Fort Lauderdale FL vs New Braunfels TX — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026
Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Florida · Population: 183,032
- Median HH Income$79,935
- Median Home Price$510,297
- Unemployment5.3%
- Bachelor's+39.8%
New Braunfels, TX
Texas · Population: 267
- Median HH Income$74,643
- Median Home Price$352,129
- UnemploymentN/A
- Bachelor's+1.8%
Detailed Comparison
Demographics
Population
Fort Lauderdale
183,032
Fort Lauderdale +
New Braunfels
267
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Fort Lauderdale
N/A
New Braunfels
N/A
Median Age
Fort Lauderdale
42.9
New Braunfels
39.4
New Braunfels +
Foreign Born
Fort Lauderdale
26.7%
Fort Lauderdale +
New Braunfels
8.2%
White
Fort Lauderdale
51.3%
New Braunfels
84.3%
New Braunfels +
Black
Fort Lauderdale
28.8%
Fort Lauderdale +
New Braunfels
0.0%
Asian
Fort Lauderdale
1.6%
Fort Lauderdale +
New Braunfels
0.0%
Hispanic
Fort Lauderdale
20.1%
Fort Lauderdale +
New Braunfels
15.7%
Spanish at Home
Fort Lauderdale
N/A
New Braunfels
N/A
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | New Braunfels, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 183,032 | 267 | Fort Lauderdale + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 42.9 | 39.4 | New Braunfels + |
| Foreign Born | 26.7% | 8.2% | Fort Lauderdale + |
| White | 51.3% | 84.3% | New Braunfels + |
| Black | 28.8% | 0.0% | Fort Lauderdale + |
| Asian | 1.6% | 0.0% | Fort Lauderdale + |
| Hispanic | 20.1% | 15.7% | Fort Lauderdale + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
Fort Lauderdale
$79,935
Fort Lauderdale +
New Braunfels
$74,643
Per Capita Income
Fort Lauderdale
$57,845
Fort Lauderdale +
New Braunfels
$21,360
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Fort Lauderdale
$65,328
Fort Lauderdale +
New Braunfels
$63,758
Unemployment Rate
Fort Lauderdale
5.3%
New Braunfels
N/A
Poverty Rate
Fort Lauderdale
15.2%
New Braunfels
N/A
Bachelor's Degree+
Fort Lauderdale
39.8%
Fort Lauderdale +
New Braunfels
1.8%
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | New Braunfels, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $79,935 | $74,643 | Fort Lauderdale + |
| Per Capita Income | $57,845 | $21,360 | Fort Lauderdale + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $65,328 | $63,758 | Fort Lauderdale + |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3% | N/A | - |
| Poverty Rate | 15.2% | N/A | - |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 39.8% | 1.8% | Fort Lauderdale + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Fort Lauderdale
$510,297
New Braunfels
$352,129
New Braunfels +
Homeownership Rate
Fort Lauderdale
53.8%
New Braunfels
90.8%
New Braunfels +
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | New Braunfels, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $510,297 | $352,129 | New Braunfels + |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% | 90.8% | New Braunfels + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Fort Lauderdale
324
Fort Lauderdale +
New Braunfels
442
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Fort Lauderdale
1453
Fort Lauderdale +
New Braunfels
2339
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | New Braunfels, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 324 | 442 | Fort Lauderdale + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1453 | 2339 | Fort Lauderdale + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Fort Lauderdale
30.3%
Fort Lauderdale +
New Braunfels
34.6%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Fort Lauderdale
12.8%
New Braunfels
10.6%
New Braunfels +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Fort Lauderdale
16.2%
New Braunfels
16.0%
New Braunfels +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Fort Lauderdale
14.7%
Fort Lauderdale +
New Braunfels
15.2%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Fort Lauderdale
14.9%
Fort Lauderdale +
New Braunfels
19.1%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Fort Lauderdale
13.0%
New Braunfels
11.0%
New Braunfels +
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | New Braunfels, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 30.3% | 34.6% | Fort Lauderdale + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 12.8% | 10.6% | New Braunfels + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 16.2% | 16.0% | New Braunfels + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 14.7% | 15.2% | Fort Lauderdale + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 14.9% | 19.1% | Fort Lauderdale + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 13.0% | 11.0% | New Braunfels + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Fort Lauderdale
75.5°F
New Braunfels
67.4°F
New Braunfels +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Fort Lauderdale
66.5 in
New Braunfels
34.0 in
New Braunfels +
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | New Braunfels, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 75.5°F | 67.4°F | New Braunfels + |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 66.5 in | 34.0 in | New Braunfels + |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Fort Lauderdale
7.2 µg/m³
Fort Lauderdale +
New Braunfels
9.2 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Fort Lauderdale
75.0%
Fort Lauderdale +
New Braunfels
55.0%
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | New Braunfels, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 7.2 µg/m³ | 9.2 µg/m³ | Fort Lauderdale + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 55.0% | Fort Lauderdale + |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Fort Lauderdale
28.5 min
New Braunfels
19.6 min
New Braunfels +
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | New Braunfels, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 28.5 min | 19.6 min | New Braunfels + |
Which City is Right for You?
Fort Lauderdale leads in median household income at $79,935, while new Braunfels offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $352,129. On public safety, Fort Lauderdale is safer with a violent crime rate of 324 per 100,000 residents, compared to 442 in New Braunfels. Fort Lauderdale has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Fort Lauderdale scores better with a lower obesity rate of 30.3%.
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