The Town FilesPampa, Texas
City in Gray County · population 16,867 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $100,700
- Household income
- $56,626
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 16 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 40
- Median age
- 35.3
Pampa is a city of 16,867 people in Gray County, Texas. The median home is worth $100,700, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks more walkable than 89% of Texas towns, more vibrant than 88% of Texas towns, hipper than 83% of Texas towns.
How Pampa 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 Pampa is worth $100,700, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $56,626, which is more affordable than 86% of Texas towns. Median rent is $934 a month. 74.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pampa | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $100,700 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $934 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $56,626 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 74.1% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Pampa
| People | Pampa | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.3 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.5% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.0% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.2% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.5% | — |
| Work from home | 4.6% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 16.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.9% | 89.2% |
Weather in Pampa
July highs average 92.8°F and January lows 23.2°F. About 22.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 15.7 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 72 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 110 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
40 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pampa since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 18, 1970 about 1.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 7, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 141 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on June 13, 2023.
Severe weather in Gray County since 1996
Gray County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 14, 2025 | Fire | FM-5555: Rest Area Fire |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Gray County
Gray County had 7,532 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,146 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Pampa itself the ACS puts it at 6.1%.
Public schools in Pampa
6 public schools with 3,326 students, about 14.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAMPA H S | 9-12 | 1,055 | 14.5 |
| PAMPA J H | 6-8 | 708 | 14.2 |
| WILLIAM B TRAVIS EL | 4-5 | 480 | 14.5 |
| LAMAR EL | 2-3 | 455 | 15.2 |
| STEPHEN F AUSTIN EL | K-1 | 422 | 15.6 |
| WOODROW WILSON EL | PK-PK | 206 | 18.7 |
Towns near Pampa
- Borger, TX25.7 mi · 12,551 people · home $103,400
Pampa questions
Is Pampa, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pampa scores better for retirees than 32% of Texas towns and quieter than 30%. 17.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.3).
How much does a house cost in Pampa?
The median owner-occupied home in Pampa is valued at $100,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,626, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $934 a month.
What is the weather like in Pampa?
July highs average 92.8°F and January lows 23.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 22.8 inches of precipitation a year and 15.7 inches of snow.
Does Pampa get tornadoes?
40 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pampa since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 18, 1970. 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)