The Town FilesDecatur, Texas
City in Wise County · population 6,538 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $284,500
- Household income
- $73,179
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 95°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 40.5
Decatur is a city of 6,538 people in Wise County, Texas. The median home is worth $284,500, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better for young professionals than 89% of Texas towns, easier by car than 79% of Texas towns, more vibrant than 73% of Texas towns.
How Decatur 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 Decatur is worth $284,500, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $73,179, which is more affordable than 17% of Texas towns. Median rent is $1,024 a month. 71.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Decatur | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $284,500 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $1,024 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $73,179 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 71.5% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Decatur
| People | Decatur | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.5 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.9% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.1% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.0% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 13.1% | — |
| Work from home | 8.9% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 24.2 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.4% | 89.2% |
Weather in Decatur
July highs average 95.4°F and January lows 33.2°F. About 38.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.8 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 91 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 60 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Decatur since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on December 13, 2022 about 2.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on December 13, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 103 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on April 29, 2002.
Severe weather in Wise County since 1996
Wise County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| 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 |
| May 29, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4223: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Wise County
Wise County had 21,209 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,376 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Decatur itself the ACS puts it at 2.5%.
Public schools in Decatur
6 public schools with 3,811 students, about 14.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| DECATUR H S | 9-12 | 1,162 | 17.1 |
| MCCARROLL MIDDLE | 6-8 | 815 | 14.1 |
| RANN EL | PK-5 | 502 | 13.2 |
| CARSON EL | PK-5 | 475 | 14.0 |
| YOUNG EL | PK-5 | 465 | 13.7 |
| STEM ACADEMY AT ENIS EL | K-5 | 392 | 16.3 |
Towns near Decatur
- Bridgeport, TX10.8 mi · 5,923 people · home $253,500
- Briar, TX14.3 mi · 7,035 people · home $405,900
- Springtown, TX18.5 mi · 3,064 people · home $261,300
- Justin, TX18.7 mi · 4,409 people · home $406,800
- Pecan Acres, TX18.9 mi · 4,808 people · home $493,500
- Reno, TX19.2 mi · 2,878 people · home $362,400
- Krum, TX21.1 mi · 5,483 people · home $336,500
- Northlake, TX21.8 mi · 5,201 people · home $565,600
Decatur questions
Is Decatur, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Decatur scores better for retirees than 31% of Texas towns and quieter than 27%. 21.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.5).
How much does a house cost in Decatur?
The median owner-occupied home in Decatur is valued at $284,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $73,179, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,024 a month.
What is the weather like in Decatur?
July highs average 95.4°F and January lows 33.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.9 inches of precipitation a year and 0.8 inches of snow.
Does Decatur get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Decatur since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on December 13, 2022. 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)