The Town FilesBells, Texas
Town in Grayson County · population 1,521 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $232,400
- Household income
- $92,075
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 33.6
Bells is a town of 1,521 people in Grayson County, Texas. The median home is worth $232,400, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 99% of Texas towns, better for families than 90% of Texas towns, better for retirees than 87% of Texas towns.
How Bells 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 Bells is worth $232,400, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $92,075, which is more affordable than 66% of Texas towns. Median rent is $981 a month. 70.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bells | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $232,400 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $981 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $92,075 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 70.1% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Bells
| People | Bells | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.6 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 7.7% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 32.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.7% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.9% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 13.2% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 30.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.5% | 89.2% |
Weather in Bells
July highs average 93.6°F and January lows 32.7°F. About 45.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.1 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 78 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 55 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bells since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 2, 1982 about 7.7 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 30 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 8, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 92 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 16, 1989.
Severe weather in Grayson County since 1996
Grayson County has been included in 21 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 Grayson County
Grayson County had 52,026 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,282 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Bells itself the ACS puts it at 7.8%.
Public schools in Bells
3 public schools with 986 students, about 12.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BELLS EL | PK-5 | 451 | 13.7 |
| BELLS H S | 9-12 | 317 | 10.6 |
| PRITCHARD J H | 6-8 | 218 | 12.8 |
Towns near Bells
- Savoy, TX2.9 mi · 712 people · home $155,500
- Whitewright, TX7.3 mi · 1,725 people · home $242,000
- Tom Bean, TX7.8 mi · 930 people · home $232,300
- Ector, TX8.4 mi · 737 people · home $153,400
- Sherman, TX12.3 mi · 43,645 people · home $243,500
- Knollwood, TX12.9 mi · 764 people · home —
- Bonham, TX13.0 mi · 10,408 people · home $201,800
- Trenton, TX13.7 mi · 743 people · home $164,000
Bells questions
Is Bells, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bells scores better for retirees than 87% of Texas towns and quieter than 83%. 7.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.6).
How much does a house cost in Bells?
The median owner-occupied home in Bells is valued at $232,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $92,075, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $981 a month.
What is the weather like in Bells?
July highs average 93.6°F and January lows 32.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.5 inches of precipitation a year and 1.1 inches of snow.
Does Bells get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bells since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 2, 1982. 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)