What Is Living in Kaufman, Texas Like?
Kaufman County is ranked first in Texas and third in the nation for percentage population growth — and people who drive out here for the first time are often surprised it still feels like a small town. That is not a contradiction; it is the central dynamic shaping every decision you will make about buying here. Kaufman sits along US-175, the highway that connects the county seat to Mesquite and Dallas, about 40 minutes to Dallas. What you get at that distance is a legitimate county-seat town with its own courthouse square, its own hospital, its own school district, and its own identity — not a suburb that forgot to build a downtown.
The Kaufman Independent School District holds a B rating, according to the Texas Education Agency — a solid mark for a district this size, and a real draw for parents who have been priced out of the closer-in suburbs. The major employers are anchored locally: the school district, Kaufman County, the City of Kaufman, a full-service acute care hospital, Agile Cold Storage in the logistics corridor, and Brookshire's. But the honest picture is that more than half of Kaufman County residents commute out for work, mostly to Dallas-area job centers. The community that has built up here is one of people who made a deliberate trade: longer drive, lower price, quieter streets.
That trade is what makes the numbers worth understanding. The typical home price is $293,900 (Zillow Home Value Index, July 2026) — noticeably below what you will find in Forney or the closer-in suburbs, and well below anything in the DFW core. The effective property tax rate sits at approximately 1.73%, which is typical for this part of Texas. Day-to-day life runs on a car — errands, school drop-off, the drive to work — but the downtown square around the Kaufman County Courthouse is genuinely walkable, lined with more than 35 businesses, and the backdrop for the community events that put Kaufman on the calendar for residents across the county. The city logs 228 sunny days a year, which means outdoor life at Kaufman City Lake and Shannon Park and Splash Pad is a real part of the rhythm here, not an afterthought.
Whether you are weighing a move from the DFW suburbs, relocating from out of state, or just trying to figure out whether the commute math works, the sections below break down Kaufman's neighborhoods, housing market, schools, daily life, commute reality, and what locals actually do on the weekends.
Kaufman at a Glance
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Why Are People Moving to Kaufman?
The story is straightforward once you see it: DFW keeps pushing its price floor east, and Kaufman sits at the edge of what people can still afford while keeping a Dallas job. Between 2020 and 2024, Kaufman County added more than 50,000 residents — a gain of more than a third — the fastest rate of any Texas county in that period. That is not random. US-175 makes the commute possible, the price makes the mortgage possible, and the town itself makes the life possible.
Kaufman Mayor Jeff Jordan put it plainly: “I do think a lot of people are attracted to that small town vibe.” That reads like boosterism until you spend a Friday evening on the courthouse square and realize it is just accurate. The Kaufman County Courthouse has anchored this square since 1851 — the current two-story structure replaced an earlier one in 1955 — and the Maples Block and surrounding Kaufman County Historical Museum give the downtown a physical weight that newer suburban cities never develop.
A significant pipeline of new housing units is planned or under construction in Kaufman alone, so the growth is not slowing. What that means for buyers is a mix of new construction in developments like Georgetown at Kings Fort and Prairie Creek Estates alongside older stock near downtown — a choice between turnkey new builds and homes with some history and larger lots.
Who Moves Here
The profile is consistent: households relocating from Dallas proper or the closer-in suburbs, drawn by prices that make a three-bedroom house a realistic purchase rather than a stretch. Remote workers have found the county as well, for whom the commute trade-off disappears entirely. Families with school-age children who have done the math on Kaufman ISD and found a B-rated district at a fraction of the price of Frisco or Prosper.
The safety picture supports the decision. Kaufman carries a violent crime rate of 1 per 1,000 residents — well below the Texas state figure of 4 per 1,000 and the national rate of 3.7 per 1,000. A property crime rate of 17 per 1,000 residents also runs below the state rate of 20.7 per 1,000 and the national rate of 18.4 per 1,000. For families comparing options across the eastern suburbs, those figures matter. See the full Kaufman safety breakdown for context.
