The Town FilesYoakum, Texas
City in Lavaca County · population 5,908 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $151,100
- Household income
- $46,810
- Jan low / Jul high
- 41° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 30.3
Yoakum is a city of 5,908 people in Lavaca County, Texas. The median home is worth $151,100, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better for families than 80% of Texas towns, better for retirees than 75% of Texas towns, more walkable than 71% of Texas towns.
How Yoakum 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 Yoakum is worth $151,100, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $46,810, which is more affordable than 39% of Texas towns. Median rent is $931 a month. 54.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Yoakum | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $151,100 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $931 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $46,810 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 54.4% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Yoakum
| People | Yoakum | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.3 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.9% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.6% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.7% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 15.4% | — |
| Work from home | 4.7% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 21.6 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.7% | 89.2% |
Weather in Yoakum
July highs average 93.9°F and January lows 41.0°F. About 40.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.1 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 120 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 17 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Yoakum since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 20, 1967 about 6.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 29, 2012.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on May 25, 1961.
Severe weather in Lavaca County since 1996
Lavaca County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4485: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3458: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Lavaca County
Lavaca County had 6,148 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,557 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Yoakum itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Yoakum
6 public schools with 1,646 students, about 11.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| YOAKUM H S | 9-12 | 484 | 9.3 |
| YOAKUM INT | 3-5 | 296 | 11.0 |
| YOAKUM J H | 6-8 | 284 | 11.8 |
| YOAKUM ANNEX | PK-K | 227 | 16.2 |
| YOAKUM PRI | 1-2 | 207 | 11.5 |
| SWEET HOME EL | PK-8 | 148 | 12.3 |
Towns near Yoakum
- Cuero, TX15.6 mi · 8,128 people · home $176,900
- Hallettsville, TX16.0 mi · 2,731 people · home $163,000
- Gonzales, TX23.6 mi · 7,165 people · home $208,500
Yoakum questions
Is Yoakum, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Yoakum scores better for retirees than 75% of Texas towns and quieter than 55%. 17.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.3).
How much does a house cost in Yoakum?
The median owner-occupied home in Yoakum is valued at $151,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,810, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $931 a month.
What is the weather like in Yoakum?
July highs average 93.9°F and January lows 41.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.1 inches of precipitation a year and 0.1 inches of snow.
Does Yoakum get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Yoakum since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 20, 1967. 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)