In a recent analysis of U.S. cities that qualify as “boomtowns,” Denton finished number 2 among 500 different cities ranked. Based on positive trends in employment, new business, population growth, and household income, Denton kind of has it all in a reasonably sized package. A college town with a smashing music scene, it also has affordable housing with outsized average incomes and falling unemployment rates. 

Denton is one of the fastest growing cities in the country, and if someone tells you that doesn’t carry any headaches with it, we’d say they’re crooked as a barrel of fish hooks (Texas saying). Traffic here can be brutal, and the roads are under heavy construction, it seems, all the time, so just be prepared to have to navigate that whole scene. The pandemic reduced much of this, but Texas went back to work in person more than most places, and traffic seems to be picking back up where it left off pre-2020.

It’s Booming

LookyLOO Review of Denton? 

Denton is an active college town and a jumping downtown serves both the college kids and young professionals. It has been rated near the top of “America’s Most Underrated Party Towns”. With two Universities inside the city limits, things can get a bit nuts near the town’s square where the majority of the bars and restaurants sit. All that said, Denton also has plenty of suburban neighborhoods where you can steer clear of the revelry and raise your little ones in peace and quiet. Denton also hosts a large Arts and Jazz Festival and has a growing music scene, so if you want to hang in the more “burb-style” neighborhoods most of the time, but some downtown for an occasional night out, Denton has you covered. 

If you're interested in details on all the happenings, check out the Denton [calendar of events](https://www.discoverdenton.com/events/calendar/?view=list&sort=date).

We highly recommend visiting Denton and staying in the community in a [VRBO](https://vrbo.com/affiliate/p4JS4ZC) rather than a hotel to get a feel for what it's like to live among the locals. You can receive discounted fares on travel via our [partnership with Expedia](expedia.com/affiliate/9NZ8LBQ) as well. 


Lifestyle 

Any city with as big a college presence will have a sizable portion of its local economy driven by jobs and revenue from the universities. University of North Texas and Texas Women’s University have combined populations of 57,000 and grew during the pandemic, so they have an outsized influence on the fortunes of Denton. Combine that with a robust economic development program and beyond education, you also get: 
-Retail, [Sally Beauty](https://www.sallybeauty.com/) calls Denton home
-Manufacturing: [Tetra Pak](https://www.tetrapak.com/en-us), [Mayday](https://www.maydaymfg.com/), [ESAB Victor](https://esab.com/), and many others are headquartered in Denton.
Finally, [Peterbilt Motors](https://www.peterbilt.com/) is here, along with lots of Healthcare that round out the growing economy. If you’re looking for work, you could hardly do better than Denton. 

Worklife

We love the energy that comes from a combination of education and economic prosperity in an affordable package. So, move here for the social scene and savings, or move here for the jumping employment, high wages and good schools, or perhaps most importantly now: move here for what is undoubtedly a newly identified zoomtown.

One final note: while we stay out of politics we do hear from people who want, “progressive cities in Texas”. Or “conservative cities in California”. Denton isn’t quite Austin, but the heavy university influence and more diverse population gives it a purple-ish presence for those seeking more balance in their communities. 


Education, Economy and Social 

Why You Should Move Here Now?

**/Denton**
1 yr. ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

Born and raised in Denton, but have spent the last 10 years since graduating college in Dallas. Although Dallas is not exactly a world-class city, I've been able to enjoy so much of the local music and art scene, great food, museums, etc. But finding friends and a community in the city has always come up a little bare.

Currently have a new job opportunity in Denton, as well as a newborn child which my parents would love to spend more time with. So my wife and I find ourselves at a crossroads deciding if we should move back up. I always look back fondly at my time there, having been where I met so many wonderful people, but is the community in Denton still there and able to offer what a young family needs/wants? Or is it just nostalgia?

Things I love about Denton: Local music, more involvement in local goods/stores, more family friends, easier to engage in community efforts, some beautiful and affordable neighborhoods

Things I find Denton to be lacking: food choices/quality, museums, stage theater, education/school opportunities for kids, public transport, public parks/outdoor space.

For more reviews of what living in Denton is like from locals, check out [The Reviews](https://lookyloomove.com/locations/denton/reviews).

