The Town FilesBig Spring, Texas
City in Howard County · population 26,144 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $140,200
- Household income
- $67,581
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 96°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 34
- Median age
- 36.4
Big Spring is a city of 26,144 people in Howard County, Texas. The median home is worth $140,200, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks more walkable than 84% of Texas towns, better for cycling than 83% of Texas towns, more vibrant than 80% of Texas towns.
How Big Spring 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 Big Spring is worth $140,200, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $67,581, which is more affordable than 77% of Texas towns. Median rent is $1,050 a month. 64.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Big Spring | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $140,200 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $1,050 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $67,581 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 64.7% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Big Spring
| People | Big Spring | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.4 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.1% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.8% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.1% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 5.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 11.8% | — |
| Work from home | 3.1% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 21.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.3% | 89.2% |
Weather in Big Spring
July highs average 95.8°F and January lows 31.4°F. About 19.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.0 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 115 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 54 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Big Spring since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on May 22, 2016 about 6.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 11, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 135 times; the largest was 5.00 inches on May 10, 1996.
Severe weather in Howard County since 1996
Howard County has been included in 20 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 |
| September 9, 2011 | Fire | DR-4029: Wildfires |
Jobs and pay in Howard County
Howard County had 12,785 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $65,285 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Big Spring itself the ACS puts it at 6.6%.
Public schools in Big Spring
10 public schools with 3,814 students, about 13.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIG SPRING H S | 9-12 | 1,044 | 12.0 |
| BIG SPRING J H | 7-8 | 521 | 11.6 |
| BIG SPRING INT | 5-6 | 450 | 11.0 |
| MOSS EL | K-2 | 427 | 17.1 |
| MARCY EL | K-2 | 405 | 16.9 |
| FORSAN EL | PK-5 | 363 | 15.8 |
| GOLIAD EL | 4-4 | 271 | 15.1 |
| WASHINGTON EL | 3-3 | 238 | 14.0 |
| KENTWOOD EL | PK-PK | 95 | 15.8 |
| BIG SPRING DAEP | 5-12 | — | — |
Towns near Big Spring
- Stanton, TX19.4 mi · 2,657 people · home $100,000
Big Spring questions
Is Big Spring, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Big Spring scores better for retirees than 8% of Texas towns and quieter than 28%. 12.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.4).
How much does a house cost in Big Spring?
The median owner-occupied home in Big Spring is valued at $140,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,581, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $1,050 a month.
What is the weather like in Big Spring?
July highs average 95.8°F and January lows 31.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 19.6 inches of precipitation a year and 2.0 inches of snow.
Does Big Spring get tornadoes?
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Big Spring since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on May 22, 2016. 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)