Willkommen to New Braunfels
Despite its location in the Texas Hill Country, life in New Braunfels can feel like being transported 5,000 miles across the Atlantic to Germany. This fast-growing city north of San Antonio was founded by German immigrants in the 1840s and has held on to its heritage throughout the years. Driving through the city streets, residents will notice Naeglin's German Bakery, which happens to be the oldest bakery in the state. For a full meal, Krause's Café is a traditional German beer hall serving pretzels, sausage and several types of German beer. The city even hosts a 10-day German festival each fall.
While holding on to its cultural roots, New Braunfels is also one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. The city is currently home to approximately 104,000 residents, and its population grew by 56.4 percent between 2010 and 2019, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Between July 2021 and July 2022, the population grew 5.7 percent, crossing the 100,000-population threshold and putting it at No. 13 on the U.S. Census list of fastest-growing cities with at least 50,000 people. The area's growth can be attributed to many factors, but locals say the relatively small size of the area is one of its main appeals. "Lifestyle is the main reason people come here. The lifestyle is easy country living, but you're still close to the city," says Sheryl Gibson, a New Braunfels resident and Realtor with Keller Williams Heritage. That popular lifestyle has led to the city being listed at No. 25 on Money's list of best places to live in the U.S. in 2020. The magazine cited the city's location along the Comal and Guadalupe rivers, the booming job market and its proximity to San Antonio and Austin as reasons for its ranking.
A multitude of master-planned communities
The housing market has come back to normal in New Braunfels, according to Gibson. The median home price over the last 12 months is $389,900, and there are nearly five months of inventory on the market. That cost is more expensive than San Antonio, where the median house costs $295,000, but more affordable than neighboring Comal County, where the median sold price is $415,000. Homes typically stay on the market for 87 days in New Braunfels, compared to the national average of 42 days.
Several new subdivisions have been built throughout the area as the city has grown. Most of these communities are being built either south of Interstate 35 or north of Loop 337. Veramendi is a 2,400-acre master-planned community with hundreds of homes and mixed-use space. The community also includes 475 acres of parks and green space. Mayfair is an upcoming community with homes expected to start in the $400,000 range and will consist of options from 1,800 square feet to 4,000 square feet. The community will also include playgrounds and a disc golf course. Several other communities, such as Ridgemont and Legend Point, have already been completed over the last decade, offering swimming pools and parks operated by each neighborhood’s HOA.
Endless recreation along the Comal and Guadalupe rivers
New Braunfels is located on the eastern edge of the Texas Hill Country and offers many ways to explore the great outdoors. The city has 41 parks, including the 51-acre Landa Park just north of downtown. Located on the Comal River, the park has a variety of attractions. Residents can ride on the miniature train that encircles the park or take a paddleboat out on the water to explore the nearby springs. Park visitors can play a round of mini-golf or take it up a notch for a full round on the 18-hole, par-71 golf course. The park also has playgrounds, a fishing pier, a swimming pool and volleyball courts.
Fischer Park is the largest park in the city at 62 acres. This park offers walking and biking paths, two fishing ponds, a sprayground and a nature education center on the city's southern side. Visitors can rent kayaks for a trip on the ponds, and the nature center hosts summer camps and regular classes about birding, camping and archery.
Living along the Comal and Guadalupe rivers provides plenty of excitement and activity for New Braunfels residents. Tubing along the rivers is a favorite activity with locals during the warmer months, and there are several places where residents can rent tubes and access the river. The city tube chute is a manufactured detour of the river that takes tubers through a narrow, fast-moving section to add some thrill to the leisurely float.
Local and national options for shopping and dining
New Braunfels provides residents with plenty of shopping and dining options, including several locally owned destinations downtown. The downtown streets are lined with antique stores, clothing boutiques, gift shops and bicycle stores. Downtown also has a high concentration of local restaurants, especially along Castell and Seguin avenues. From German fare to steak and seafood, the highly rated restaurants here can satisfy any craving. The Gruene neighborhood is a National Historic District north of downtown with several more local restaurants. This area is a popular destination largely thanks to Gruene Hall, Texas's oldest continuously operating dance hall . Founded in 1878, the venue still hosts live music several nights a week.
The city has its share of chain and national retailers as well. There are several H-E-B supermarkets throughout New Braunfels and a Walmart on Walnut Avenue south of downtown. Many chain shops and restaurants are concentrated in the northeastern part of town along I-35. Here, residents can find popular stores like Buc-ee's, Target and Dick's Sporting Goods. Chain restaurants in the area include LongHorn Steakhouse, Sea Island Shrimp House and DoubleDave's Pizzaworks.
Residents enjoy gathering every fall for Wurstfest, a 10-day event celebrating German food and culture. This festival is held at the Wursthalle near Landa Park and besides food , it offers music, dancing, carnival rides and games. As with any good German festival, there is plenty of beer.
Multiple paths for education in New Braunfels
Most students in the city will be part of the New Braunfels Independent School District, which is made up of approximately 9,600 students and has a student-teacher ratio of 19-to-1. The district receives a B-plus rating from Niche and offers several electives and other programs. Students can start taking band, choir, dance and theater classes in sixth grade and language courses are available in French, German and American Sign Language. The district's Marine Corps JROTC program is a repeat recipient of the Naval Honor Unit Award.
Students who live northeast of the Guadalupe River might be part of the Comal Independent School District, which serves approximately 27,000 students throughout Comal County. The district receives an A rating from Niche. Students can take career and technical education courses in hospitality, floral design, fashion design and aviation. The district has a 97.5% graduation rate, and 100% of students take the SAT.
Peace of mind in New Braunfels
When it comes to crime, New Braunfels is safer than the average Texas or U.S. city. In 2020, the city's crime rate was around 242 violent crimes per 100,000 people, according to data from the New Braunfels Police Department. In 2022, there were 201 violent crimes, down from 241 in 2021. The crime rate for the entire state of Texas is 431 violent crimes per 100,000 people, while the U.S. rate is 380. Crimes like aggravated assault and homicide have decreased in recent years, with zero homicides reported during all of 2022. Property crimes are a bit more common, and were on the rise in 2022, but still occur at a rate lower than the Texas and national averages. There were 1,513 total property crimes in 2022, while the state average was 2,299 per 100,000 people
Traveling around south Texas
The location on Interstate 35 makes it easy for New Braunfels residents to get to nearby cities like San Antonio or Austin. San Antonio is 33 miles south of the city, and the drive typically takes about 45 minutes. The drive to Austin is roughly 48 miles and typically takes an hour. San Antonio International Airport is about 27 miles south of New Braunfels and offers nonstop service to most major North American destinations and several international destinations.
With the massive growth in New Braunfels, the city has worked on several infrastructure improvements to accommodate more citizens. "We've got road expansions going in. The infrastructure they've done has made it very easy for people to get around and made it easier to walk places," says Gibson. "I think that's the biggest challenge you see in most cities, but here in New Braunfels, we planned for that." The city has completed several projects over the past decade and has more underway to widen roads and add sidewalks throughout town. The Texas Department of Transportation is also working on an improvement project at the intersection of I-35 and FM 725, adding additional turn lanes to the road.
Bracing for heat
Homebuyers who are moving to New Braunfels from out of state should be aware of heat waves in the area. The city saw severe heat waves in the summer of 2023, with temperatures reaching triple digits on several days and the heat index climbing into the 110-degree range. Days with this kind of heat are popular times for residents to tube on the river or take children to the sprayground at the local parks, but it’s also important to keep safety tope of mind in the extreme heat. Residents should drink plenty of water and stay in shady, cool areas on extreme heat days.
