The Town FilesKarnes City, Texas
City in Karnes County · population 3,111 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $93,400
- Household income
- $55,354
- Jan low / Jul high
- 39° / 96°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 35.4
Karnes City is a city of 3,111 people in Karnes County, Texas. The median home is worth $93,400, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 99% of Texas towns, quieter than 87% of Texas towns, better for retirees than 77% of Texas towns.
- #6 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Texas
- #9 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Texas
- #10 in The 16 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Texas With Mild Winters
- #15 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in Texas
- #19 in 25 Small Towns in Texas With the Cheapest Rent
- #26 in The 50 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America With Mild Winters
How Karnes City 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 Karnes City is worth $93,400, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $55,354, which is more affordable than 88% of Texas towns. Median rent is $661 a month. 70.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Karnes City | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $93,400 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $661 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $55,354 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 70.5% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.3% | — |
Who lives in Karnes City
| People | Karnes City | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.4 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 9.2% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.9% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 29.6% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 2.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.1% | — |
| Work from home | 0.4% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 18.8 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 74.3% | 89.2% |
Weather in Karnes City
July highs average 96.1°F and January lows 39.0°F. About 31.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.3 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 130 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 27 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Karnes City since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 25, 1966 about 4.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on November 23, 2004.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 7, 1984.
Severe weather in Karnes County since 1996
Karnes County has been included in 16 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 |
| August 25, 2017 | Hurricane | DR-4332: Hurricane Harvey |
Jobs and pay in Karnes County
Karnes County had 6,178 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $71,755 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Karnes City itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in Karnes City
4 public schools with 1,025 students, about 11.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| KARNES CITY H S | 9-12 | 310 | 10.3 |
| ROGER E SIDES EL | 2-5 | 289 | 12.0 |
| KARNES CITY J H | 6-8 | 230 | 11.0 |
| KARNES CITY PRI | PK-1 | 196 | 14.0 |
Towns near Karnes City
- Kenedy, TX6.0 mi · 3,473 people · home $140,300
- Floresville, TX24.1 mi · 7,203 people · home $241,000
Karnes City questions
Is Karnes City, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Karnes City scores better for retirees than 77% of Texas towns and quieter than 87%. 9.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.4).
How much does a house cost in Karnes City?
The median owner-occupied home in Karnes City is valued at $93,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,354, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $661 a month.
What is the weather like in Karnes City?
July highs average 96.1°F and January lows 39.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.3 inches of snow.
Does Karnes City get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Karnes City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 25, 1966. 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)