The Town FilesPrimera, Texas
Town in Cameron County · population 5,257 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $160,900
- Household income
- $80,116
- Jan low / Jul high
- 51° / 97°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 30.9
Primera is a town of 5,257 people in Cameron County, Texas. The median home is worth $160,900, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better transit than 76% of Texas towns, more of a college town than 72% of Texas towns, better for families than 70% of Texas towns.
How Primera 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 Primera is worth $160,900, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $80,116, which is more affordable than 80% of Texas towns. Median rent is $1,293 a month. 75.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Primera | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $160,900 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $1,293 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $80,116 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 75.5% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 2003 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.4% | — |
Who lives in Primera
| People | Primera | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.9 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 8.4% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 34.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.9% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.1% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 3.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 13.1% | — |
| Work from home | 6.8% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 19.9 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.9% | 89.2% |
Weather in Primera
July highs average 96.6°F and January lows 51.1°F. About 28.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.1 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 151 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 1 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Primera since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 12, 1969 about 4.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 8, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 4, 2023.
Severe weather in Cameron County since 1996
Cameron County has been included in 34 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2025 | Flood | DR-4871: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 9, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4798: Hurricane Beryl |
| 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 Cameron County
Cameron County had 156,619 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,590 a year. Unemployment was 5.4% in 2023; in Primera itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Towns near Primera
- Combes, TX2.2 mi · 2,999 people · home $143,900
- Harlingen, TX4.0 mi · 71,829 people · home $140,600
- La Feria, TX6.5 mi · 6,817 people · home $106,900
- San Benito, TX9.3 mi · 24,861 people · home $85,300
- Indian Hills, TX10.4 mi · 2,694 people · home $54,400
- Mercedes, TX11.1 mi · 16,258 people · home $111,800
- La Villa, TX12.0 mi · 2,804 people · home $101,000
- Mila Doce, TX12.9 mi · 6,162 people · home $67,700
Primera questions
Is Primera, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Primera scores better for retirees than 14% of Texas towns and quieter than 31%. 8.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.9).
How much does a house cost in Primera?
The median owner-occupied home in Primera is valued at $160,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,116, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $1,293 a month.
What is the weather like in Primera?
July highs average 96.6°F and January lows 51.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 28.2 inches of precipitation a year and 0.1 inches of snow.
Does Primera get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Primera since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 12, 1969. 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)