Reviews of Denton from Locals 

We’ve been talking incessantly about the college culture of Denton and if you’re in school here there are tons of off-campus housing options in the “U” or downtown square areas. Additionally these neighborhoods are serviced by a stellar bus service that can deliver you to UNT or Texas Women’s College. Oh, and just in case it’s your kind of thing, in these neighborhoods you’re surrounded by bars, restaurants and places to hear music. 
- Denton Square
- Fry St. 
- Pecan


College Students

Denton Square

Not shockingly the same neighborhoods that work for kids at school are loaded with condos or apartments for young professionals that either work downtown or who want to be within walking distance of their local nightlife options. And Denton has lots of options for this crew. While they may not want to socialize directly with the 57,000 students, the kind of bars, restaurants, and music spots that attract the more mature students cross-over quite nicely to the professional set. 
- Downtown
- Denton Square
- North Locust


Young Professionals

Denton

Cities that are booming like Denton are busy building new inexpensive homes for and supporting young families with new inexpensive homes, and historic neighborhoods with smaller solid wooden homes with great school districts.  
- Rayzor Ranch
- Carter


Young Families

Rayzor Ranch

One key ingredient for established families are excellent high schools. John H. Guyer high school is an excellent school on the south side of Denton. The neighborhoods surrounding that school, that benefit from proximity to Lewisville Lake,  are great examples of the kind of beautiful homes, tree-lined streets, and plenty of parks and recreation that pull in families. 
- Ponder
- Robinson Rd
- Hickory Creek Rd
- State School Rd


Established Families

Ponder

**/Denton**
1 yr. ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

Born and raised in Denton, but have spent the last 10 years since graduating college in Dallas. Although Dallas is not exactly a world-class city, I've been able to enjoy so much of the local music and art scene, great food, museums, etc. But finding friends and a community in the city has always come up a little bare.

Currently have a new job opportunity in Denton, as well as a newborn child which my parents would love to spend more time with. So my wife and I find ourselves at a crossroads deciding if we should move back up. I always look back fondly at my time there, having been where I met so many wonderful people, but is the community in Denton still there and able to offer what a young family needs/wants? Or is it just nostalgia?

Things I love about Denton: Local music, more involvement in local goods/stores, more family friends, easier to engage in community efforts, some beautiful and affordable neighborhoods

Things I find Denton to be lacking: food choices/quality, museums, stage theater, education/school opportunities for kids, public transport, public parks/outdoor space

**shitgoose151**
1y ago
🦉🦉🦉

I lived in Denton off and on for the past decade. It honestly where I would prefer to be. I'm originally from Norman, OK and Denton has a lot of the same vibes. As someone who eats a plant-based diet, the food situation has vastly improved since I lived here in 2017. There are definitely more options than there used to be! It sucks that the local Sprouts is in Hickory Creek, but it's worth the drive. I love the Winco (is it the Murder Winco now?) and I love the lore surrounding all the Krogers in town! All of my friends and band mates live here.

Maybe you should take a mini-vacation to Denton. Stay a weekend. Or maybe a long weekend. Find some cool stuff to do, and check out a restaurant you haven't been to. During that time, you may feel like you're "home" like I did, or you realize you were just feeling nostalgia. Nostalgia makes everything seem better than it is/was. It's good to dip your toes in the creek and see if the water is truly nice or not.

**CMarie0162**
7mo ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

Townie
There's a fairly active music scene. Downtown has a ton of places to eat and drink. If you're at UNT, Fry Street is gonna be a great place for you.

A lot depends on your vibes. Denton is a bit more chill, but there's something for just about everyone. Just gotta know how to do some looking. During the school year, there are more activities. Summer tends to be more chill and laid back.

**Putrid_Palpitation82**
7mo ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

I’ve lived all over Denton. A lot will depend on price range and some other specifics you desire.

If cost is not an issue, there’s an area on the South side of town off Southridge which is gorgeous. Big trees, parks nearby, really nice homes and neighborhood. Prolly in the $375 - $500+ range. Also near there you could check on Montecito Rd, similar homes.

North side of town there are really nice homes in Nottingham Woods neighborhood. May find something less than $350k.

A lot of cheaper homes are going to be sub divisions with HOAs, which may or may not work for you.

Denton, Texas

The Home of Happiness

Looklyloo Score: 87

Reviews

What's it like to live in Denton?