The Town FilesLivingston, Texas
Town in Polk County · population 5,640 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $200,100
- Household income
- $48,841
- Jan low / Jul high
- 40° / 95°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 35.9
Livingston is a town of 5,640 people in Polk County, Texas. The median home is worth $200,100, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better for a vacation home than 90% of Texas towns, easier by car than 74% of Texas towns, quieter than 71% of Texas towns.
How Livingston 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 Livingston is worth $200,100, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $48,841, which is more affordable than 14% of Texas towns. Median rent is $1,104 a month. 50.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Livingston | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $200,100 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $1,104 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $48,841 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 50.4% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.2% | — |
Who lives in Livingston
| People | Livingston | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.9 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.3% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.5% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 27.5% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 4.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.2% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 16.9 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.9% | 89.2% |
Weather in Livingston
July highs average 94.7°F and January lows 40.1°F. About 51.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 103 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 37 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Livingston since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 17, 1989 about 7.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 15, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on February 10, 1981.
Severe weather in Polk County since 1996
Polk County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 9, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4798: Hurricane Beryl |
| May 17, 2024 | Flood | DR-4781: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Polk County
Polk County had 12,820 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,852 a year. Unemployment was 5.4% in 2023; in Livingston itself the ACS puts it at 4.3%.
Public schools in Livingston
7 public schools with 4,052 students, about 16.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| LIVINGSTON H S | 9-12 | 1,148 | 16.9 |
| LIVINGSTON J H | 6-8 | 880 | 14.4 |
| CEDAR GROVE EL | 1-5 | 530 | 17.7 |
| TIMBER CREEK EL | 1-5 | 528 | 16.5 |
| CREEKSIDE EL | 1-5 | 516 | 17.8 |
| PINE RIDGE PRI | PK-K | 437 | 15.1 |
| LIVINGSTON H S ACADEMY | 10-12 | 13 | 13.0 |
Towns near Livingston
- West Livingston, TX4.9 mi · 8,156 people · home $153,600
- Onalaska, TX12.9 mi · 3,020 people · home $165,800
- Cleveland, TX27.2 mi · 7,471 people · home $174,400
Livingston questions
Is Livingston, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Livingston scores better for retirees than 35% of Texas towns and quieter than 71%. 19.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.9).
How much does a house cost in Livingston?
The median owner-occupied home in Livingston is valued at $200,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $48,841, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $1,104 a month.
What is the weather like in Livingston?
July highs average 94.7°F and January lows 40.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Livingston get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Livingston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 17, 1989. 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)