The Town FilesEl Campo, Texas
City in Wharton County · population 12,350 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $201,400
- Household income
- $67,017
- Jan low / Jul high
- 42° / 95°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 33.7
El Campo is a city of 12,350 people in Wharton County, Texas. The median home is worth $201,400, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks more walkable than 78% of Texas towns, better transit than 76% of Texas towns.
How El Campo 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 El Campo is worth $201,400, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $67,017, which is more affordable than 49% of Texas towns. Median rent is $1,071 a month. 60.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | El Campo | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $201,400 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $1,071 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $67,017 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 60.0% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in El Campo
| People | El Campo | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.7 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.6% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 30.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.6% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.0% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 4.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 11.0% | — |
| Work from home | 2.2% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 21.6 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.5% | 89.2% |
Weather in El Campo
July highs average 95.3°F and January lows 42.4°F. About 49.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.6 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 130 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 11 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of El Campo since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on November 17, 2003 about 8.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on December 26, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 30, 2002.
Severe weather in Wharton County since 1996
Wharton County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 9, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4798: Hurricane Beryl |
| 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 |
| July 26, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3530: Hurricane Hanna |
Jobs and pay in Wharton County
Wharton County had 16,408 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,177 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in El Campo itself the ACS puts it at 6.4%.
Public schools in El Campo
5 public schools with 3,326 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| EL CAMPO H S | 9-12 | 999 | 13.1 |
| HUTCHINS EL | 1-3 | 720 | 15.3 |
| EL CAMPO MIDDLE | 6-8 | 699 | 13.2 |
| NORTHSIDE EL | 4-5 | 496 | 16.0 |
| MYATT EL | PK-K | 412 | 14.2 |
Towns near El Campo
- Wharton, TX13.1 mi · 8,627 people · home $149,400
- Bay City, TX24.1 mi · 18,061 people · home $160,800
- Eagle Lake, TX26.9 mi · 3,442 people · home $137,900
- Edna, TX27.5 mi · 5,987 people · home $117,800
- Needville, TX29.4 mi · 3,089 people · home $221,700
El Campo questions
Is El Campo, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, El Campo scores better for retirees than 38% of Texas towns and quieter than 32%. 16.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.7).
How much does a house cost in El Campo?
The median owner-occupied home in El Campo is valued at $201,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,017, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,071 a month.
What is the weather like in El Campo?
July highs average 95.3°F and January lows 42.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.6 inches of snow.
Does El Campo get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of El Campo since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on November 17, 2003. 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)