The Town FilesOnalaska, Texas
City in Polk County · population 3,020 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $165,800
- Household income
- $51,912
- Jan low / Jul high
- 40° / 95°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 43.8
Onalaska is a city of 3,020 people in Polk County, Texas. The median home is worth $165,800, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better for a vacation home than 91% of Texas towns, quieter than 82% of Texas towns.
How Onalaska 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 Onalaska is worth $165,800, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $51,912, which is more affordable than 39% of Texas towns. Median rent is $1,083 a month. 78.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Onalaska | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $165,800 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $1,083 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $51,912 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 78.4% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1993 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.6% | — |
Who lives in Onalaska
| People | Onalaska | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.8 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.8% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.7% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.7% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 18.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.3% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 22.2 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.6% | 89.2% |
Weather in Onalaska
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
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Onalaska since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 22, 2020 about 1.6 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 53 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 22, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 9, 2019.
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 Onalaska itself the ACS puts it at 9.4%.
Public schools in Onalaska
2 public schools with 1,242 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ONALASKA EL | PK-6 | 713 | 14.9 |
| ONALASKA JR/SR HIGH | 7-12 | 529 | 13.6 |
Towns near Onalaska
- West Livingston, TX10.0 mi · 8,156 people · home $153,600
- Livingston, TX12.9 mi · 5,640 people · home $200,100
- Huntsville, TX27.7 mi · 45,941 people · home $236,600
Onalaska questions
Is Onalaska, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Onalaska scores better for retirees than 46% of Texas towns and quieter than 82%. 16.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.8).
How much does a house cost in Onalaska?
The median owner-occupied home in Onalaska is valued at $165,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,912, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,083 a month.
What is the weather like in Onalaska?
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 Onalaska get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Onalaska since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 22, 2020. 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)