Living in Temple, TX
Temple is a railroad town that became a medical city. It is bigger than it looks, cheaper than Austin, and the reason most of our residents are here.
Quick Answer
Temple, TX is a good place to live if you want Central Texas access without Austin prices: roughly 90,000 people, anchored by Baylor Scott & White healthcare, the VA, McLane, and Wilsonart, with one-bedroom rent generally starting near $950 to $1,200. The trade-offs are hot summers and tight housing near the hospital campuses. Journey's RV Park is about 10 minutes west on State Hwy 36.
What Temple is built on
The Santa Fe railroad founded it, and the hospital system made it a regional hub. Today Baylor Scott & White's flagship campus, the Olin E. Teague VA Medical Center, McLane Company, and Wilsonart anchor the local economy.
That means steady demand for nurses, techs, tradespeople, and logistics workers — and a rental market that stays tight.
Daily life
- Full retail: grocery, big box, hardware, and auto services
- Strong local dining, especially BBQ and Tex-Mex
- Temple ISD plus private and Christian school options
- Miller Park, splash pads, and the Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum
- Temple College for two-year and workforce programs
- I-35 access for Austin, Waco, and Dallas
Cost of living
Temple runs below the Texas urban average and well below Austin. Housing is the biggest difference — which is exactly why monthly RV living pencils out here for so many people on contract or fixed income.
Getting around from the west side of Temple
Journey's sits on State Hwy 36 west of town, so most errands run east on 36 and then onto Loop 363 or I-35. Plan roughly 10 minutes into west Temple, about 15 to 20 minutes to the Baylor Scott & White and VA campuses depending on lights, and 20 to 25 minutes to Belton. Killeen and the Fort Hood gates are about 40 minutes; Waco is about 45 minutes north on I-35 and Austin about an hour and 15 south in normal traffic.
Hwy 36 is an easy road for a big rig — no low bridges or tight turns between the park and Loop 363, which matters if you are arriving in a 40-footer or towing.
Where RVers actually buy things here
- RV parts, sealant, hoses, and 30/50 amp adapters: the big-box hardware and farm-supply stores along Loop 363 and W Adams carry most of what breaks
- Propane: several fuel and hardware locations in Temple fill bottles; ask us which one is currently cheapest — it moves
- Groceries and pharmacy: full selection in west and central Temple, all on the same 36-to-363 run
- Mail and packages: residents use their site address plus a local box when they need something more permanent
- Tires and rig service: heavy-truck and trailer shops sit along I-35 and the Loop, which is where you want to go for RV tires rather than a car shop
What people get wrong about moving here
Two things surprise newcomers. First, Temple is a hospital town, so housing near the campuses is tight and priced accordingly — that is the gap monthly RV living fills for travel contracts. Second, summer electric is the real variable in your budget, not rent. A rig running air conditioning through a Central Texas August costs meaningfully more to power than the same rig in March.
If you are weighing Temple against Belton or Killeen, the practical question is your commute and your utilities, not the sticker rent. We are happy to talk through both honestly before you commit.
Is Temple, TX a good place to live?
For most people who ask us, yes — with two honest caveats. Temple gives you a stable healthcare-and-logistics job market, housing that costs less than Austin or Round Rock, a real downtown, and I-35 access in both directions. Errands are quick, traffic is a non-issue by Central Texas standards, and you are an hour from Austin when you want a city.
The caveats: summers are long and genuinely hot, and rental housing near the hospital campuses is tight because contract clinicians keep it that way. If you are on a 13-week assignment or arriving before a house closes, that tightness is exactly why monthly RV living fills the gap here.
- Best fit: healthcare workers, military and contractor families, retirees, remote workers, and anyone relocating on a timeline
- Harder fit: people who want nightlife, walkability, or mild summers
- Population: roughly 90,000, one of the larger cities in Bell County
- Anchors: Baylor Scott & White, the Olin E. Teague VA Medical Center, McLane Company, Wilsonart
- Journey's RV Park is about 10 minutes west of town on State Hwy 36
What the cost of living in Temple actually looks like
Housing is where the difference shows up. A one-bedroom apartment in Temple or Belton generally starts around $950 to $1,200 a month before electric, water, trash, and renter's insurance, and most want a 12-month lease plus a deposit and an application fee.
A monthly site at Journey's is $500 to $525 with water, sewer, and trash included, plus sub-metered electric billed at the true utility rate — typically $160 to $220 depending on season and rig. There is a $100 refundable deposit and no lease term. That is the comparison most of our residents ran before they called.
Groceries, fuel, and services track close to the Texas average. Texas has no state income tax, which is worth real money on a nursing contract or a fixed retirement income.
1BR apartment in Temple/Belton
Before electric, water, trash, and insurance. 12-month lease, deposit, application fee.
Monthly RV site at Journey's
Water, sewer, and trash included. Electric sub-metered at cost. Month to month, no lease.
Texas math
Property taxes are high, but as a site renter you are not paying them directly.
Frequently asked questions
Is Temple, TX a good place to live?
For most people, yes. Temple offers a steady healthcare and logistics job market, housing well below Austin prices, easy I-35 access, and an hour drive to Austin. The trade-offs are long, hot summers and tight rental housing near the hospital campuses.
Is Temple, TX a good place to live for families?
Many families do well here. Temple ISD plus private and Christian school options, Miller Park, splash pads, and two lakes within 25 minutes cover most of what families ask about.
What is the cost of living in Temple, TX?
Below the Texas urban average and well below Austin, with housing the main difference. A one-bedroom apartment generally starts around $950 to $1,200 before utilities; a monthly RV site at Journey's is $500 to $525 plus sub-metered electric.
How much is rent in Temple, TX?
One-bedroom apartments in Temple and Belton generally start around $950 to $1,200 a month before electric, water, trash, and insurance, usually on a 12-month lease.
How big is Temple, TX?
Roughly 90,000 residents, making it one of the larger cities in Bell County.
How far is Journey's RV Park from Temple?
About 10 minutes west on State Hwy 36.
How long is the drive from Journey's RV Park to the Baylor Scott & White campus?
Roughly 15 to 20 minutes east on State Hwy 36 and Loop 363, depending on time of day.
How far is Temple, TX from Fort Hood?
The Killeen and Fort Hood area is about 40 minutes west of the park.
Where do RVers buy supplies in Temple, TX?
Hardware, farm-supply, and big-box stores along Loop 363 and W Adams cover sealant, hoses, adapters, and propane; use a heavy-truck or trailer shop on I-35 for RV tires.