What You Give Up
Kaufman is the 240th-largest incorporated city in Texas. That means the amenity set is proportional to that size — the dining and retail choices that feel abundant in Plano or Richardson require a drive. A serious shopping trip means leaving town. The commute to Dallas is real, it is about 40 minutes to Dallas on a clear day, and US-175 during morning rush hours is not a clear day.
What Daily Life Feels Like in Kaufman
Most mornings start with a car. That is the ground truth of life in Kaufman, and it is worth accepting before you move rather than after. The upside is that within the city, the distances are short — nothing in a 9.22-square-mile town is far from anything else, and the downtown square is genuinely useful on foot once you are there.
The Courthouse Square as Civic Center
The Kaufman County Courthouse is not just a landmark; it is the organizing principle of downtown life. The square around it hosts more than 35 businesses — a mix of independent restaurants, coffee spots, boutiques, and professional services — and the events on the square are legitimately where the community shows up. Harvest Fest each October brings a parade, live music, and craft vendors. The July 4th celebration draws the county. Christmas on the Square in December is the kind of event that turns newcomers into regulars fast.
The foot traffic these events generate is real, and it is what separates Kaufman from the newer suburb-style developments in the region. Georgetown at Kings Fort and Prairie Creek Estates offer the clean finishes and planned streetscapes that attract buyers from the suburbs — but the soul of the city is still the square.
After Six Months, the Surprises
What catches people off guard after settling in is how much of social life organizes itself around the school calendar and the downtown events schedule. If you have kids in Kaufman ISD, Friday nights follow the Lions — active UIL athletics programs mean the stands fill up, and that is where you meet your neighbors. If you do not have kids in the district, the courthouse square events fill a similar role.
The second surprise is the summer heat. With 228 sunny days a year, the stretch from June through August is genuinely intense — not unusual for North Texas, but newcomers from moderate climates underestimate how completely it reshapes the outdoor calendar. Shannon Park and Splash Pad becomes the center of family life in that window; Kaufman City Lake is where early-morning and late-evening activity migrates. For parks and outdoor recreation details, the parks and recreation page has more.
Schools and Community Texture
Kaufman ISD holds a B rating, according to the Texas Education Agency. On 2024-25 state assessments, 46% of students reached math proficiency and 50% reached reading proficiency — figures that trail the suburban districts closer to Dallas, which is worth weighing honestly. The district runs active UIL athletics programs, and the Lions mascot is a real source of local identity. Full detail on schools is on the Kaufman schools page.
The Kaufman Housing Market Right Now
The typical home price in Kaufman is $293,900 (Zillow Home Value Index, July 2026) — a figure that stands out against anything in the closer DFW suburbs and reflects the trade-off buyers are making when they choose this distance from the metro core. For the full cost-of-living picture, including typical rent and tax rates, see the Kaufman cost of living page.
What the Price Buys
At that price point, buyers are finding three-bedroom homes with yards — a product that has effectively disappeared in the mid-tier suburbs. New construction in Georgetown at Kings Fort and Prairie Creek Estates brings modern finishes and energy efficiency. Older homes near downtown Kaufman offer larger lots and more established streetscapes, typically at the lower end of the market.
One honest note on affordability: the median household income in Kaufman is $62,931, which puts the typical home meaningfully above what the median income alone can carry. That gap is real, and it matters for first-time buyers working without significant down-payment savings. The first-time homebuyer page covers financing options in more depth.
The New Construction Pipeline
Kaufman has a substantial pipeline of new housing units planned or under construction, a scale that shapes the market meaningfully. Buyers in the newer subdivisions are largely choosing between builders rather than competing over a thin existing inventory. That dynamic tends to give buyers more leverage and more options than in supply-constrained markets closer to Dallas.
Some areas of the city cost more than others — newer developments command a premium over older stock — but that distinction is best explored in detail on the best neighborhoods page, which breaks down each area's character and fit.
