The Town FilesMarlin, Texas
City in Falls County · population 5,462 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $66,000
- Household income
- $36,426
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 95°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 35.0
Marlin is a city of 5,462 people in Falls County, Texas. The median home is worth $66,000, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks hipper than 96% of Texas towns, more walkable than 92% of Texas towns, more of a college town than 82% of Texas towns.
How Marlin 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 Marlin is worth $66,000, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $36,426, which is more affordable than 86% of Texas towns. Median rent is $689 a month. 66.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Marlin | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $66,000 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $689 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $36,426 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 66.1% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Marlin
| People | Marlin | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.0 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.2% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.2% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.7% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 11.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.5% | — |
| Work from home | 13.4% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 23.8 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 74.8% | 89.2% |
Weather in Marlin
July highs average 94.5°F and January lows 33.5°F. About 39.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.1 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 102 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 38 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Marlin since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. The strongest, an F1, struck on June 2, 1954 about 6.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 23, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 28 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 22, 1979.
Severe weather in Falls County since 1996
Falls County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 17, 2024 | Flood | DR-4781: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 21, 2023 | Winter Storm | DR-4705: Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Falls County
Falls County had 2,927 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,095 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Marlin itself the ACS puts it at 14.2%.
Public schools in Marlin
3 public schools with 903 students, about 22.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARLIN EL | PK-5 | 453 | 28.3 |
| MARLIN HIGH | 6-12 | 436 | 18.2 |
| MARLIN OPPORTUNITY CENTER | 9-12 | 14 | — |
Towns near Marlin
- Robinson, TX16.8 mi · 12,443 people · home $302,200
- Hewitt, TX20.3 mi · 16,026 people · home $273,300
- Bellmead, TX23.3 mi · 10,494 people · home $155,100
- Woodway, TX23.9 mi · 9,383 people · home $370,500
- Waco, TX24.6 mi · 138,486 people · home $221,700
- Lacy-Lakeview, TX25.6 mi · 6,988 people · home $160,600
- Groesbeck, TX26.3 mi · 3,631 people · home $162,500
Marlin questions
Is Marlin, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Marlin scores better for retirees than 27% of Texas towns and quieter than 30%. 16.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.0).
How much does a house cost in Marlin?
The median owner-occupied home in Marlin is valued at $66,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $36,426, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $689 a month.
What is the weather like in Marlin?
July highs average 94.5°F and January lows 33.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.1 inches of precipitation a year and 0.1 inches of snow.
Does Marlin get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Marlin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on June 2, 1954. 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)