The Town FilesChina, Texas
City in Jefferson County · population 1,260 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $186,500
- Household income
- $55,104
- Jan low / Jul high
- 42° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 41.4
China is a city of 1,260 people in Jefferson County, Texas. The median home is worth $186,500, close to the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks easier by car than 84% of Texas towns.
How China 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 China is worth $186,500, close to the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $55,104, which is more affordable than 32% of Texas towns. Median rent is $950 a month. 82.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | China | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $186,500 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $950 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $55,104 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 82.2% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.8% | — |
Who lives in China
| People | China | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.4 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.4% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.0% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.8% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 5.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.2% | — |
| Work from home | 0.7% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 28.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.8% | 89.2% |
Weather in China
July highs average 91.9°F and January lows 42.2°F. About 61.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.1 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 95 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 12 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of China since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on January 1, 1999 about 3.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on January 24, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 6, 1969.
Severe weather in Jefferson County since 1996
Jefferson County has been included in 31 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 |
| December 9, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4572: Hurricane Laura |
| August 24, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3540: Tropical Storms Marco And Laura |
Jobs and pay in Jefferson County
Jefferson County had 124,861 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $69,970 a year. Unemployment was 6.3% in 2023; in China itself the ACS puts it at 9.4%.
Public schools in China
2 public schools with 598 students, about 15.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHINA EL | PK-5 | 592 | 15.6 |
| NEW AE | 12-12 | 6 | — |
Towns near China
- Sour Lake, TX7.3 mi · 1,773 people · home $173,800
- Bevil Oaks, TX7.9 mi · 1,089 people · home $232,700
- Pinewood Estates, TX8.3 mi · 1,641 people · home $340,900
- Fannett, TX10.2 mi · 2,363 people · home $230,900
- Beaumont, TX11.6 mi · 115,282 people · home $166,400
- Hamshire, TX13.6 mi · 962 people · home $202,600
- Lumberton, TX16.1 mi · 13,554 people · home $291,900
- Winnie, TX16.4 mi · 3,162 people · home $166,500
China questions
Is China, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, China scores better for retirees than 65% of Texas towns and quieter than 64%. 23.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.4).
How much does a house cost in China?
The median owner-occupied home in China is valued at $186,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,104, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $950 a month.
What is the weather like in China?
July highs average 91.9°F and January lows 42.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 61.9 inches of precipitation a year and 0.1 inches of snow.
Does China get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of China since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on January 1, 1999. 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)