How Much It Costs to Live in the Seagoville Area
Housing creates the largest differences among Seagoville, Crandall, Forney and Terrell, while food and child-care estimates remain relatively close across Dallas and Kaufman counties.
Families comparing communities southeast of Dallas often begin with the price of a house or apartment. That is important, but it does not provide the complete picture. Transportation, child care, food, municipal utilities and the time spent commuting can substantially change what a household must earn each month.
An examination of current public estimates shows that Terrell generally has the lowest housing figures among the four cities, while Forney has the highest median home value and gross rent. Seagoville remains below Forney and Crandall in median home value, but workers living in Seagoville report the longest average commute in this comparison.
The comparison at a glance
The four figures below identify the clearest differences found in the public data.
Terrell has the lowest citywide median value in the comparison.
Terrell also records the lowest monthly gross-rent estimate.
Its median home value is $346,400 and median gross rent is $1,828.
Seagoville has the longest reported mean travel time to work.
Housing and commuting
Housing data are city-level American Community Survey estimates for 2020–2024. Commute figures show the reported mean travel time to work.
City housing and commute comparison
Median value applies to owner-occupied homes. Gross rent generally includes contract rent and tenant-paid utilities or fuel.
| Community | Median home value | Median gross rent | Mean commute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seagoville | $230,400 | $1,381 | 38.2 minutes Longest |
| Crandall | $303,000 | $1,333 | 33.9 minutes |
| Forney | $346,400 Highest | $1,828 Highest | 36.4 minutes |
| Terrell | $218,500 Lowest | $1,232 Lowest | 27.3 minutes Shortest |
Forney’s housing figures stand well above the other three cities. Its median home value is approximately $116,000 higher than Seagoville’s and nearly $128,000 higher than Terrell’s. The rental comparison follows a similar pattern: Forney’s median gross rent is $447 above Seagoville’s and $596 above Terrell’s.
Crandall falls between Seagoville and Forney in median home value, while its estimated gross rent is slightly below Seagoville’s. Terrell offers the lowest housing figures and the shortest commute, although an individual household’s travel cost will depend on where its members work.
Food, transportation and child care
Consistent city-level estimates are not available for these categories. The comparison therefore uses MIT Living Wage Calculator estimates for a household with two working adults and one child.
Estimated monthly family expenses by county
Seagoville is represented by Dallas County. Crandall, Forney and Terrell are represented by Kaufman County.
| Expense | Seagoville Dallas County |
Crandall, Forney and Terrell Kaufman County |
Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food | About $762 | About $767 | Kaufman: about $5 more |
| Transportation | About $1,025 | About $1,283 | Kaufman: about $258 more |
| Child care for one child | About $896 | About $876 | Dallas: about $20 more |
| Total of these three categories | About $2,684 | About $2,926 | Kaufman: about $242 more |
Food costs are nearly identical in the two counties. The estimated difference is only about $5 per month for the example household. Child-care estimates are also close, with Dallas County approximately $20 higher per month.
Transportation produces the larger difference. MIT’s model estimates that the example Kaufman County household needs about $258 more each month for transportation than the equivalent Dallas County household. That category includes costs associated with operating and maintaining vehicles, not simply the price of gasoline.
A renter’s core-cost snapshot
The table combines each city’s median gross rent with county-level food, transportation and child-care estimates for the same two-working-adult, one-child household.
Four major monthly expenses
This is a planning illustration—not a complete household budget or a statement of the income required to live in each city.
| Community | Gross rent | Food | Transportation | Child care | Core-cost subtotal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seagoville | $1,381 | $762 | $1,025 | $896 | About $4,064 |
| Crandall | $1,333 | $767 | $1,283 | $876 | About $4,259 |
| Forney | $1,828 | $767 | $1,283 | $876 | About $4,754 |
| Terrell | $1,232 | $767 | $1,283 | $876 | About $4,158 |
What the numbers mean for each community
Seagoville
Seagoville has the second-lowest median home value in the group and remains considerably below Forney and Crandall. Its median gross rent, however, is higher than the estimates for Crandall and Terrell.
Transportation deserves particular attention because Seagoville has the longest average commute in the comparison. A household working closer to Seagoville may spend substantially less than a household traveling into central or northern Dallas County every day.
Crandall
Crandall’s median home value is higher than Seagoville and Terrell but below Forney. Its rental estimate is comparatively moderate.
Rapid residential growth can also produce significant differences between established neighborhoods, newer subdivisions and individual rental properties. Buyers should compare taxes, homeowners association charges and insurance—not only the selling price.
Forney
Forney carries the highest housing figures in every city-level category shown here. The higher median rent is the main reason its renter snapshot finishes above the other communities.
Forney’s 2026 municipal example shows an average residential water, sewer and garbage bill of $183.20 at 6,200 gallons of monthly water use. Actual bills depend on water consumption and the home’s established winter sewer average.
Terrell
Terrell records the lowest median home value, lowest gross rent and shortest mean commute among the four communities.
Those figures may make Terrell attractive to households prioritizing housing costs. The advantage can narrow, however, when a resident commutes a long distance west toward Dallas or another employment center.
Understanding utility costs
There is no single utility figure that accurately represents every household. Electricity plans, home size, insulation, water use and sewer averaging can create large differences.
Seagoville
The city publishes tiered water and sewer rates. Residential sewer billing uses a winter-month average, while new customers initially receive the city-average billing volume.
Crandall
Crandall’s bill can include a water base rate, metered water use, sewer charges and residential trash service. The city advises residents to use its published rate sheet when estimating a bill.
Forney
Forney publishes separate water, sewer, sewer-service and refuse charges. The city’s example for an average 6,200-gallon household is $183.20 per month for fiscal year 2026.
Terrell
Terrell’s Utility Billing office manages water, sewer and garbage billing. Residents should check the current city fee schedule because adopted rates can change between budget years.
The bottom line
No one city is automatically the least expensive for every household. Terrell has the strongest housing advantage in the available data, while Forney has the highest housing costs. Seagoville offers a comparatively low median home value but has the longest reported commute. Crandall occupies the middle of the housing comparison while sharing Kaufman County’s higher modeled transportation costs.
Food and child-care differences between Dallas and Kaufman counties are relatively small. Housing and transportation are therefore the two categories most likely to determine whether moving from one of these communities to another will actually reduce a family’s monthly expenses.
Before choosing a home, families should calculate the complete monthly cost: mortgage or rent, property taxes, insurance, homeowners association fees, utilities, commuting, tolls, child care and the cost of maintaining the vehicles required by the household.
