The Town FilesClarendon, Texas
City in Donley County · population 1,877 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $103,300
- Household income
- $57,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 95°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 33
- Median age
- 27.8
Clarendon is a city of 1,877 people in Donley County, Texas. The median home is worth $103,300, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks more of a college town than 100% of Texas towns, better for first-time buyers than 97% of Texas towns, more walkable than 91% of Texas towns.
How Clarendon 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 Clarendon is worth $103,300, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $57,250, which is more affordable than 86% of Texas towns. Median rent is $798 a month. 61.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Clarendon | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $103,300 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $798 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $57,250 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 61.3% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.1% | — |
Who lives in Clarendon
| People | Clarendon | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 27.8 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.5% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.7% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.0% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.2% | — |
| Work from home | 10.3% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 13.6 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 71.6% | 89.2% |
Weather in Clarendon
July highs average 94.6°F and January lows 23.8°F. About 22.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.5 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 89 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 105 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clarendon since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 18, 1970 about 7.8 miles from the town center and killed 16. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 16 deaths and 43 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 1, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 171 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on June 14, 2009.
Severe weather in Donley County since 1996
Donley County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 15, 2026 | Fire | FM-5625: Corner Pocket Fire |
| February 18, 2026 | Fire | FM-5619: 8 Ball Fire |
| March 14, 2025 | Fire | FM-5555: Rest Area Fire |
| February 19, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4586: Severe Winter Storms |
| February 14, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3554: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Donley County
Donley County had 921 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $39,176 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Clarendon itself the ACS puts it at 1%.
Public schools in Clarendon
3 public schools with 417 students, about 9.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLARENDON EL | PK-5 | 201 | 11.2 |
| CLARENDON H S | 9-12 | 138 | 7.7 |
| CLARENDON J H | 6-8 | 78 | 8.7 |
Towns near Clarendon
- Groom, TX22.3 mi · 552 people · home $93,900
- Memphis, TX24.6 mi · 2,048 people · home $77,300
- McLean, TX26.3 mi · 665 people · home $76,000
- Claude, TX29.1 mi · 1,186 people · home $170,600
Clarendon questions
Is Clarendon, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Clarendon scores better for retirees than 85% of Texas towns and quieter than 19%. 22.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 27.8).
How much does a house cost in Clarendon?
The median owner-occupied home in Clarendon is valued at $103,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,250, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $798 a month.
What is the weather like in Clarendon?
July highs average 94.6°F and January lows 23.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 22.7 inches of precipitation a year and 3.5 inches of snow.
Does Clarendon get tornadoes?
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clarendon since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 18, 1970. 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)