The Effective Property Tax Rate
Texas has no state income tax, and Kaufman's effective property tax rate of approximately 1.73% is typical for this part of the state. That rate applies to a purchase price noticeably below what comparable space costs in Forney or Frisco, which compounds the affordability advantage for buyers doing the long-term math.
Kaufman Neighborhoods
Kaufman has several distinct areas — each with its own character and appeal. Here’s a breakdown to help you narrow down where to focus your home search.
🏡 Downtown Kaufman
The historic core of the city, organized around the Kaufman County Courthouse and the Maples Block, with a mix of older homes on established lots and walkable access to the square's restaurants, coffee shops, and community events. Best suited to buyers who want character, proximity to local life, and a neighborhood that predates the county's recent growth surge.
🏠 Georgetown at Kings Fort
One of Kaufman's newer planned developments, Georgetown at Kings Fort draws buyers who want modern construction and the amenities that come with it — a cleaner fit for households relocating from the suburban DFW markets and prioritizing updated finishes over lot size or neighborhood age.
🌳 Prairie Creek Estates
A residential area that sits near the Prairie Creek Open Area, offering a slightly more natural setting than the city's newer subdivisions, with access to open green space that families and outdoor-oriented buyers tend to prioritize when comparing Kaufman's neighborhoods.
🏘 Harmony Estates
A quieter residential pocket within the city that appeals to buyers looking for established surroundings without the foot traffic and event activity of the downtown core — a fit for households prioritizing calm streets and proximity to schools over walkability to the square.
Pros & Cons of Living in Kaufman
The Pros
- Small-town, historic-square feel with a lower cost of living than nearby Dallas suburbs
- Sits in one of the fastest-growing counties in Texas, meaning new retail and housing are arriving quickly
- Short commute distance to Dallas via US-175/I-20
- Has its own full-service hospital with an ER inside city limits
The Cons
- Kaufman County's effective property tax rate runs well above the national average
- Local household incomes lag the broader Dallas-Fort Worth metro considerably
- School district performance (SchoolDigger 2/5 stars) trails many DFW-area districts
Getting Around & Commuting in Kaufman
US-175 is the artery that makes Kaufman work as a place to live. It runs from Kaufman through Forney and Mesquite into Dallas, and it is the road that connects most residents to their jobs, their shopping, and their wider lives. TX-34 and TX-243 provide additional regional access — TX-34 connects north toward Terrell and south toward Mabank, while TX-243 offers another route into the county network.
The Commute Reality
The drive to Dallas is about 40 minutes under reasonable conditions, which means it is longer on the days that count. Morning rush on US-175 through Forney and Mesquite is the chokepoint that experienced Kaufman commuters plan around — leaving before 7 a.m. or after the peak changes the experience significantly. This is the single most important variable for anyone evaluating a move here while holding a Dallas-area job.
More than half of Kaufman County residents work outside the county. That figure is not a criticism — it is the honest shape of a community built on affordability and a tolerable commute distance. Remote workers and people with flexible schedules have a fundamentally different experience of Kaufman than in-office commuters, and the growth in remote-work households has been one factor in the county's surge.
Getting to the Airport
Dallas Love Field is the nearest major airport at 38 miles. For most residents, that is a 45-to-55-minute drive depending on the time of day. DFW International Airport is also reachable, though typically a longer drive depending on your starting point in the city.
Within Kaufman
Inside city limits, a car is what most errands require. The downtown square is the one area where on-foot access genuinely works — parking near the courthouse and walking to coffee, lunch, or an event is a normal part of local life. Beyond the square, the distances between residential areas and commercial corridors are short enough that driving is quick, but most people drive for routine errands rather than walk.
