The Town FilesTemple, Texas
City in Bell County · population 82,073 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $239,000
- Household income
- $68,204
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 95°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 36
- Median age
- 33.8
Temple is a city of 82,073 people in Bell County, Texas. The median home is worth $239,000, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better for cycling than 89% of Texas towns, more vibrant than 82% of Texas towns, hipper than 82% of Texas towns.
How Temple 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 Temple is worth $239,000, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $68,204, which is more affordable than 29% of Texas towns. Median rent is $1,231 a month. 52.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Temple | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $239,000 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $1,231 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $68,204 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 52.3% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Temple
| People | Temple | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.8 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.1% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 26.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.6% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.0% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 11.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.2% | — |
| Work from home | 11.4% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 21.0 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.3% | 89.2% |
Weather in Temple
July highs average 95.2°F and January lows 35.7°F. About 37.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 118 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 33 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Temple since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 27, 1997 about 6.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 41 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 23, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 129 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on April 19, 1996.
Severe weather in Bell County since 1996
Bell County has been included in 23 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 |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4485: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3458: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Bell County
Bell County had 129,627 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,107 a year. Unemployment was 4.5% in 2023; in Temple itself the ACS puts it at 6.6%.
Public schools in Temple
24 public schools with 15,776 students, about 14.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| TEMPLE H S | 8-12 | 2,342 | 13.1 |
| LAKE BELTON H S | 9-12 | 2,269 | 15.4 |
| NORTH BELTON MIDDLE | 6-8 | 919 | 15.8 |
| LAKE BELTON MIDDLE | 6-8 | 812 | 14.0 |
| THORNTON EL | PK-5 | 740 | 17.2 |
| TRAVIS SCIENCE ACADEMY | 6-8 | 687 | 12.3 |
| HIGH POINT EL | K-5 | 645 | 16.1 |
| BONHAM MIDDLE | 6-8 | 636 | 11.6 |
| JOE M PIRTLE EL | K-5 | 630 | 15.8 |
| RAYE-ALLEN EL | PK-5 | 627 | 17.9 |
| CHARTER OAK EL | K-5 | 624 | 13.3 |
| LAMAR MIDDLE | 6-8 | 538 | 12.0 |
Towns near Temple
- Morgan's Point Resort, TX5.4 mi · 4,636 people · home $245,100
- Belton, TX6.5 mi · 23,054 people · home $258,700
- Nolanville, TX13.0 mi · 5,917 people · home $244,900
- Harker Heights, TX15.5 mi · 33,097 people · home $287,800
- Killeen, TX20.4 mi · 153,095 people · home $215,400
- McGregor, TX21.9 mi · 5,321 people · home $221,700
- Sonterra, TX23.9 mi · 7,679 people · home $273,600
- Hewitt, TX26.6 mi · 16,026 people · home $273,300
Temple questions
Is Temple, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Temple scores better for retirees than 35% of Texas towns and quieter than 14%. 15.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.8).
How much does a house cost in Temple?
The median owner-occupied home in Temple is valued at $239,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,204, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,231 a month.
What is the weather like in Temple?
July highs average 95.2°F and January lows 35.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Temple get tornadoes?
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Temple since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 27, 1997. 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)