New Braunfels receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
New Braunfels
Selma
Opportunity: New Braunfels is the more favorable of the two.
Opportunity
66 · Top 30%
vs58 · Top 46%
Growth: New Braunfels is the more favorable of the two.
Growth
71 · Top 15%
vs40 · Bottom 32%
Climate: Selma is the more favorable of the two.
Climate
71 · Top 45%
vs72 · Top 42%
Physical resilience: New Braunfels is the more favorable of the two.
Physical resilience
70 · Top 36%
vs56 · Bottom 47%
Housing affordability: Selma is the more favorable of the two.
Housing affordability
78 · Bottom 45%
vs88 · Top 36%
Access: Selma is the more favorable of the two.
Access
88 · Bottom 36%
vs97 · Top 29%
Economic stability: Selma is the more favorable of the two.
Economic stability
67 · Top 36%
vs78 · Top 10%
Measured values
| Metric | New Braunfels | Selma | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 104,643 | 11,503 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $86,021 | $97,066 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $44,596 | $44,339 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,324/sq mi | 2,296/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $339,400 | $313,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,654 | $1,774 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 65.3% | 64.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% | 4.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.0% | -1.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.6% | 36.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 7.4% | 6.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,295 | 9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 12.4 | 0.8 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -17.0% | -43.8% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 96°F | 96°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 40°F | 41°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 24 mi | 10 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 28.6 min | 30.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.1 | 34.9 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
New Braunfels
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Selma
Elevated or high exposure: hail.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
New Braunfels
73
Your Score
72
Area Score
Selma
70
Your Score
65
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: New Braunfels, TX · Selma, TX · How this is calculated: methodology