The Town FilesGilmer, Texas
City in Upshur County · population 4,843 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $166,700
- Household income
- $44,316
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 36.1
Gilmer is a city of 4,843 people in Upshur County, Texas. The median home is worth $166,700, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks hipper than 98% of Texas towns, better for first-time buyers than 93% of Texas towns, more walkable than 86% of Texas towns.
How Gilmer 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 Gilmer is worth $166,700, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $44,316, which is more affordable than 20% of Texas towns. Median rent is $986 a month. 56.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Gilmer | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $166,700 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $986 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $44,316 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 56.3% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Gilmer
| People | Gilmer | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.1 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.6% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.6% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.3% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 7.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 2.6% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 25.6 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.6% | 89.2% |
Weather in Gilmer
July highs average 92.6°F and January lows 32.7°F. About 47.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.5 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 88 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 54 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gilmer since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 1, 1988 about 5.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 4, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 45 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 11, 2016.
Severe weather in Upshur County since 1996
Upshur 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 |
| 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 |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4485: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Upshur County
Upshur County had 7,753 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,879 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Gilmer itself the ACS puts it at 8.9%.
Public schools in Gilmer
6 public schools with 3,199 students, about 13.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| GILMER EL | PK-4 | 1,224 | 16.8 |
| GILMER H S | 9-12 | 857 | 12.4 |
| BRUCE J H | 7-8 | 427 | 13.8 |
| GILMER INT | 5-6 | 415 | 14.8 |
| UNION HILL H S | 6-12 | 159 | 8.4 |
| SHARON A RICHARDSON EL | PK-5 | 117 | 9.8 |
Towns near Gilmer
- Gladewater, TX13.1 mi · 6,134 people · home $174,000
- Holly Lake Ranch, TX14.8 mi · 2,951 people · home $260,200
- White Oak, TX15.0 mi · 6,225 people · home $235,000
- Longview, TX18.2 mi · 81,638 people · home $202,600
- Pittsburg, TX18.5 mi · 4,335 people · home $119,200
- Liberty City, TX19.4 mi · 2,721 people · home $200,000
- Kilgore, TX23.7 mi · 13,376 people · home $171,600
- Daingerfield, TX24.2 mi · 2,522 people · home $100,200
Gilmer questions
Is Gilmer, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Gilmer scores better for retirees than 65% of Texas towns and quieter than 37%. 17.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.1).
How much does a house cost in Gilmer?
The median owner-occupied home in Gilmer is valued at $166,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,316, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $986 a month.
What is the weather like in Gilmer?
July highs average 92.6°F and January lows 32.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.9 inches of precipitation a year and 1.5 inches of snow.
Does Gilmer get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gilmer since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 1, 1988. 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)