The Town FilesRed Oak, Texas
City in Ellis County · population 14,222 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $366,100
- Household income
- $104,561
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 95°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 44
- Median age
- 34.0
Red Oak is a city of 14,222 people in Ellis County, Texas. The median home is worth $366,100, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 87% of Texas towns, more vibrant than 77% of Texas towns, more upscale than 73% of Texas towns.
How Red Oak 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 Red Oak is worth $366,100, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $104,561, which is more affordable than 29% of Texas towns. Median rent is $1,920 a month. 75.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Red Oak | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $366,100 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $1,920 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $104,561 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 75.5% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 2007 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Red Oak
| People | Red Oak | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.0 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.3% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 31.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.7% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.2% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 9.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.0% | — |
| Work from home | 15.0% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 27.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.6% | 89.2% |
Weather in Red Oak
July highs average 94.7°F and January lows 33.9°F. About 40.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 96 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 33 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
44 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Red Oak since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 25, 1994 about 6.6 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 111 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on October 20, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 163 times; the largest was 3.75 inches on June 14, 2023.
Severe weather in Ellis County since 1996
Ellis County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4485: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Ellis County
Ellis County had 62,721 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,911 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Red Oak itself the ACS puts it at 6%.
Public schools in Red Oak
6 public schools with 6,326 students, about 16.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| RED OAK H S | 8-12 | 2,163 | 15.2 |
| RED OAK MIDDLE | 6-8 | 1,540 | 16.2 |
| LIFE SCHOOL RED OAK (charter) | K-6 | 1,040 | 23.1 |
| EASTRIDGE EL | PK-5 | 536 | 15.3 |
| WOODEN EL | PK-5 | 524 | 13.8 |
| RED OAK EL | PK-5 | 523 | 14.1 |
Towns near Red Oak
- Glenn Heights, TX5.0 mi · 15,819 people · home $309,600
- Lancaster, TX6.0 mi · 41,275 people · home $246,300
- Ovilla, TX6.2 mi · 4,304 people · home $446,700
- Ferris, TX6.6 mi · 2,788 people · home $261,800
- DeSoto, TX7.7 mi · 56,145 people · home $319,400
- Waxahachie, TX8.2 mi · 41,140 people · home $336,500
- Wilmer, TX8.5 mi · 4,974 people · home $157,200
- Hutchins, TX10.2 mi · 5,607 people · home $235,200
Red Oak questions
Is Red Oak, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Red Oak scores better for retirees than 23% of Texas towns and quieter than 26%. 10.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.0).
How much does a house cost in Red Oak?
The median owner-occupied home in Red Oak is valued at $366,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $104,561, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,920 a month.
What is the weather like in Red Oak?
July highs average 94.7°F and January lows 33.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Red Oak get tornadoes?
44 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Red Oak since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 25, 1994. 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)