The Town FilesWest, Texas
City in McLennan County · population 2,531 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $182,900
- Household income
- $61,875
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 96°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 39.7
West is a city of 2,531 people in McLennan County, Texas. The median home is worth $182,900, close to the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks more of a college town than 98% of Texas towns, better for first-time buyers than 88% of Texas towns, better for retirees than 85% of Texas towns.
How West 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 West is worth $182,900, close to the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $61,875, which is more affordable than 49% of Texas towns. Median rent is $1,002 a month. 64.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | West | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $182,900 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $1,002 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $61,875 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 64.1% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in West
| People | West | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.7 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.3% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.4% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.9% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 4.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.5% | — |
| Work from home | 10.3% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 22.9 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.1% | 89.2% |
Weather in West
July highs average 96.0°F and January lows 33.9°F. About 38.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.1 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 105 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 37 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 31, 1959 about 8.0 miles from the town center and killed 6. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 37 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 26, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 52 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on June 7, 1989.
Severe weather in McLennan County since 1996
McLennan County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| May 29, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4223: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in McLennan County
McLennan County had 122,697 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,387 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in West itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in West
3 public schools with 1,250 students, about 12.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WEST EL | PK-5 | 605 | 14.4 |
| WEST H S | 9-12 | 383 | 11.3 |
| WEST MIDDLE | 6-8 | 262 | 12.5 |
Towns near West
- Lacy-Lakeview, TX11.9 mi · 6,988 people · home $160,600
- Bellmead, TX13.9 mi · 10,494 people · home $155,100
- Hillsboro, TX14.2 mi · 8,221 people · home $157,900
- Waco, TX17.8 mi · 138,486 people · home $221,700
- Woodway, TX22.5 mi · 9,383 people · home $370,500
- Robinson, TX24.4 mi · 12,443 people · home $302,200
- Hewitt, TX25.0 mi · 16,026 people · home $273,300
- Clifton, TX28.8 mi · 3,465 people · home $160,000
West questions
Is West, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West scores better for retirees than 85% of Texas towns and quieter than 33%. 20.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.7).
How much does a house cost in West?
The median owner-occupied home in West is valued at $182,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,875, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,002 a month.
What is the weather like in West?
July highs average 96.0°F and January lows 33.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.7 inches of precipitation a year and 0.1 inches of snow.
Does West get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 31, 1959. 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)