Who This Suits
| Buyer Type | Commute Fit | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Remote worker | No daily commute; occasional Dallas trip | Value Quiet |
| Dallas hybrid (2-3 days/week) | Manageable with schedule flexibility | Commuter Families |
| Daily Dallas commuter | Real trade-off; about 40 min each way | Commuter First-Time |
| Local employer worker | Short drive within county | Families Value |
| Kaufman County employer | No highway commute at all | Quiet School |
| Retiree / downsizer | Occasional Dallas trip manageable | Quiet Value |
The table above is the honest framework: Kaufman works best for people whose relationship with Dallas is occasional or flexible, and it demands genuine planning discipline from those who drive in every morning.
Schools in Kaufman
Families relocating to Kaufman have public, private, and higher-education options nearby. Here’s a quick overview.
🎓 School District
Kaufman Independent School District serves K–12 students across Kaufman and the surrounding area. Rated B (source: Texas Education Agency, 2025 A-F accountability rating (2024-25 school year)).
🏆 Graduation Rate
The 4-year high-school graduation rate here is approximately 99.4%.
📚 Higher Education
Texas’s public universities — the University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, and the University of Houston — offer four-year degrees statewide, with one of the largest community college systems in the country (50+ public community college districts) providing two-year and workforce programs.
🌐 Online Learning
UT Austin Online and Texas A&M University Online offer fully accredited online degrees for remote learners across the state.
Safety in Kaufman
A quick look at how Kaufman compares on the numbers that matter most when weighing a neighborhood or a move.
🛡 Violent Crime
Approximately 1 per 1,000 residents.
🔒 Property Crime
Approximately 17 per 1,000 residents.
Compared to the most recent national figures from the Bureau of Justice Statistics (2024), Kaufman’s violent crime is below the national average (about 3.7 per 1,000), and property crime is below the national average (about 18.4 per 1,000).
Against Texas as a whole, Kaufman’s violent crime is roughly a quarter of the state average, and property crime is somewhat below the state average (Bureau of Justice Statistics, Crime Known to Law Enforcement, 2024 (tables 2 and 3)).
Crime rates can vary a lot within a single city, so the citywide numbers above are only a starting point. Some neighborhoods in Kaufman run well below these averages, while others run higher — the kind of block-by-block detail that matters most when you’re actually choosing where to live. The full guide below breaks it down neighborhood by neighborhood.
Working in Kaufman
Kaufman’s largest employers span several industries — here are some of the anchors of the local job market.
🎓 Kaufman Independent School District
Education
🏛 Kaufman County
County government
🏛 City of Kaufman
Municipal government
🏥 Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Kaufman
Healthcare
💼 Agile Cold Storage
Logistics
🛒 Brookshire's
Retail grocery
Retiring in Kaufman
Kaufman draws retirees for its balance of amenities, outdoor access, and cost. Here’s what to weigh.
🌤 Climate
Kaufman gets 228 sunny days a year, with hot summers that regularly push into the upper 90s and mild winters that see occasional freezes but rarely prolonged cold. Spring and fall are the most comfortable seasons — genuinely pleasant stretches that make outdoor life easy and give retirees the kind of weather variety that keeps the calendar interesting without the extremes of northern climates.
🍴 Lifestyle
Daily life centers on the courthouse square and the seasonal community events that anchor the local calendar. Independent coffee shops, local restaurants, and boutiques fill the historic square, and Kaufman City Lake and Shannon Park offer accessible outdoor recreation close to home. Dallas is about 40 minutes away for medical specialists, cultural events, or airport travel.
🏚 55+ Communities
No 55+ communities were found in Kaufman. Retirees buying here are typically purchasing in the general housing market — either older homes near downtown or newer construction in the planned subdivisions. The healthcare picture is covered in more depth on the retiring page.
✈ Getting Around
A car is necessary for day-to-day life in Kaufman — the city is small enough that distances are short, but on-foot access is largely limited to the downtown square. Dallas Love Field is the nearest major airport at 38 miles. Most retirees find the driving demands manageable given the city's compact footprint and the generally light local traffic outside of peak commute hours on US-175.
🏛 Texas Taxes for Retirees — What to Know
- No state income tax — Texas has no personal income tax — constitutionally protected under Article VIII, Section 24. Social Security, pensions, 401(k)/IRA withdrawals, and annuity payments are all untaxed at the state level, with no state return to file.
