The Town FilesLamesa, Texas
City in Dawson County · population 8,674 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $95,000
- Household income
- $49,007
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 34.2
Lamesa is a city of 8,674 people in Dawson County, Texas. The median home is worth $95,000, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks hipper than 91% of Texas towns, more vibrant than 76% of Texas towns, more walkable than 74% of Texas towns.
How Lamesa 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 Lamesa is worth $95,000, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $49,007, which is more affordable than 83% of Texas towns. Median rent is $813 a month. 69.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lamesa | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $95,000 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $813 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $49,007 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 69.3% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Lamesa
| People | Lamesa | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.2 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.0% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 27.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.8% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.7% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 3.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.6% | — |
| Work from home | 3.7% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 24.9 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.0% | 89.2% |
Weather in Lamesa
July highs average 94.3°F and January lows 26.2°F. About 16.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.6 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 94 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 93 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lamesa since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 19, 1980 about 9.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 29, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 61 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on April 23, 2008.
Severe weather in Dawson County since 1996
Dawson County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, drought, hurricane.
| 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 |
| July 1, 2011 | Fire | DR-1999: Wildfires |
Jobs and pay in Dawson County
Dawson County had 4,144 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,051 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Lamesa itself the ACS puts it at 7.3%.
Public schools in Lamesa
2 public schools with 1,773 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAMESA SCHOOLS | PK-12 | 1,520 | 13.9 |
| KLONDIKE ISD | PK-12 | 253 | 11.5 |
Lamesa questions
Is Lamesa, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lamesa scores better for retirees than 35% of Texas towns and quieter than 32%. 16.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.2).
How much does a house cost in Lamesa?
The median owner-occupied home in Lamesa is valued at $95,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,007, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $813 a month.
What is the weather like in Lamesa?
July highs average 94.3°F and January lows 26.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 16.8 inches of precipitation a year and 2.6 inches of snow.
Does Lamesa get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lamesa since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 19, 1980. 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)