# Living in Celina, TX: Realust Score 87

> Source: Realust (realust.com), data as of October 2026. Cite: https://realust.com/city/celina/

URL: https://realust.com/city/celina/
County: Collin
Realust Score: 87/100 (A-, Great), #18 of 84. Base 85 + price-tier bonus 2.
Category scores: Prosperity 96, Schools 86, Safety 81, Lifestyle 86, Market 75, Affordability 90, Commute 55, Growth 84
Median home price: $512K
Population: 34,268
Market momentum: Strong growth (home prices -9.2% over 1 year, +11.6% over 5 years)

Celina, TX is a hyper-growth North Texas suburb at the far north end of Collin County that still keeps a noticeable “small-town” thread—especially around its historic downtown square and local events—while miles of master-planned neighborhoods keep expanding outward. The housing mix skews newer, with a lot of large subdivisions, bigger homes, and community amenities (pools, trails, playgrounds), plus some remaining semi-rural pockets on the edges where the land-and-space feel is part of the draw. Life here is very car-dependent: you’ll have more everyday options each year, but many people still rely on Frisco, Prosper, McKinney, and Plano for major shopping, dining, and specialized services. Commutes typically run south via the Dallas North Tollway, Preston Road, or across US-380, where congestion and construction can swing drive times more than you’d expect. Schools are a major factor—many addresses feed Celina ISD, but boundaries can vary by neighborhood, so it’s worth confirming zoning on any specific home. The upside is newer housing, strong community energy, and long-run upside as the area fills in; the tradeoffs are ongoing construction, increasing traffic, and costs (taxes/HOA/new-build pricing) that have risen with demand.

Strengths:
- Modern builds with community pools, trails, and clubhouses
- Highly rated Celina ISD – Known for strong academics and new school facilities
- Small-town feel with upscale growth creating a blend of country roots and luxury suburban living
- Rapid development supports long-term property value growth

Trade-offs:
- Long commute to Dallas often 50–65 minutes depending on traffic
- Ongoing development impacts roads and scenery
- Limited retail and dining (currently) many amenities still being built
- Higher home prices in new communities – Luxury developments dominate the market

