• Bulverde, the best ‘burb: The leading Texas suburb for single-family home renters is about half an hour from San Antonio. One of the smallest suburban areas, Bulverde has plenty of rental houses to choose from, with plenty of space.
• Houston’s hidden hotspot: Iowa Colony comes in second, with ample room and good incomes on the rise. This suburb’s astounding 813% population surge in just five years highlights the broader appeal of Houston suburbs, with three ranking in the top 10 for house renters.
• Hutto, near Austin, makes the podium: Hutto displays a large share of single-family renters, on top of enjoying income growth of what’s already one of the highest median renter incomes. It’s joined by two other Austin suburbs in the top 10 — Lakeway and Leander.
• Fort Worth flourishes while Dallas dips: River Oaks and Saginaw both make the top 10, with River Oaks shining due to a 145% increase in renter income. Meanwhile, Dallas’ highest-scoring suburb for house renters, Wylie, lags behind.

Everything is bigger in Texas — and that includes its appeal to house renters. Home to some of the country’s most thriving core cities, the state is getting even bigger in light of population growth and skyrocketing demand for housing. Luckily, its urban hubs are also home to some of the best suburbs for those looking to put down rented roots.

The state’s most populous cities — Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, and Fort Worth — are major players in booming industries. This economic vitality spills over into their suburbs, with new development and infrastructure improvements enhancing the local quality of life. With these key cities driving the state’s economic engine, their suburbs have become magnets for single-family home renters.

What makes them so promising for this particular type of renter is an array of factors — from a sense of community alignment based on the prevalence of house renters to the availability of rental houses to the number of rooms (not just bedrooms) in renter households. While the quality of rental living is influenced by financial stability indicators such as cost of living, renter income and its potential for growth, it’s also shaped by everyday considerations like commute time and population density, which contribute to less congestion and a better overall living experience.

So, to pinpoint the prime locations for single-family home renters, Point2 evaluated 12 relevant metrics across suburban areas surrounding the largest cities. Without further ado, here are the top suburbs for house renters near the five biggest urban centers in Texas:

Smaller Suburbs Hit the Bullseye: San Antonio’s Bulverde Sets Suburban Standard

With many embracing the post-pandemic switch to a suburban lifestyle, the ease of renting single-family homes reflects a loophole in the American Dream: all of the advantages of house living without the complications of ownership. Luckily, Texas seems to have something for every house renter. And, with record-high numbers of single-family homes for rent built last year, the options are only getting richer.

Looking at the areas near its economic powerhouses, the appeal of smaller, quainter suburbs is evident. In fact, the largest suburb to make the top 10 (Leander, near Austin) has a little more than 60,000 residents. Meanwhile, the highest-ranked large suburb with more than 100,000 residents is Austin’s Round Rock — a magnet for newcomers — which lands all the way in the 31st spot.

A San Antonio suburb might be in the lead, but Austin and Houston each claim three of the top 10 Texas suburbs for single-family home renters.

One of them is West University Place (ranking 4^th overall), which sets itself apart with the highest renter income out of all 127 Texas suburbs analyzed (over $169,100). It also boasts the highest average number of rooms per renter household (7.7 bedrooms as well as other functional rooms), which is twice the number of rooms the other suburbs offer. Notably, the Houston suburb also boasts the highest percentage of highly educated adult residents. Often correlated with higher earning potential and economic stability, this translates into a more prosperous renter community, making it easier to afford quality housing.

About half an hour away, Katy (overall rank at 24) stands out with an impressive single-family rental market, offering nearly 650 rental house listings per 1,000 renter households.

In contrast, Dallas suburbs struggle to make the same positive impact on house renters. Although Dallas itself is a major economic hub, its sizzling-hot housing market has led to increasingly scarce options, fueling competition for surrounding areas.

Even so, the Dallas suburb of Fate stands out (overall rank at 35), with 100% of its renters overwhelmingly favoring single-family homes. Another standout Dallas entry is University Park (overall rank at 21), with the shortest commute time on the list — a metric that’s sure to make or break the daily lives of many suburban house renters — at less than 19 minutes, on average.

Despite their varying rankings, each of Texas' five core cities boasts a standout suburb for house renters. Let’s explore them one by one, starting with the highest-ranking suburb for house renters in Texas, Bulverde:

The Top Suburb for Single-family Home Renters Near Each of Texas' 5 Largest Cities

San Antonio's Best Suburb: Bulverde, TX (Population: 5,827)

Photo of 5312 Fair Moon Drive in Bulverde, TX via FirstKey Homes. Click to view listing on Point2Homes.com

• Share of Single-Family Renters (of all Renters): 76.4%
• Share of Single-Family Rental Listings: 184 per 1,000 renter households
• Median Renter Household Income: $83,737

Despite being one of the smallest suburbs analyzed, Bulverde reigns supreme due to a high share of single-family rental households, enough listings to choose from, and a comfortable average of 5.9 rooms per household. But, the secret ingredient to this appealing house-renter cocktail might be that is has the lowest unemployment rate on the list. That’s especially important because financial stability is crucial in meeting rent obligations and affording better and more desirable rental properties.

With the second-lowest population density, Bulverde offers a breath of fresh air about 20 miles north of San Antonio. However, the true allure of renting a house in Bulverde is its picturesque rolling hills and vast green spaces. Boasting a mild climate and an average of 300 sunny days a year, it’s perfect for outdoor enthusiasts — so much so that the place is a Certified Scenic City, making the community an officially great choice for those who appreciate outdoor beauty, tranquility, and convenience.

