The Town FilesAlpine, Texas
City in Brewster County · population 6,035 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $219,800
- Household income
- $60,139
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 39.5
Alpine is a city of 6,035 people in Brewster County, Texas. The median home is worth $219,800, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks hipper than 100% of Texas towns, more of a college town than 99% of Texas towns, better for retirees than 98% of Texas towns.
- #1 in The 25 Hippest Small Towns in Texas
- #2 in The 25 Best College Small Towns in Texas
- #2 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Texas With the Fewest Tornadoes
- #8 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Texas
- #11 in 25 Small Towns in Texas With the Coolest Summers
- #12 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Young Professionals in Texas
How Alpine ranks
Percentile among Texas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Texas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Alpine is worth $219,800, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $60,139, which is more affordable than 22% of Texas towns. Median rent is $891 a month. 65.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Alpine | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $219,800 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $891 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $60,139 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 65.7% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Alpine
| People | Alpine | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.5 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.7% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 14.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 45.1% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.7% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 8.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.5% | — |
| Work from home | 6.6% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 13.4 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.6% | 89.2% |
Weather in Alpine
July highs average 90.8°F and January lows 31.3°F. About 16.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.2 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 82 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 56 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Alpine since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on March 19, 2017 about 1.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 19, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 66 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on May 17, 2010.
Severe weather in Brewster County since 1996
Brewster County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 18, 2026 | Flood | EM-3649: Flooding |
| February 19, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4586: Severe Winter Storms |
| February 14, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3554: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4485: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3458: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Brewster County
Brewster County had 4,526 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,286 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Alpine itself the ACS puts it at 4.1%.
Public schools in Alpine
3 public schools with 918 students, about 11.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALPINE EL | PK-4 | 360 | 12.4 |
| ALPINE H S | 9-12 | 303 | 10.8 |
| ALPINE MIDDLE | 5-8 | 255 | 9.8 |
Alpine questions
Is Alpine, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Alpine scores better for retirees than 98% of Texas towns and quieter than 29%. 24.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.5).
How much does a house cost in Alpine?
The median owner-occupied home in Alpine is valued at $219,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,139, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $891 a month.
What is the weather like in Alpine?
July highs average 90.8°F and January lows 31.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 16.1 inches of precipitation a year and 2.2 inches of snow.
Does Alpine get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Alpine since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on March 19, 2017. The typical Texas town has had 21.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)