The Town FilesBig Lake, Texas
City in Reagan County · population 2,965 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $157,900
- Household income
- $71,471
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 27.9
Big Lake is a city of 2,965 people in Reagan County, Texas. The median home is worth $157,900, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks easier by car than 79% of Texas towns.
How Big Lake 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 Big Lake is worth $157,900, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $71,471, which is more affordable than 75% of Texas towns. Median rent is $746 a month. 75.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Big Lake | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $157,900 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $746 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $71,471 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 75.3% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Big Lake
| People | Big Lake | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 27.9 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 7.2% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 35.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.1% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.2% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 2.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.7% | — |
| Work from home | 3.2% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 18.9 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.2% | 89.2% |
Weather in Big Lake
July highs average 94.3°F and January lows 33.4°F. About 18.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.3 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 104 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 56 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Big Lake since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on June 18, 2017 about 5.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 18, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on May 31, 1962.
Severe weather in Reagan County since 1996
Reagan County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, drought, hurricane.
| 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 |
| July 1, 2011 | Fire | DR-1999: Wildfires |
Jobs and pay in Reagan County
Reagan County had 1,724 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $81,327 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Big Lake itself the ACS puts it at 5.6%.
Public schools in Big Lake
3 public schools with 810 students, about 10.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| REAGAN COUNTY EL | PK-5 | 443 | 11.7 |
| REAGAN COUNTY H S | 9-12 | 215 | 9.0 |
| REAGAN COUNTY MIDDLE | 6-8 | 152 | 8.4 |
Towns near Big Lake
- Rankin, TX28.8 mi · 780 people · home $127,000
Big Lake questions
Is Big Lake, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Big Lake scores better for retirees than 26% of Texas towns and quieter than 63%. 7.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 27.9).
How much does a house cost in Big Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Big Lake is valued at $157,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,471, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $746 a month.
What is the weather like in Big Lake?
July highs average 94.3°F and January lows 33.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 18.2 inches of precipitation a year and 2.3 inches of snow.
Does Big Lake get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Big Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on June 18, 2017. 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)