The Town FilesCarthage, Texas
City in Panola County · population 6,569 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $164,200
- Household income
- $51,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 39.9
Carthage is a city of 6,569 people in Panola County, Texas. The median home is worth $164,200, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better transit than 73% of Texas towns, more vibrant than 71% of Texas towns.
How Carthage 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 Carthage is worth $164,200, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $51,250, which is more affordable than 39% of Texas towns. Median rent is $797 a month. 64.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Carthage | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $164,200 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $797 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $51,250 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 64.4% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.7% | — |
Who lives in Carthage
| People | Carthage | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.9 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.0% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.6% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.0% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 3.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.2% | — |
| Work from home | 7.8% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 19.3 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.4% | 89.2% |
Weather in Carthage
July highs average 92.4°F and January lows 36.1°F. About 52.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.8 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 89 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 39 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carthage since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 7, 1989 about 7.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 7 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 27, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 47 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on June 13, 2023.
Severe weather in Panola County since 1996
Panola County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 9, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4798: Hurricane Beryl |
| May 17, 2024 | Flood | DR-4781: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 19, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4586: Severe Winter Storms |
| February 14, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3554: Severe Winter Storm |
| August 24, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3540: Tropical Storms Marco And Laura |
Jobs and pay in Panola County
Panola County had 7,601 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,410 a year. Unemployment was 4.5% in 2023; in Carthage itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Public schools in Carthage
7 public schools with 2,674 students, about 14.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CARTHAGE H S | 9-12 | 788 | 11.9 |
| BAKER-KOONCE INT | 4-6 | 552 | 13.5 |
| CARTHAGE PRI | PK-1 | 501 | 16.7 |
| LIBBY EL | 2-3 | 383 | 16.0 |
| CARTHAGE J H | 7-8 | 374 | 14.4 |
| PANOLA EARLY COLLEGE H S (charter) | 8-12 | 47 | 23.5 |
| PANOLA CS (charter) | 9-12 | 29 | 14.5 |
Towns near Carthage
- Lake Cherokee, TX23.3 mi · 2,980 people · home $345,000
- Center, TX26.5 mi · 5,221 people · home $83,300
- Marshall, TX26.8 mi · 23,392 people · home $141,400
- Henderson, TX26.8 mi · 13,271 people · home $173,700
- Hallsville, TX27.5 mi · 4,277 people · home $229,800
- Greenwood, LA29.3 mi · 3,166 people · home $241,600
Carthage questions
Is Carthage, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Carthage scores better for retirees than 20% of Texas towns and quieter than 32%. 18.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.9).
How much does a house cost in Carthage?
The median owner-occupied home in Carthage is valued at $164,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,250, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $797 a month.
What is the weather like in Carthage?
July highs average 92.4°F and January lows 36.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.3 inches of precipitation a year and 0.8 inches of snow.
Does Carthage get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carthage since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 7, 1989. 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)