- Sales tax is the tradeoff — The state sales tax is 6.25%, and local add-ons bring the combined rate in Kaufman to 8.25% (Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, city sales and use tax rates, July 2026). Groceries and prescription drugs are exempt.
- Property taxes — the real tradeoff — Texas’s effective property tax rate averages about 1.40%, among the highest in the country, since property tax (not income tax) funds most local government and schools.
- Over-65 homestead exemption and school-tax freeze — Homeowners 65+ (or disabled) get an additional $60,000 exemption from their home’s value for school district taxes, on top of the general homestead exemption — $200,000 off school taxable value combined, following November 2025’s Proposition 11 (SB 23), which raised the over-65 exemption to $60,000, and Proposition 13 (SB 4), which raised the general homestead exemption to $140,000. Once claimed, your school district tax bill is frozen at that year’s amount and cannot increase as home values rise, and the ceiling can transfer if you move to a new home within Texas.
- Deferral option if cash is tight — Homeowners 65+ can defer property tax payment entirely for as long as they live in the home, rather than paying it currently — interest accrues, but no forced sale.
- No estate or inheritance tax — Texas has no estate tax, no inheritance tax, and no gift tax.
- No separate capital gains tax — Because Texas has no state income tax, capital gains — including on investments and home sales — are not taxed at the state level at all, unlike states such as Washington that tax capital gains separately from income.
Tax laws change frequently and individual situations vary. This is general information, not tax advice — always consult a qualified Texas tax professional or CPA for personalized retirement tax planning.
Weekends & Local Favorites in Kaufman
Kaufman's weekend life is quieter than the suburbs and more rooted than most towns its size. The courthouse square, the lake, and the seasonal events on the calendar are the three anchors — and they hold up well once you stop comparing them to what you left behind in a larger city.
The Square and Its Businesses
The Maples Block and the surrounding historic square are where you go when you want to feel like you actually live somewhere. For coffee, Latham Bakery is a local institution, and Eleanor's Coffee Shop brings a neighborhood-café feel to the square. HTeaO - Kaufman serves the growing Texas tea culture that has taken root across the region. If you want a corporate fallback, Starbucks Coffee Company is in the city as well.
For food, Jalisco's Mexican Grill Restaurant handles the casual weeknight dinner that most households in Kaufman seem to rotate through regularly. Roma's Italian Restaurant offers a sit-down option when the occasion calls for it. Wings Over USA and Kaufman Burgers cover the fast-casual end of the week. La Pradera rounds out a dining scene that is modest in size but covers the core categories without requiring a drive out of town most nights.
Outdoors and the Lake
Kaufman City Lake is the closest thing the city has to a true gathering spot for outdoor life — fishing, early-morning walks, and the kind of unstructured outdoor time that small-town living makes easy. Shannon Park and Splash Pad is where families with younger kids spend the heat of summer; the splash pad makes that section of the park genuinely useful on a 98-degree afternoon. Prairie Creek Open Area adds a natural corridor for walking and wildlife — less developed than the lake, which is part of its appeal.
Events That Define the Calendar
Harvest Fest each October is the signature community event — a parade, live music, and craft vendors centered on the courthouse square. Red White & BOOM on the Fourth of July is what draws families from across the county into downtown. Christmas on the Square in December is smaller but consistent, the kind of tradition that newcomers find themselves returning to. These are the events where you meet your neighbors, and skipping the first one is one of the more common regrets of people who move here and take time to settle in.
Day Trips Within Reach
The city itself is small enough that a weekend day trip into Dallas or to one of the lakes in the region is a natural extension of Kaufman life rather than an indulgence. The drive time that feels like a burden on a Tuesday morning feels like reasonable weekend geography on a Saturday with no deadline attached.
