The Town FilesFort Stockton, Texas
City in Pecos County · population 8,466 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $199,600
- Household income
- $84,784
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 34.4
Fort Stockton is a city of 8,466 people in Pecos County, Texas. The median home is worth $199,600, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better for cycling than 97% of Texas towns, more vibrant than 89% of Texas towns, more walkable than 84% of Texas towns.
How Fort Stockton 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 Fort Stockton is worth $199,600, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $84,784, which is more affordable than 69% of Texas towns. Median rent is $974 a month. 69.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fort Stockton | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $199,600 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $974 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $84,784 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 69.6% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Fort Stockton
| People | Fort Stockton | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.4 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.3% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.2% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.0% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 8.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 13.0% | — |
| Work from home | 1.1% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 17.9 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.3% | 89.2% |
Weather in Fort Stockton
July highs average 94.4°F and January lows 35.8°F. About 13.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.4 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 126 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 40 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fort Stockton since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 4, 2024 about 9.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 4, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 114 times; the largest was 5.00 inches on April 26, 2025.
Severe weather in Pecos County since 1996
Pecos County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 18, 2026 | Flood | EM-3649: Flooding |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Pecos County
Pecos County had 5,372 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,712 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Fort Stockton itself the ACS puts it at 2.2%.
Public schools in Fort Stockton
6 public schools with 2,200 students, about 14.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| FORT STOCKTON HIGH | 9-12 | 721 | 13.6 |
| FORT STOCKTON MIDDLE | 6-8 | 488 | 13.9 |
| FORT STOCKTON APACHE EL | PK-1 | 332 | 16.6 |
| FORT STOCKTON ALAMO EL | 2-3 | 323 | 14.7 |
| FORT STOCKTON INT | 4-5 | 316 | 12.2 |
| BUTZ PREPARATORY ACADEMY | 9-12 | 20 | 20.0 |
Fort Stockton questions
Is Fort Stockton, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fort Stockton scores better for retirees than 41% of Texas towns and quieter than 26%. 13.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.4).
How much does a house cost in Fort Stockton?
The median owner-occupied home in Fort Stockton is valued at $199,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $84,784, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $974 a month.
What is the weather like in Fort Stockton?
July highs average 94.4°F and January lows 35.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 13.7 inches of precipitation a year and 1.4 inches of snow.
Does Fort Stockton get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fort Stockton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on May 4, 2024. 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)