The Town FilesCrystal City, Texas
City in Zavala County · population 6,354 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $109,100
- Household income
- $36,328
- Jan low / Jul high
- 44° / 97°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 31.3
Crystal City is a city of 6,354 people in Zavala County, Texas. The median home is worth $109,100, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better for cycling than 79% of Texas towns, more walkable than 78% of Texas towns, better for first-time buyers than 75% of Texas towns.
How Crystal City 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 Crystal City is worth $109,100, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $36,328, which is more affordable than 49% of Texas towns. Median rent is $518 a month. 63.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Crystal City | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $109,100 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $518 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $36,328 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 63.3% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.0% | — |
Who lives in Crystal City
| People | Crystal City | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.3 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.6% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 33.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.3% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 38.2% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 1.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.3% | — |
| Work from home | 4.5% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 17.0 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.1% | 89.2% |
Weather in Crystal City
July highs average 97.3°F and January lows 43.9°F. About 19.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 154 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 8 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Crystal City since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 23, 1966 about 0.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 24, 2015.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on April 19, 1971.
Severe weather in Zavala County since 1996
Zavala County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Flood | DR-4935: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 18, 2026 | Flood | EM-3649: Flooding |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Zavala County
Zavala County had 2,436 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,566 a year. Unemployment was 7.3% in 2023; in Crystal City itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Public schools in Crystal City
5 public schools with 1,716 students, about 15.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRYSTAL CITY H S | 9-12 | 521 | 16.3 |
| STERLING H FLY JR H S | 6-8 | 366 | 13.6 |
| ZAVALA EL | 1-3 | 307 | 14.6 |
| BENITO JUAREZ EL | 4-5 | 268 | 16.8 |
| DR TOMAS RIVERA EL | PK-K | 254 | 19.5 |
Towns near Crystal City
- Carrizo Springs, TX11.6 mi · 4,892 people · home $86,700
Crystal City questions
Is Crystal City, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Crystal City scores better for retirees than 41% of Texas towns and quieter than 47%. 16.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 31.3).
How much does a house cost in Crystal City?
The median owner-occupied home in Crystal City is valued at $109,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $36,328, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $518 a month.
What is the weather like in Crystal City?
July highs average 97.3°F and January lows 43.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 19.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Crystal City get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Crystal City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 23, 1966. 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)