The Town FilesRoma, Texas
City in Starr County · population 11,561 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $94,400
- Household income
- $24,579
- Jan low / Jul high
- 45° / 99°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 28.0
Roma is a city of 11,561 people in Starr County, Texas. The median home is worth $94,400, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks more of a college town than 95% of Texas towns, more walkable than 82% of Texas towns, more vibrant than 80% of Texas towns.
How Roma 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 Roma is worth $94,400, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $24,579, which is more affordable than 20% of Texas towns. Median rent is $563 a month. 55.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Roma | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $94,400 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $563 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $24,579 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 55.2% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1993 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.4% | — |
Who lives in Roma
| People | Roma | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.0 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.8% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 37.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.4% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 37.1% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 2.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 30.2% | — |
| Work from home | 17.3% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 26.3 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 68.2% | 89.2% |
Weather in Roma
July highs average 99.0°F and January lows 45.2°F. About 22.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.1 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 187 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 6 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Roma since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. The strongest, an F0, struck on April 2, 2004 about 5.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 2, 2004.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 7, 2026.
Severe weather in Starr County since 1996
Starr County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, freezing.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2025 | Flood | DR-4871: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| February 19, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4586: Severe Winter Storms |
| February 14, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3554: Severe Winter Storm |
| July 26, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3530: Hurricane Hanna |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4485: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Starr County
Starr County had 14,746 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $39,754 a year. Unemployment was 9.3% in 2023; in Roma itself the ACS puts it at 12.4%.
Public schools in Roma
8 public schools with 4,903 students, about 13.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROMA H S | 9-12 | 1,736 | 13.7 |
| ROMA MIDDLE | 6-8 | 790 | 12.3 |
| ROEL A & CELIA R SAENZ EL | PK-5 | 515 | 13.2 |
| FLORENCE J SCOTT EL | PK-5 | 510 | 15.5 |
| VETERANS MEMORIAL EL | PK-5 | 487 | 14.3 |
| EMMA VERA EL | PK-5 | 483 | 14.6 |
| RT BARRERA EL | PK-5 | 354 | 14.8 |
| INSTRUCTIONAL & GUIDANCE CENTER | 6-12 | 28 | 5.6 |
Towns near Roma
- Escobares, TX2.7 mi · 2,588 people · home $72,800
- Rio Grande City, TX11.5 mi · 15,317 people · home $113,200
- Las Lomas, TX14.6 mi · 3,054 people · home $87,200
- Sullivan City, TX28.9 mi · 3,908 people · home $94,600
Roma questions
Is Roma, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Roma scores better for retirees than 26% of Texas towns and quieter than 2%. 14.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 28.0).
How much does a house cost in Roma?
The median owner-occupied home in Roma is valued at $94,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $24,579, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $563 a month.
What is the weather like in Roma?
July highs average 99.0°F and January lows 45.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 22.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.1 inches of snow.
Does Roma get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Roma since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on April 2, 2004. 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)