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New Braunfels

Texas · San Antonio — I-35 Corridor
No Income TaxDance: DevelopingWarmBudget Cost
67
/ 100 match score

New Braunfels sits between San Antonio and Austin on the I-35 corridor with the Guadalupe and Comal rivers running through it. Comal ISD is one of the fastest-growing and highest-rated ISDs in Texas. Hill Country lifestyle at an affordable price.

Match Score Breakdown
Cost of Living
20/20
Family Safety
11/20
State Tax Burden
10/10
Healthcare Quality
13/20
Dance Training
3/12
Musical Theater
2/8
Career / Remote
8/10
Financial Snapshot at $360K Income
State income tax
$0
Texas advantage
Est. after-tax income
$267,175
incl. FICA + federal
Annual living costs
$87,000
$72,000–$102,000 range
Annual surplus
+$180,175
King: 3.1×
FICA (7.65%)
$27,540/yr
Rent: 3BR family home
$1,800–$2,500/mo
Median SFH purchase
$380,000
Dance Training
New Braunfels has developing local dance infrastructure. Austin and San Antonio both within 40–50 minutes for professional-level training.
Healthcare
CHRISTUS Santa Rosa New Braunfels on-site. More serious care in San Antonio 30 min south.
Career & Remote Work
I-35 corridor between two major metros — excellent for hybrid roles requiring access to either city. AT&T Fiber available throughout.
Musical Theater
Developing
Local community theater and school programs exist but New Braunfels has no recognized pre-professional youth MT conservatory or competition studio. San Antonio (30 min south) and Austin (40 min north) are both accessible for more serious training. Situated between two metro areas but the local infrastructure is thin. For a beginning student it's manageable; a serious MT track requires picking one of the metros and driving regularly.
Safety
Violent crime rate:230 per 100KSafe (suburbs)

US national average: ~370/100K. For cities with elevated rates, target specific suburban ISD neighborhoods — actual neighborhood crime is 40–60% below city average.

Internet Quality
Excellent1,000+ Mbps
AT&T Fiber and Spectrum both available. Rapid growth has brought major ISP investment. Most neighborhoods have gigabit options.
Pros
  • +Comal ISD — one of fastest-improving districts in Texas
  • +River lifestyle — Schlitterbahn, tubing, outdoor culture
  • +Affordable vs Austin/SA
  • +Positioned between two major metros
  • +Genuine Hill Country character
Cons
  • −Dance infrastructure limited
  • −I-35 traffic between SA and Austin
  • −Growing very fast — infrastructure pressure
  • −Guadalupe River flooding risk in some areas
Quick Stats
School rating
8/10
Healthcare rating
7/10
Tech job market
good
Remote friendly
Yes

Financial estimates: $360K gross income, FICA 7.65% + federal MFJ 2026 brackets ($30K standard deduction). Texas has no state income tax. Does not include property tax (TX rates 1.5–2.5% of assessed value, varies by county) or HOA. Actual liability varies — consult a CPA.