The Town FilesDenison, Texas
City in Grayson County · population 24,479 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $180,900
- Household income
- $67,365
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 33
- Median age
- 40.4
Denison is a city of 24,479 people in Grayson County, Texas. The median home is worth $180,900, close to the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better for cycling than 94% of Texas towns, more walkable than 87% of Texas towns, hipper than 85% of Texas towns.
How Denison 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 Denison is worth $180,900, close to the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $67,365, which is more affordable than 59% of Texas towns. Median rent is $1,309 a month. 58.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Denison | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $180,900 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $1,309 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $67,365 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 58.6% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Denison
| People | Denison | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.1% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.7% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.0% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 9.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.3% | — |
| Work from home | 9.7% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 19.4 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.6% | 89.2% |
Weather in Denison
July highs average 92.5°F and January lows 33.9°F. About 44.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.9 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 73 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 43 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Denison since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 13 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 10, 1973 about 8.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 44 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 25, 2015.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 120 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on April 21, 1996.
Severe weather in Grayson County since 1996
Grayson County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| 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 Grayson County
Grayson County had 52,026 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,282 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Denison itself the ACS puts it at 4.6%.
Public schools in Denison
15 public schools with 5,280 students, about 13.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| DENISON H S | 9-12 | 1,320 | 12.9 |
| HENRY SCOTT MIDDLE | 7-8 | 750 | 14.4 |
| B MCDANIEL INT | 5-6 | 695 | 12.6 |
| MAYES EL | PK-4 | 517 | 13.6 |
| HYDE PARK EL | PK-4 | 491 | 15.3 |
| LAMAR EL | PK-4 | 468 | 14.6 |
| TERRELL EL | PK-4 | 356 | 13.7 |
| HOUSTON EL | PK-4 | 289 | 13.1 |
| PERRIN EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER | PK-PK | 159 | 13.3 |
| JEFFERSON LEARNING CTR | 10-12 | 93 | 10.3 |
| COOKE/FANNIN/GRAYSON CO JUVENILE POST AJUD FAC | 6-12 | 68 | 8.5 |
| PATHWAYS H S | 9-12 | 53 | 17.7 |
Towns near Denison
- Sherman, TX9.9 mi · 43,645 people · home $243,500
- Calera, OK14.3 mi · 2,916 people · home $157,600
- Howe, TX18.0 mi · 3,571 people · home $201,300
- Durant, OK19.1 mi · 18,589 people · home $163,200
- Whitesboro, TX20.0 mi · 4,074 people · home $249,800
- Van Alstyne, TX23.9 mi · 4,369 people · home $342,700
- Madill, OK24.8 mi · 3,914 people · home $109,600
- Bonham, TX25.6 mi · 10,408 people · home $201,800
Denison questions
Is Denison, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Denison scores better for retirees than 58% of Texas towns and quieter than 23%. 20.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.4).
How much does a house cost in Denison?
The median owner-occupied home in Denison is valued at $180,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,365, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $1,309 a month.
What is the weather like in Denison?
July highs average 92.5°F and January lows 33.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.3 inches of precipitation a year and 1.9 inches of snow.
Does Denison get tornadoes?
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Denison since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 10, 1973. 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)