The rapidly growing blue-collar town of Venus
The small but rapidly growing town of Venus, Texas, is home to over 8,000 people, nearly double its 2020 population of about 4,500. This growth is due to the area’s rapid new construction, with many area builders investing in the community and building new homes there. A lot of this growth is due to the neighboring town of Midlothian filling up and Venus offering lower housing prices. Midlothian, less than 10 miles away, is home to several steel mills and distribution centers that serve as significant employers. “It’s very blue-collar but also up-and-coming,” says Realtor Brandon Reichenau with North Texas Real Estate Information Systems. “You have the steel mills right there, including one of the largest steel producers in North America, Gerdau. When Midlothian gets too big, people move to Venus.”
Newly built homes at lower prices than in Midlothian
New construction is ongoing in Venus, with most homes being built in New Traditional styles. Buyers can purchase to-be-built or already constructed homes, typically ranging in price from $300,000 to $800,000. “The affordability there is great,” Reichenau says. “You have substantially lower-priced homes than in Midlothian.” Most homes have ample lawns, and only some residential streets have sidewalks. Venus has a 2 out of 10 CAP Index Crime Score, below the national average of 4.
P-TECH and football at Venus High School
Venus Independent School District gets an overall C-minus grade from Niche. Venus Primary gets a C-plus, Venus Elementary and Venus Middle get C-minuses, and Venus High School gets a C-plus. Venus High School’s P-TECH programs include animal science, criminal justice, welding technology and more. Reichenau says that high school sports – especially the football team – bring the community together. “This is Texas, so our second most popular religion is football,” he says.
City parks and Griffith Switch Range
Fielder Park has a basketball court, a playground, a baseball field and a picnic pavilion. Shanna Park is smaller, with just a play area for young children and picnic tables. Venus is also home to Griffith Switch Range, an outdoor shooting range.
Tex-Mex, chain restaurants and groceries
Casa Jacaranda is a local restaurant serving Tex-Mex and pastries in a colorful dining room. Biundo’s is an Italian restaurant with a pizza menu ranging from thin-crust to pan and stuffed options. Taquikardia is a taqueria known for its fish tacos. “The majority of what you’re going to get are mom-and-pop restaurants, which is a plus for a lot of people because they like to support their neighbors,” Reichenau says. “You’re supporting someone you know and who cares about the community.” A few chain restaurants are in town, including Whataburger, Starbucks and Charleys Cheesesteaks and Wings. Groceries are available in town at Brookshire Brothers.
Outside Midlothian, between Dallas and Fort Worth
Venus’s location along U.S. Highway 67 between Midlothian and Alvarado makes it easy to get to Dallas or Fort Worth. Methodist Midlothian Medical Center is less than 10 miles from Venus, and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field are both within 40 miles.
