Sunshine Superman, 2016
Murphy’s story
135 years in pictures
Census counts: 135 in 1960, 21,013 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2016 and 3 maps from 1929 on.
- 1891Murphy is settled
Photo: Flimbone08 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
20,985
2025 Census estimate · −0.1% since 2020
Typical home
$580K
−3.6% in a year
Household income
$176K
median
Median age
41.7
years
Jobs based here
3,678
A commuter town
TownGrade
A
#16 of 640 in TX
Is Murphy a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Murphy grades A overall, ranked 16th of 640 in Texas. The median household earns $176K. Residents are healthier than 87% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates and crime is low: it reports less per resident than 84% of U.S. towns. What holds it back is price: homes are expensive, about $580K for a typical one and 6.4 times the Dallas metro’s $90K median household income. 62% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in Murphy, above both Texas’ towns (23%) and U.S. towns (29%). Among 613 Texas towns, just 8 have a higher median rent than Murphy. The biggest park or preserve is Waters Edge Park, at 52 acres.
What makes Murphy stand out
Where Murphy beats most towns.
A growing town
Murphy has grown 19% since 2010
17,708 counted in 2010 and 21,013 in 2020; an estimated 20,985 in 2025.
Growth has leveled off: within 1% of 2020, after 18.7% in the decade before.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Murphy grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Texas), ordered by how far Murphy is from typical.
Its grades run from A+ for jobs and income (better than 96% of comparable towns) to D for cost of living (better than 9%), so the A overall blends very different results.
Jobs & incomeA+Open →Cost of livingDOpen →HealthMethodist Richardson Medical Center 3.8 miles awayAOpen →SafetyA−Open →SchoolsA−Open →Hazard risktornadoes tops the listCOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 8.5 of 20; 1.7% of households have no car; 1.1% of workers walk, bike or ride transitBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors2 miles of trails; 7% conserved landB+Open →HistoryDOpen →Civic life4 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateMild winters, 95° summer afternoons–Open →Housing market37 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 41.7–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 85 attractions →Cotton Bowl and 59 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Murphy. Close and well known come first.
Big draw19 mi Stadium & arenaCotton Bowl
Big draw34 mi Stadium & arenaAT&T Stadium
Big draw21 mi Stadium & arenaTexas Stadium
Big draw33 mi Stadium & arenaGlobe Life Field
2 mi MuseumSouthfork Ranch
32 mi Theme parkSix Flags Over TexasSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Cotton Bowl: Robbiewest88, Public domain · AT&T Stadium: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Texas Stadium: Allspamme, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Globe Life Field: Drone To Fly, CC BY 3.0 · Southfork Ranch: Sf46 at en.wikipedia, Public domain · Six Flags Over Texas: Chris Hagerman from New Port Richey, FL, US, CC BY 2.0
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Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Murphy: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Murphy, and how to reach them.
PowerOncorEIAHIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of Murphy water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet8 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpTown’s haulerRepublic Services picks up at the curb for every homeTown site
SchoolsPlano Independent School DistrictWylie Independent School District2 districts serve Murphy; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
Register to voteIn personTexas has no online registration; you can register in person until 30 days before Election Day or by mail (postmarked 30 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereCollin County Early Voting ClerkCollin County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Apr 2024
ZIP code7509475094 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Murphy.
Murphy has hotter summers than nearly all U.S. towns and has less no health insurance than most of Texas, but it has homes that cost more against local pay than most of Texas.
HousingCost of living grade D
Murphy earns a D for cost of living
At 6.4 years of the Dallas metro’s $90K median household income, the typical home (about $580K) costs more against local pay than in 91% of Texas towns; that ratio is one input to its D for cost of living. The typical value, about $580K, is 8% below its May 2024 peak.
94% of households own their home in Murphy. The typical Murphy home is worth about $580,000, down 3.6% in a year, 96% above the Texas typical home.
$580KZillow home value
Typical home value
Murphy$580K
Texas$296K
Market temperature
37
days on market
98.4%
sale-to-list price
−3.6%
value change, 1 year
19
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
SchoolsA−
Public schools in Murphy beat 84% of Texas districts
Its A− for schools comes with a D for cost of living: the typical home is worth about $580K.
Its public schools are run by Plano ISD. Three of its 6 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
84%of TX districts it outscoresA−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murphy MiddleLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 901 | A |
| McMillen H SLargest public high schoolGrades 9–10 | Grades 9–10 | 1,010 | B+ |
| Tibbals ElTop results in townGrades PK–4 | Grades PK–4 | 609 | A+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within TX on state tests and graduation
HealthA
Murphy earns an A for health
Its widest gap with Texas is no health insurance: 8.4% of those 18–64 have no health insurance, against 19.1% statewide. Against the 1,508 U.S. towns with household incomes like Murphy’s, it is less healthy than 76%: its national edge comes with its incomes.