Local favorites in Kaufman
Restaurants
- Jalisco’s Mexican Grill Restaurant
- Wings Over USA
- La Pradera
- Roma’s Italian Restaurant
- Kaufman Burgers
Outdoors
- Kaufman City Lake
- Shannon Park and Splash Pad
- Prairie Creek Open Area
Coffee
- Starbucks Coffee Company
- Latham Bakery
- HTeaO - Kaufman
- Eleanor’s Coffee Shop
Top Things Locals Say About Kaufman
The best intel about a city comes from the people who actually live there. Here’s what Kaufman residents say when newcomers ask the questions everyone’s thinking.
“I knew the drive would be longer, but I didn't realize how much I'd stop noticing it after the first few months. What actually surprised me was how quickly the courthouse square felt like mine — we ended up at Harvest Fest our first October here and ran into half our neighborhood.”
— Recent Kaufman home buyer
“What's the most surprising thing about living in Kaufman?”
Most people expect a suburb and find a real town instead. The courthouse square has been the center of community life here since 1851, and it still works that way — actual events, actual foot traffic, actual neighbors you run into. It catches people off guard, especially if they moved from a newer development city where 'downtown' is a strip center with a nail salon.
“What do locals love most about Kaufman?”
The combination of a real small-town identity and genuine access to Dallas when you need it. You can drive to a major city for a concert or a specialist appointment or a serious shopping run, but you come home to a place that has its own character. The seasonal events on the courthouse square — Harvest Fest, Red White & BOOM, Christmas on the Square — are the kind of things people actually show up to, year after year.
“What should newcomers to Kaufman know?”
Drive US-175 at 7:30 a.m. on a weekday toward Dallas and then again at 5:30 p.m. coming back before you commit to a neighborhood based on the map — those two drives will tell you everything the commute math cannot. Also: the summer heat is serious, and the social calendar in Kaufman runs on the school year and the downtown events schedule more than most newcomers expect.
“How much do you need a car in Kaufman?”
A car is essential for nearly everything — the daily commute, school runs, grocery shopping, and any errand outside the immediate downtown square. The historic square itself is walkable once you have parked, and the distances within the city are short, so most routine driving is quick. Most households run two cars, especially if both adults work outside the city.
Cities Near Kaufman
Other communities near Kaufman worth a look — each with its own character and price point.
| City | Distance | Best For | Vibe | Median Rent | Median Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terrell | 9 mi | Families wanting similar prices | Small-town, established, comparable scale | $1,713 | $282,678 |
| Crandall | 7 mi | Budget-conscious buyers, rural feel | Quiet, rural edge, value-priced | $1,794 | $267,808 |
| Forney | 12 mi | Suburban amenities, closer to Dallas | Fast-growing, suburban, well-connected | $1,968 | $309,592 |
More Helpful Guides for Kaufman
Going deeper on Kaufman? Our blog series covers everything from first-time buying to retiring here — explore the guides below.
Local Expert Takeaway: Kaufman is genuinely one of the last places in the DFW orbit where a typical household can buy a three-bedroom home without an extraordinary income or an extraordinary commute — but neither of those things is free. The drive on US-175 toward Dallas is the price of admission, and the amenity set inside city limits is proportional to a town of 10,717. What you get in exchange is a real downtown square anchored by the Kaufman County Courthouse, a B-rated school district, a full-service hospital in city limits, and a community that is growing fast enough to bring new investment without yet losing the character that drew people here in the first place.
Quick Takeaways & FAQs
✅ Kaufman's typical home price of $293,900 (July 2026) is among the most accessible in the entire DFW commuter belt, making genuine homeownership realistic for households priced out of the closer-in suburbs.
⚠️ The commute is about 40 minutes to Dallas on a good morning — US-175 through Forney and Mesquite during peak hours is the daily trade-off that every buyer needs to time at 7:30 a.m. before signing a contract.
📍 Kaufman County ranked first in Texas and third in the nation for percentage population growth, with a substantial pipeline of new housing units in development — meaning the city you move into today will look noticeably different within five years.
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