The Town FilesBallinger, Texas
City in Runnels County · population 3,619 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $109,400
- Household income
- $58,870
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 96°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 44.7
Ballinger is a city of 3,619 people in Runnels County, Texas. The median home is worth $109,400, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks hipper than 95% of Texas towns, quieter than 82% of Texas towns, easier by car than 81% of Texas towns.
How Ballinger 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 Ballinger is worth $109,400, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $58,870, which is more affordable than 83% of Texas towns. Median rent is $986 a month. 76.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ballinger | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $109,400 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $986 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $58,870 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 76.1% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in Ballinger
| People | Ballinger | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.7 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.9% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 21.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.6% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.3% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 3.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 4.9% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 18.0 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.6% | 89.2% |
Weather in Ballinger
July highs average 95.5°F and January lows 31.2°F. About 23.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.6 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 116 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 52 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ballinger since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on May 18, 2019 about 1.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on November 7, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 108 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on June 12, 2014.
Severe weather in Runnels County since 1996
Runnels County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| March 14, 2008 | Fire | EM-3284: Wildfires |
Jobs and pay in Runnels County
Runnels County had 3,047 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,873 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Ballinger itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Public schools in Ballinger
3 public schools with 793 students, about 10.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BALLINGER EL | PK-5 | 374 | 12.1 |
| BALLINGER H S | 9-12 | 239 | 9.6 |
| BALLINGER J H | 6-8 | 180 | 9.5 |
Ballinger questions
Is Ballinger, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ballinger scores better for retirees than 74% of Texas towns and quieter than 82%. 24.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.7).
How much does a house cost in Ballinger?
The median owner-occupied home in Ballinger is valued at $109,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,870, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $986 a month.
What is the weather like in Ballinger?
July highs average 95.5°F and January lows 31.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 23.4 inches of precipitation a year and 0.6 inches of snow.
Does Ballinger get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ballinger since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on May 18, 2019. 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)