Last Updated on: 25th July 2023, 02:45 am
The city of Denton, Texas is a great place to live with a lot to offer those who want the fun of a city, the feel of a small town, and a touch of funky personality. Just a little over 40 miles from Dallas, Denton, TX, is known for its thriving arts and culture scene with a number of live music venues and a lively downtown square. Due to its similarity to Austin, Denton’s nicknames include “Little Austin” and “Little D.”
A Texas land grant led to the formation of Denton County in 1846, and Denton was incorporated in 1866, both named after John B. Denton, a soldier, pioneer, minister, and lawyer. The arrival of a railroad line in the city in 1881 led to a growth in population, and the establishment of Texas Woman’s University in 1901 and the University of North Texas in 1890 set the city apart. There is disagreement on whether Denton is a suburb of Dallas or not, some say yes, others say no! Whether you’re moving to Denton or just looking for a new place to explore, there’s something for everyone.
Where is Denton?
Denton is the county seat of Denton County, located north of Dallas and Fort Worth on Interstate 35E. Denton is close to Frisco, Lewisville, and Flowermound. It’s part of the 12-county Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex–one of the largest metropolitan areas in the US. Directions from Denton to Dallas can take you a few different routes, but all-in-all, the 40-50 mile drive to Denton can take around 35 minutes on a good traffic day or 1.5 hours on a bad one. Denton to DFW Airport is about 38 minutes to the north gate.
Visitors and those living in Denton are served by the Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA, GoZone) commuter rail and bus service. UNT students living in city limits may use campus transit.
Denton Population & Demographics
Denton’s population was 139,869 as of the 2020 census, making it the 27th-most populous city in Texas and the 197th-most populous city in the United States. Denton is home to the University of North Texas (UNT), Texas Woman’s University (TWU), and North Central Texas College (NCTC). With more than 45,000 students at these institutions, Denton is one of the fastest-growing cities with a high concentration of higher-education students.
Fun fact: Denton has produced a few famous names in the music industry, including Sarah Jaffe and Brave Combo, and has ties to the infamous old-west outlaw, Sam Bass.
Demographics of Denton, Texas
| Race | Number | Percentage |
| White (NH) | 76,532 | 54.72% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 15,415 | 11.02% |
| Native American (NH) | 624 | .45% |
| Asian (NH) | 6,030 | 4.31% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 152 | .11% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 497 | .36% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 6,166 | 4.41% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 34,453 | 24.63% |
| Gender | Percentage |
| Males | 48.6% |
| Females | 51.4% |
According to the 2020 United States Census, the population growth rate for Denton from 2020 to 2021 was 5%. Denton has 7,777 households, and 28,430 families reside in Denton. Denton’s median household income is $62,542. About 15.3% of the population lives below the poverty line.
Denton is above the national average for education, with 91% of the population high school graduates or higher and 39.5% with a Bachelor’s degree or higher.
Some other noteworthy Denton demographics include:
- 29.5 is the median age in Denton, TX
- The average travel time to work from Denton is 23.9 minutes
- The foreign-born population in Denton is 13.1%
- 6,201 Denton residents are veterans
Denton, Texas is considered a safe place to live. Based on FBI crime statistics, your chance of becoming a victim of a crime in Denton is one in 43. In America overall, that chance is also 1 in 43. Denton’s crime rate is 25% lower than the Texas crime rate, and as such, Denton is a very safe place to live.
The Denton Police Department serves the people of Denton, TX, and has 181 officers or 1.3 officers per 1,000 residents.
The Cost of Living in Denton, Texas
The cost of living in Denton–as part of the DFW metroplex–is 103.5, while the U.S. average is 100.
| Cost of Living | Denton | Texas | USA |
| Overall | 97.1 | 93.9 | 100 |
| Grocery | 99.1 | 93.7 | 100 |
| Health | 100.1 | 95.4 | 100 |
| Housing | 101.1 | 84.3 | 100 |
| Median Home Cost | $297,700 | $243,600 | $291,700 |
| Utilities | 98.8 | 99.2 | 100 |
| Transportation | 89.3 | 103.3 | 100 |
| Miscellaneous | 95.3 | 96.4 | 100 |
According to the Economic Policy Institute, a family of four would need to earn $84,729 per year to afford to live in Denton County.
| Housing | $1,416 |
| Food | $752 |
| Child Care | $1,200 |
| Transportation | $1,168 |
| Health Care | $1,126 |
| Other Necessities | $785 |
| Taxes | $614 |
| Monthly Total | $7,061 |
| Annual Total | $84,729 |
Typical Denton Living Expenses:
- Average Basic Denton Utilities for One Month: $162.53
- Milk (Regular, 1 Gallon): $2.79
- Loaf of White Bread: $2.41
- Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant: $12.75
- Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course: $45.00
- Gasoline (1 Gallon): $4.29
Source: Numbeo
The median price of Denton homes for sale is $409,000, 40% higher than the national average of $291,700. Home appreciation in Denton, TX, has been 25.8% year over year. The average rent in Denton, TX, is $1,482, which is less than the United States average of $1,681.
