Best Small Towns in Texas to Live: 9 Places Worth a Look

Plenty of Texans love the big metros, but a lot of people are looking the other way: toward a courthouse square, a creek running through town, and a drive to work that doesn’t involve four lanes of traffic. If you’re searching for the best small towns in Texas to live, this guide is a starting point.

These nine towns aren’t a ranking. “Best” depends on what you need: a commute to a big city, a quiet place to retire, a college town or a spot near the water. We picked towns with a clear character in different parts of the state, and we stuck to facts you can check. Population figures are from the 2020 census, as reported on each town’s Wikipedia page.

The towns at a glance

Hill Country towns

The Texas Hill Country sits on the southeast edge of the Edwards Plateau. It’s rural countryside, but it’s also home to growing suburban neighborhoods and retirement communities, which is why so many of these towns show up on movers’ calendars.

Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg was founded in 1846 by German settlers and is the county seat of Gillespie County. It’s about 70 miles northwest of San Antonio and about 80 miles west of Austin. The historic district is on the National Register of Historic Places, and the town is the birthplace of Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz and home to the National Museum of the Pacific War.

Good fit for: people who want a walkable historic downtown and don’t need a daily big-city commute.

Boerne

Boerne is the Kendall County seat, settled by German colonists in 1849 and known for its German-Texan history. Interstate 10 runs about 31 miles southeast to downtown San Antonio, and Cibolo Creek flows through the city. Boerne grew from about 10,500 people in 2010 to about 17,900 in 2020, so it feels small but is changing quickly.

Good fit for: families and commuters who want Hill Country scenery with San Antonio within reach. Condor serves the area; see our Boerne movers page.

Wimberley

Wimberley is a small city in western Hays County, about 38 miles southwest of Austin and 58 miles northeast of San Antonio. Cypress Creek runs through the town square, which is lined with shops and galleries, and Jacob’s Well and the Blue Hole are nearby swimming spots. The Blanco River also flows through town, and it flooded badly in May 2015, so check flood maps for any property you consider.

Good fit for: people who want a creekside small town and can live with a drive to Austin or San Antonio.

Central and North Texas towns

Salado

Salado is a village in Bell County on Interstate 35, about 9 miles south of Belton. It was a stop on the Chisholm Trail cattle drives, and its Stagecoach Inn is described as the oldest continuously running hotel in Texas. Nineteen Salado locations are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Good fit for: people who want a village feel with highway access north toward Temple and Killeen or south toward Georgetown and Austin.

Granbury

Granbury is the Hood County seat, southwest of Fort Worth. The town grew around its courthouse square, where many buildings are historic landmarks, including the Granbury Opera House. Lake Granbury, formed by a Brazos River dam in 1969, runs through the city.

Good fit for: lake lovers who want to stay connected to the Fort Worth area.

East Texas towns

Brenham

Brenham is the county seat of Washington County in east-central Texas, between Houston and Austin. It’s the home and headquarters of Blue Bell Creameries, and the area’s history goes back to Stephen F. Austin’s first colony.

Good fit for: people who want a classic small Texas town between two major metros.

Nacogdoches

Nacogdoches is known as “The Oldest Town in Texas” and is the seat of Nacogdoches County. It’s home to Stephen F. Austin State University, which gives it a college-town energy that many small towns don’t have. At about 32,000 people, it’s the largest town on this list.

Good fit for: people who want piney woods scenery with university events and services.

Jefferson

Jefferson is the Marion County seat in Northeast Texas, founded around 1841. In the 1800s, a huge natural logjam on the Red River raised water levels enough for riverboats to reach Jefferson on Big Cypress Bayou. When the logjam was cleared in 1873, river traffic faded, and the town kept much of its historic character.

Good fit for: people who want a very small, history-rich town near Caddo Lake.

A coastal town

Rockport

Rockport is the Aransas County seat, on the Live Oak Peninsula between Aransas Bay and Copano Bay. Fishing and tourism have long been part of its economy. Hurricane Harvey made landfall near Rockport on August 25, 2017, as a Category 4 storm and caused severe damage, so hurricane planning is part of life on this part of the coast.

Good fit for: people who want life on the water and are ready to plan for storm season.

If you’re drawn to wide-open spaces farther west, see our guide to the top cities to move to in West Texas.

What to check before you move to a small town

A small town can be a great move, but a few things are worth checking before you sign:

• Visit on a weekday and in the evening. A town can feel very different outside of tourist season or during a festival.
• Check the flood zone. Several towns on this list sit near creeks, rivers or the coast. FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center lets you look up the flood zone for an address.
• Look at the commute. Drive the route at rush hour before you commit.
• Confirm internet service. Rural addresses can have fewer options than a few miles away in town.
• Ask about access at the new house. Gravel drives, gates, low trees and narrow country roads all affect what size truck can reach the door.

Moving to a small Texas town with Condor

Condor Moving Systems has been moving Texans since 2003, and we serve the whole state, not just the big metros. Here’s how a move to a small town works with us:

• Moves within Texas are billed hourly. Our rate is $175 per hour with a four-hour minimum for two movers.
• A trip charge applies and is figured case by case, based on where the move starts and ends.
• You get a binding estimate in writing before your move, so you know the price.
• We match most quotes when the cubic footage, distance and services are the same.
• Book at least two weeks ahead. Popular dates, like month-end and summer, fill early.
• Tell us about access at both homes when you request your quote, such as long driveways, gates or stairs, so we send the right crew and truck.

We’re licensed for moves within Texas under TxDMV 006041428C, and for moves to other states in the lower 48 under USDOT 1126171 and MC-458180. If you want your belongings covered for what it would cost to replace them, we offer full value coverage only through Baker International.

Moving across town or across the state? Start with our Texas local movers and long-distance movers in Texas pages. If you’re downsizing for retirement, our senior movers can help. When you’re ready, request a free moving quote.

Frequently asked questions

What are some of the best small towns in Texas to live in?

It depends on what you want. Fredericksburg, Boerne and Wimberley are popular Hill Country choices. Salado and Granbury offer small-town life near larger cities. Brenham, Nacogdoches and Jefferson are East Texas options, and Rockport is a coastal town.

Which small Texas towns are close to a big city?

Boerne is about 31 miles from downtown San Antonio on Interstate 10. Wimberley is about 38 miles from Austin. Granbury is southwest of Fort Worth, and Salado sits on Interstate 35 between the Temple area and Georgetown.

How is a move within Texas priced?

Moves within Texas are billed hourly. Condor’s rate is $175 per hour with a four-hour minimum for two movers. A trip charge applies and is figured case by case, and you get a binding estimate before the move.

Does Condor move people to small towns outside the big metros?

Yes. Condor serves the whole state of Texas, including small towns, as well as moves from Texas to other states in the lower 48.

Can I book a same-day move to a small town?

Same-day moves are subject to availability, and no discount applies to them. For the best choice of dates, book at least two weeks ahead.

Should I check flood risk before buying in a small Texas town?

Yes. Several towns on this list are near rivers, creeks or the coast. You can look up an address on FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center before you buy or rent.