Data:
- Demographics / Population: Total Population 34,268; People per sq mile 688; 5-Year Growth +208.3%
- Demographics / Mobility & Migration: Moved Last Year 13.9%; Same Home 1+ Year 86.1%; From Out of State 1.8%; From Different County 4.1%
- Demographics / Age Distribution: Under 18 31.7%; 25-34 13.5%; 35-44 21.0%; 65+ 9.4%; Median Age 34.7 years
- Demographics / Households: Avg Household Size 3.3; Family Households 92.4%; Homeownership Rate 92.7%; With Kids 57.5%; Married 82.0%; Single Parent 6.4%; Living Alone 4.8%; Seniors Alone 1.4%
- Demographics / Education Level: High School+ 96.9%; Bachelor's+ 64.3%; Graduate Degree 23.0%
- Demographics / Connectivity & Remote Work: Broadband Access 98.5%; Have Computer 100.0%; Work From Home 33.3%
- Real Estate / Home Prices: Per Sq Ft $215; Starter Home $469,890; Median Price $511,903; Premium Home $1,040,990
- Real Estate / Home Price Trends: 1-Year Change -9.2%; 5-Year Change +11.6%
- Real Estate / Rent Trends: 1-Year Change -2.6%
- Real Estate / Market Health: Active Listings 224; Median Days on Market 82; Under Contract 45.9%; Price Reduced 12%; Sale-to-List Ratio 96.7%
- Real Estate / Market Insights: Cheaper to Rent $916/mo; Seller's market 1.2 mo; Rental Yield 4.5%; Income to Buy 3x; vs Region Avg -4%
- Real Estate / Fit Scores: Remote Work Fit 100; Family Fit 65; Investment 89
- Real Estate / Typical Home: Sq Ft 2,997; Beds 4; Baths 3.8; Lot Sq Ft 9,605; Year Built 2025; Garage 2.3-car
- Real Estate / Property Mix: Single Family 100%; Townhome 0%; Condo 0%
- Real Estate / Common Features: Pool 0.5%; Garage 99.5%; Single Story 28%; Fireplace 9%; Central Air 5%
- Real Estate / Costs & Ownership: Est. Monthly Payment $2,835; Median Rent $1,919; Avg HOA Fee $95/mo; Have HOA 5%
- Real Estate / Investment Indicators: Rental Vacancy 0%; New Construction 96%; Per Bedroom $143,930
- Lifestyle / Lifestyle Scores: Area Feel Rural; Family Friendly 8; Outdoor Activities 4.7; Nightlife 4.7; Health & Fitness 7.3; Diversity 8; Weather 6.7
- Lifestyle / Nearby Amenities (within 5 miles): Restaurants 60+; Parks 14; Gyms 20; Grocery 1; Coffee 16; Bars 8; Daycares 60+; Hospitals 2; Pharmacies 7; Dentists 17; Libraries 1; Dog Parks 60+; Museums 1
- Lifestyle / Getting Around: Walk Score 8; Bike Score 25
- Lifestyle / Seasonal Temperatures (high / low): January 55° / 37°; April 74° / 54°; July 94° / 76°; October 77° / 57°
- Lifestyle / Annual Conditions: Sunny Days/Year 219; Rainy Days/Year 146; Annual Rainfall 52.4"
- Crime & Safety / Safety Overview: Safety Grade B; Violent crime (per 1,000) 0.79; Property crime (per 1,000) 7.06
- Crime & Safety / Violent Crime (per 100,000): Assault 79.93; Robbery 0; Murder 0; Rape 39.97
- Crime & Safety / Property Crime (per 100,000): Burglary 379.68; Theft 927.22; Vehicle Theft 35.97
- Job Market / Income: Median Household $170,894; Average Household $194,349; Per Capita $58,904
- Job Market / Employment: Unemployment Rate 2.8%; Job Growth (1 yr) +25.1%; Poverty Rate 4.7%
- Job Market / Income Distribution: $150k+ 57.5%; $100k-$150k 18.2%; $75k-$100k 6.5%; $50k-$75k 6.8%; $25k-$50k 6.8%; Under $25k 4.2%
- Education / School District: Primary district Celina ISD; District Grade A; State Ranking Top 16%
- Education / Schools: Elementary 4; Middle 1; High School 1
- Education / Elementary Schools: Tommie Dobie Bothwell Elementary A (90); O'dell Elementary B (89)
- Education / Middle Schools: Jerry & Linda Moore Middle A (91)
- Education / High Schools: Celina High School A (90)
- Education / Academic Info: Student-Teacher Ratio 15.9:1
- Education / Graduation Rates (Class of 2024): Graduation Rate 98.2%; Dropout Rate 1.1%
- Education / College Readiness (Class of 2023): Took SAT/ACT 93%; College Ready 22.0%; TSI Ready 31.2%
- Transportation / Mobility Scores: Walk Score 8; Bike Score 25
- Transportation / Commute: Avg Minutes 33; Drive Alone 59.3%; Carpool 6.5%; Work from Home 33.3%
- Transportation / Distance To: Downtown Dallas 42 mi; DFW Airport 37.8 mi; Love Field 38.7 mi
- Transportation / EV Charging: Public Stations 6; DC Fast Ports 0; Level 2 Ports 14
- Cost of Living / Cost Index (100 = National Average): Overall 100; Housing 113; Utilities 97; Groceries 100; Transportation 102; Healthcare 100
- Cost of Living / Monthly Utilities: Electric $142; Water $52; Gas $44; Internet $72
- Cost of Living / Everyday Costs: Monthly Groceries (Family of 4) $823; Gas Price (per gallon) $2.82
- Cost of Living / Taxes: Sales Tax Rate 8.3%; Property Tax Rate 2.2%

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