Denton Neighborhoods | Where to Live in Denton
Making a move to Denton, TX, and want to know if Denton is a good place to live? The city of Denton has a liveability score of 53, which is in the top half of the United States.
The most desired and fastest-growing suburbs of Denton are Hickory Creek, Corinth, and Justin, TX. While the best neighborhoods to live in Denton are the historic streets of Hickory St. and Oak St., near the UNT campus, the Idiot’s Hill neighborhood on the north side of town.
However, if you’re looking for more affordable Denton, TX homes for sale, look in the area of Cooper Creek. In this area, the median home price is more than half that of the upscale neighborhoods such as Bell Ave., Rayzor Ranch, or west of town by the airport.
If you plan to move to Denton, you will find neighborhoods and subdivisions that can fit all tastes and budgets. It’s not just a college town! Here’s a quick look at several popular Denton neighborhoods to help narrow your list of Denton, TX homes for sale.
- Idiot’s Hill:
- The neighborhood features heavy tree coverage and rolling hills, with the neighborhood elementary school and parks forming a pedestrian-friendly pathway through the central neighborhood.
- Southridge:
- Southridge mostly features large homes that are very reasonably priced. This community dates back to 1966 and has continued to develop over the years.
Denton Weather & Climate
The humid subtropical climate in Denton, Texas, is characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters. Over the year, the temperature can range from 35°F to 96°F and is rarely below 22°F or above 102°F. The hottest months in Denton, TX, are July and August, and the coldest are January and February. The average rainfall in Denton per year is 39 inches.
There is occasional severe weather in Denton, including thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hail. So if you are moving to Denton, be sure you are familiar with severe weather drills!
Things to Do in Denton, TX
Some of the best things to do in Denton is to visit local history museums, art collectives, and take a trip into Downtown Denton’s backyard. The Courthouse-on-the-Square is home to many local shops with homegrown events on the courthouse lawn! Shopping in Denton is available at the Golden Triangle Mall, and is really popular at Denton Crossing.
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The Chairy Orchard:
- A donation-based art installment and whimsical setup in Idiot’s Hill.
- 1426 Churchill Dr, Denton, TX 76209 (800) 870-3666
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Recycled Books:
- A historic opera house turned vintage book, record, and collectible resale shop.
- 200 N Locust St, Denton, TX 76201 (940) 566-5688
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Additional Attractions in Denton:
Looking for more things to do in Denton? Denton Parks Recreation and Discover Denton makes it easy to find what’s going on with the Denton Events Calendar!
Denton Restaurants
Denton is known for its unique and flavorful local restaurants and has no shortage of great places to eat. Here are a few places to eat in Denton:
- Barley and Board: A classic American chophouse in an upmarket setting.
- 100 W Oak St, Denton, TX 76201 (940) 566-3900
- Jupiter House Coffee: A trendy local coffee shop and cozy spot.
- 106 N Locust St, Denton, TX 76201 (940) 387-7100
- Juicy Pig Barbecue: Serves up Texas-style BBQ and sides.
- 708 N Locust St, Denton, TX 76201 (940) 387-0708
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Jobs in Denton, TX
About to move to Denton, and wondering where you’ll work? The top employers in Denton were UNT, Denton Independent School District, Peterbilt Motors, and TWU. According to Payscale, Denton’s average salary is $61,000/yr and $16.39/hr.
The unemployment rate in Denton is 5.9%—below the U.S. average of 6.0%. Future job growth in Denton in the next 10 years is predicted to be 47.5%, higher than the U.S. average of 33.5%.
Looking for a job in Denton? If you are looking for a City of Denton job, click here.
Denton Schools
Denton Independent School District (Denton ISD) is the school district that covers all of Denton and extends to Bartonville, Copper Canyon, Corinth, and more. Does Denton, TX, have good schools? Yes, Denton ISD is highly rated. Out of the best school district for athletes in Texas, DISD is ranked 47 out of 1,018. It’s ranked 60 out of 1,033 in diversity and 101 out of 1,018 districts overall!
There are three branches of the Denton Public Library offering events, digital services, and more.
Denton Statistics and More Information
- County: Denton County
- Denton Area: 97.95 mi²
- Denton, TX ZIP Code: 76201–76210
- Denton Area code(s): 940/682/817
- Denton Elevation: 640′
- Denton Time zone: CST
- Closest Airport to Denton: Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW / KDFW) is the nearest major airport. The closest airport is Denton Enterprise Airport (DTO).
Denton Map
Explore more things to do, find places to eat, or learn more with this map of Denton!
That’s All the Tips for Moving to Denton!
Now you’re ready to call yourself a local! As you pack your boxes, reach out to Brothers Moving & Storage. We’re full-service movers in Texas who serve Dallas, Fort Worth, Midland, Odessa, and beyond! Our Denton movers strive to move your possessions quickly with the utmost care, and we can’t wait to be the first to welcome you to Denton!
