The Town Files

Hale County, Texas

32,131 people. The median home is worth $116,500 (typical Texas town: $184,100) and the median household earns $51,897.

Towns in Hale County

Towns in Hale County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Plainview20,187$113,000$44,76832.7
Abernathy2,865$176,400$87,53134.8
Hale Center2,062$76,200$57,08343.5
Seth Ward1,603$62,400$53,99026.1
Petersburg1,014$72,700$51,25048.2

People and housing

Hale CountyTypical Texas town
Median home value$116,500$184,100
Median rent$836$1,086
Median household income$51,897$65,842
Median age34.437.1
Bachelor's degree or higher15.3%18.9%
Below the poverty line20.5%13.1%

Jobs and pay

10,866 jobs in 2024, average pay $48,708 a year.

Largest industries in Hale CountyTransportation & warehousing1,349 jobs · $60,286Retail1,319 jobs · $33,295Hotels & restaurants952 jobs · $19,182Manufacturing694 jobs · $58,857Other services373 jobs · $48,077Construction352 jobs · $55,466
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Hale County0%4%8%12%2000200420082012201620202023 4.9%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 733 storm events in Hale County from 1996 to 2026, with 6 deaths.

Storm events in Hale County by type since 1996Hail214Flood14Drought97Tornado29High Wind85Dust Storm8Heavy Rain8Heavy Snow11Flash Flood21Winter Storm15
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Hale County has been included in 15 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
February 19, 2021Severe Ice StormDR-4586: Severe Winter Storms
February 14, 2021Severe Ice StormEM-3554: Severe Winter Storm
March 25, 2020BiologicalDR-4485: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3458: Covid-19
March 14, 2008FireEM-3284: Wildfires
January 11, 2006FireDR-1624: Extreme Wildfire Threat
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).