The Town FilesBig Sandy, Texas
Town in Upshur County · population 1,231 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $123,100
- Household income
- $41,467
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 32.4
Big Sandy is a town of 1,231 people in Upshur County, Texas. The median home is worth $123,100, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better for retirees than 70% of Texas towns.
How Big Sandy 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 Sandy is worth $123,100, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $41,467, which is more affordable than 49% of Texas towns. Median rent is $722 a month. 51.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Big Sandy | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $123,100 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $722 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $41,467 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 51.6% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.7% | — |
Who lives in Big Sandy
| People | Big Sandy | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.4 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.3% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.4% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 29.4% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 4.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 4.9% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 30.9 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.6% | 89.2% |
Weather in Big Sandy
July highs average 92.6°F and January lows 32.7°F. About 47.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.5 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 88 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 54 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Big Sandy since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on March 21, 2022 about 9.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 4, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 48 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on April 21, 1997.
Severe weather in Upshur County since 1996
Upshur County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| 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 |
| August 24, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3540: Tropical Storms Marco And Laura |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4485: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Upshur County
Upshur County had 7,753 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,879 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Big Sandy itself the ACS puts it at 15.1%.
Public schools in Big Sandy
8 public schools with 1,677 students, about 10.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIG SANDY EL | PK-5 | 326 | 13.6 |
| HARMONY EL | PK-3 | 287 | 11.0 |
| HARMONY H S | 9-12 | 283 | 9.4 |
| HARMONY J H | 6-8 | 253 | 12.0 |
| BIG SANDY H S | 9-12 | 188 | 9.0 |
| BIG SANDY J H | 6-8 | 159 | 9.4 |
| HARMONY INT | 4-5 | 158 | 9.9 |
| TRINITY CHARTER SCHOOLS - BIG SANDY CAMPUS (charter) | 8-12 | 23 | 5.8 |
Towns near Big Sandy
- Hawkins, TX5.3 mi · 1,274 people · home $165,900
- Winona, TX7.4 mi · 623 people · home $153,300
- Gladewater, TX10.1 mi · 6,134 people · home $174,000
- Holly Lake Ranch, TX10.2 mi · 2,951 people · home $260,200
- Clarksville City, TX13.2 mi · 780 people · home $154,600
- Liberty City, TX13.5 mi · 2,721 people · home $200,000
- Gilmer, TX14.0 mi · 4,843 people · home $166,700
- East Mountain, TX14.8 mi · 899 people · home $196,900
Big Sandy questions
Is Big Sandy, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Big Sandy scores better for retirees than 70% of Texas towns and quieter than 68%. 11.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.4).
How much does a house cost in Big Sandy?
The median owner-occupied home in Big Sandy is valued at $123,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $41,467, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $722 a month.
What is the weather like in Big Sandy?
July highs average 92.6°F and January lows 32.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.9 inches of precipitation a year and 0.5 inches of snow.
Does Big Sandy get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Big Sandy since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on March 21, 2022. 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)