The Town FilesDawson, Texas
Town in Navarro County · population 815 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $140,700
- Household income
- $51,042
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 95°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 40.7
Dawson is a town of 815 people in Navarro County, Texas. The median home is worth $140,700, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better for retirees than 88% of Texas towns, easier by car than 85% of Texas towns, quieter than 84% of Texas towns.
How Dawson 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 Dawson is worth $140,700, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $51,042, which is more affordable than 56% of Texas towns. Median rent is $748 a month. 57.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dawson | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $140,700 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $748 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $51,042 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 57.8% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Dawson
| People | Dawson | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.7 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.4% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 29.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.0% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.7% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 10.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 18.6% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 35.9 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.4% | 89.2% |
Weather in Dawson
July highs average 95.0°F and January lows 35.0°F. About 40.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 109 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 44 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dawson since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 10, 1973 about 5.9 miles from the town center and killed 6. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 7 deaths and 79 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 26, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 23, 1971.
Severe weather in Navarro County since 1996
Navarro County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 17, 2024 | Flood | DR-4781: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And 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 |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3458: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Navarro County
Navarro County had 16,462 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,252 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Dawson itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Public schools in Dawson
1 public school with 581 students, about 13.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAWSON PK-12 | PK-12 | 581 | 13.2 |
Towns near Dawson
- Hubbard, TX6.0 mi · 1,394 people · home $134,900
- Coolidge, TX10.5 mi · 778 people · home $57,400
- Blooming Grove, TX13.7 mi · 857 people · home $124,200
- Frost, TX13.9 mi · 620 people · home $123,900
- Wortham, TX16.5 mi · 980 people · home $129,000
- Corsicana, TX19.5 mi · 25,109 people · home $168,900
- Mexia, TX20.1 mi · 6,893 people · home $109,900
- Milford, TX20.9 mi · 722 people · home $160,200
Dawson questions
Is Dawson, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dawson scores better for retirees than 88% of Texas towns and quieter than 84%. 14.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.7).
How much does a house cost in Dawson?
The median owner-occupied home in Dawson is valued at $140,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,042, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $748 a month.
What is the weather like in Dawson?
July highs average 95.0°F and January lows 35.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Dawson get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dawson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 10, 1973. 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)