11% of Murphy adults report frequent physical distress. Murphy beats the Texas average on 18 of 31 CDC measures and trails it on 0. 14% of Murphy adults report frequent mental distress.
87%healthier than U.S. townsAHealth Grade
| Murphy | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 15% | 14% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 18% | 17% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 24% | 19% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 9.8% | 14% | 14% |
31 measures vs. Texas
18 better13 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Murphy | TX |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 8.4% | 19.1% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 11.2% | 19.3% |
Methodist Richardson Medical Center
3.8 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
89th
percentile among TX towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
SafetyA−
Murphy earns an A− for safety
Violent crime is rare: 8 reported in 2025, 0.4 per 1,000 residents.
The violent crime rate in Murphy is 0.4 per 1,000 residents.
84%of U.S. towns report more crimeA−Safety Grade
| Murphy | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0.4 per 1,000 residents | 1.9 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 5.5 per 1,000 residents | 10.7 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Murphy0.4
Texas3.5
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Murphy5.5
Texas18.1
U.S.15.5
84th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
95th
percentile among TX towns
8
violent crimes reported in 2025
116
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
OutdoorsB+
Murphy has set aside 6.6% of its land for conservation
2.2 miles of trail in 10 parks and preserves.
#226for trails in TX
| Murphy | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 6.6% | 1.9% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.4 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
6.6%
conserved · 241 of 3,641 acres
2.2 mi
of trails · 0.4 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Murphy Central Park | 0.4 mi | 44 |
| 2. Travis Farm Neighborhood Park | 0.4 mi | 6 |
| 3. Waters Edge Park | 0.2 mi | 52 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A+
Murphy earns an A+ for incomes
Jobs based here grew from 2,157 in 2013 to 3,678. 32% of workers work from home, against 14.4% across Texas.
Murphy’s average trip to work is 32 minutes. Since 2013, Murphy has added 1,521 jobs, to 3,678 in 2023. Most working residents leave Murphy for work: only 3% work in town.
3%work in town
| Murphy | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work from home | 32% | 9.6% | 11% |
| Median household income | $176,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 32 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 3% | 12% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Murphy3%
Dallas22%
Plano15%
Richardson11%
Irving4%
13 mi
median commute distance
3,678
jobs based in Murphy
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
B
Walkability grade: more walkable than 60% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
In Murphy, expect mild winters and hot summers
July afternoons average 94.6°, hotter than in 95% of U.S. towns; January nights average 34.9°.
Murphy has mild winters and hot summers. Snow is almost unheard of.
95°summer high
| Murphy | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 95°F | 95°F | 85°F |
| January low | 35°F | 37°F | 22°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter37–57°
Spring54–75°
Summer73–93°
Fall55–77°
Nov 21
typical first frost
Mar 7
typical last frost
+0.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
95°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C
Murphy faces a high natural-hazard risk, led by tornadoes
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 60% of U.S. communities. Since 1979, 9 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Murphy.
60risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
TornadoesInland floodingHail
9
paid flood claims since 1979
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Murphy
19pages on Murphy
The big questions
SchoolsA−Beat 84% of TX districts · 6 schoolsSafetyA−0.4 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthABetter than TX on 18 of 31 CDC measuresCost of livingD$580K typical home · down 3.6% in a yearWork & commuteA+$176K median household income · 3,678 jobs hereNatural hazardsCFEMA risk higher than 60% of U.S. communities · tornadoes
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
11 within 15 miles of the center of Murphy
West Coast University-TexasUniversity or college · Private for-profit · Richardson6.7 miGalen Health Institutes-DallasUniversity or college · Private for-profit · Richardson8.4 mi$17,048 tuitionThe University of Texas at DallasUniversity or college · Public · Richardson8.5 mi$14,644 in-state tuition
About 8 of every 100 Murphy residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Texas.
A commuter town
97% of working residents leave Murphy for work
Where Murphy’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
3,678jobs based in Murphy
3%of working residents work in town
13 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Murphy
City in Texas
Murphy is a suburban city in Collin County, Texas, United States. The 2020 census reported the population as 21,013 compared to 3,099 in 2000. Murphy is located northeast of Dallas and has a history that goes back to the late 1800s.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 5.7 sq mi
- Elevation
- 581 ft
- ZIP code
- 75074, 75094
- Area code
- 972
Murphy’s neighbors
5 towns share a border with Murphy.
SachsePlanoParkerWylieRichardsonMurphy
Questions about Murphy
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Murphy, TX a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Murphy grades A overall, better than 87% of U.S. towns and #16 of 640 in Texas. It grades A for health, A− for safety and A− for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Murphy, TX expensive?
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D.