The Town FilesOlney, Texas
City in Young County · population 3,007 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $95,100
- Household income
- $36,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 97°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 35.3
Olney is a city of 3,007 people in Young County, Texas. The median home is worth $95,100, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better for cycling than 98% of Texas towns, hipper than 97% of Texas towns, better for retirees than 93% of Texas towns.
- #3 in 25 Small Towns in Texas With the Cheapest Rent
- #7 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Texas
- #7 in The 17 Best Small Towns for Young Families in Texas
- #10 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in Texas
- #16 in 50 Small Towns in America With the Cheapest Rent
- #16 in 50 Places in America With the Cheapest Rent
How Olney 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 Olney is worth $95,100, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $36,250, which is more affordable than 63% of Texas towns. Median rent is $439 a month. 63.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Olney | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $95,100 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $439 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $36,250 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 63.1% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Olney
| People | Olney | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.3 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.7% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.8% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.4% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 4.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.3% | — |
| Work from home | 3.4% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 12.9 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.9% | 89.2% |
Weather in Olney
July highs average 97.1°F and January lows 30.1°F. About 29.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.2 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 108 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 56 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Olney since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 18, 1951 about 3.9 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 103 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 26, 2000.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 69 times; the largest was 3.10 inches on May 22, 2025.
Severe weather in Young County since 1996
Young County has been included in 21 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 |
| May 29, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4223: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Young County
Young County had 7,010 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,045 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Olney itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in Olney
3 public schools with 728 students, about 10.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| OLNEY EL | PK-5 | 356 | 11.1 |
| OLNEY H S | 9-12 | 215 | 8.6 |
| OLNEY J H | 6-8 | 157 | 11.2 |
Towns near Olney
- Graham, TX21.0 mi · 8,732 people · home $183,800
Olney questions
Is Olney, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Olney scores better for retirees than 93% of Texas towns and quieter than 91%. 15.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.3).
How much does a house cost in Olney?
The median owner-occupied home in Olney is valued at $95,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $36,250, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $439 a month.
What is the weather like in Olney?
July highs average 97.1°F and January lows 30.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.2 inches of precipitation a year and 1.2 inches of snow.
Does Olney get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Olney since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 18, 1951. 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)