Houston's Best Suburb: Iowa Colony, TX (Population: 9,500)

• Share of Single-Family Renters (of all Renters): 90.9%
• Share of Single-Family Rental Listings: 523 per 1,000 renter households
• Median Renter Household Income: $111,824

For the ideal mix of a relaxed atmosphere and convenient access to city amenities and job opportunities, look no further than Iowa Colony. Founded in 1908, its appeal is not just historical but fueled by a blend of factors: its location about 22 miles south of Houston, plenty of rent opportunities, and high renter income on the rise (since 2017, renter income grew by nearly 98%, surpassing $111,800 in 2022).

Known for its homey neighborhoods and recreational options, the suburb is also one of the select two with rentals boasting more than 7 rooms overall. All this might have contributed to the whopping 813% boost in population between 2017 and 2022 — not bad for a town that used to have only 27 people well into the 1960s.

Austin's Best Suburb: Hutto, TX (Population: 29,498)

Photo of 101 Cassandra Drive in Hutto, TX via Central Texas MLS. Click to view listing on Point2Homes.com

• Share of Single-Family Renters (of all Renters): 91.8%
• Share of Single-Family Rental Listings: 94 per 1,000 renter households
• Median Renter Household Income: $105,354

Just northeast of Austin lies a great choice for house renters looking for suburban serenity and city convenience. Hutto scores well in terms of its high share of single-family renters (almost 92%) and renter income, with the suburb undergoing significant growth and even making Best Towns lists. As Hutto grows, so does its green space, with 150 acres of public parks and counting.

To say that Hutto is perfect for renter families would be an understatement. Need more proof? Hutto’s historic downtown is adorned with century-old buildings and charming boutiques, all framed by... hippos. Estimates suggest there are between 5,000 and 10,000 concrete hippos scattered around town. The hippo is the suburb’s official mascot and there’s even an interactive Hippo Map Tour tracking them all.

Fort Worth's Best Suburb: River Oaks, TX (Population: 7,586)

• Share of Single-Family Renters (of all Renters): 81.3%
• Share of Single-Family Rental Listings: 17 per 1,000 renter households
• Median Renter Household Income: $77,610

Picture this: massive oak trees, scenic wooded areas, greenery, and an abundance of recreational amenities. This is what this suburb about five miles away from Fort Worth brings to the table, captivating with its deep historical roots and its stunning setting along picturesque rivers.

For house renters, River Oaks can be quite the Holy Grail — particularly if they’re outdoors aficionados. That's because the area is a vibrant hub for family and community activities, featuring playgrounds, baseball fields, and lots of picnic spots. Moreover, its location is just a short, 15-minute drive from downtown Fort Worth, which means single-family renters get to have the best of both worlds: tight-knit community vibes next to big city amenities. Perhaps most importantly, the city experienced the highest five-year bump in renter income, after increasing more than 145% between 2017 and 2022.

Dallas' Best Suburb: Wylie, TX (Population: 57,063)

Photo of 1605 Vintage Lane in Wylie, TX via North Texas Real Estate Information Systems. Click to view listing on Point2Homes.com

• Share of Single-Family Renters (of all Renters): 53%
• Share of Single-Family Rental Listings: 20 per 1,000 renter households
• Median Renter Household Income: $78,293

Gone are the days of 400 residents and a one-room school for “Wide Awake Wylie”. One of the country's best places for families, the state’s 20th-best suburb combines community features with convenient access to Dallas. More than half of the renters in this northeastern suburb of Dallas rent houses, with the median number of rooms in the area at 5.5.

Although Dallas claims some of the most populous suburbs on the list (four of them count more than 200,000 residents), Wylie is an exception.  Local festivals and community events — such as the Wylie Chamber of Commerce Championship Rodeo — only add to what makes this suburb a great choice for single-family home renters.

Texas' strong economy, extensive job market, and relatively low cost of living make it a desirable place to live. But it’s the state's cultural richness and wealth of recreational opportunities that win it brownie points from house renters. Whether they want to be close to tech hubs or energy centers or are just drawn to charming communities, renting a house in Texas often comes with quality living, rentals to choose from, and career opportunities a stone’s throw away.

Methodology

• This analysis looks at Texas’ 5 largest core cities, meaning cities that are at the center of a metropolitan area: Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin.
• Suburban mapping was done within a 20-mile radius (or 30-mile driving distance) from the city center. The analysis excludes suburbs with populations lower than 5,000 residents, as well as suburbs without available data for all metrics considered.
• To determine the best suburbs for house renters, this report uses a combination of ranking scores and weighted averages across 12 relevant metrics.
• Each metric received a score based on the metric's minimum and maximum value multiplied by the metric's weight. The final rankings are based on the sum of scores across all metrics. Metrics and data sources:

1. Share of Single-Family Renters (of all Renters): Weight: 16%; Source: Census
2. Share of Single-Family Rental Listings per 1,000 Renter Households: Weight: 16%; Source: Zillow
3. Median Renter Household Income 2022: Weight: 16%; Source: Census
4. Share of Renters: Weight: 8%; Source: Census
5. Median Number of Rooms in Renter Households: Weight: 8%; Source: Census
6. Cost of Living (compared to State Median): Weight: 8%; Source: Census
7. Unemployment Rate: Weight: 8%; Source: Census
8. 5-Year Renter Income Growth: Weight: 4%; Source: Census
9. 5-year Population Percentage Change: Weight: 4%; Source: Census
10. Average Commute Time (minutes): Weight: 4%; Source: Census
11. Population Density (population divided by land square mile): Weight: 4%; Source: Census
12. Share of Population (25 years or older) with High Education Degrees: Weight: 4%; Source: Census

Fair use and redistribution

We encourage and freely grant permission to reuse, host or repost this article. When doing so, we only ask that you kindly attribute the authors by linking to Point2Homes.com or this page, so that your readers can learn more about this project, the research behind it and its methodology.