
You will probably also need to include differences in taxes when moving to a new city as many expenses vary between locations.
An average person in Midlothian will pay $5,407 tax annually which is very close to the national average of $4,945. This includes all income tax, Medicare tax, and Social Security contributions.
An electricity bill will average about $174.87 a month and a phone bill will cost you about $186.40.
This means that it is slightly higher than the national average (4%) and higher than other areas of Texas.
But, gas has a slightly lower price than the national average at about $2.59 a gallon. Internet services start at about $35 a month.
In terms of the total cost of living comparison, utilities are seen as having a minor impact since it is only slightly higher than the national average.
In addition, many of the houses in master-planned communities, such as the ones taking foot in Midlothian, have their own utility prices or use alternative energy sources.
For example, one such community in Midlothian provides residents with free internet, which means you will be saving money on internet expenses.
So, are you ready to pack up and enjoy the small-time charm of Midlothian?
Bear in mind that this town is a sought-after residential destination for families, and for that reason, you will pay a slightly higher price for a lot of things.
But, in most cases, the cost of living is roughly similar to the rest of the Dallas-Fortworth region and close approximations to the national average.
In addition, the booming property market in this area suggests that it is a fantastic investment for first-time buyers and the higher-than-average salary suggests that you can still cover your expenses when you decide to move here.
This city is rural enough to provide peace and quiet, yet close enough to major urban areas to make it an accessible living destination for families.
With so many people making the move to Midlothian, shouldn’t you consider doing the same?
