The Town FilesDe Kalb, Texas
City in Bowie County · population 1,527 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $89,200
- Household income
- $50,104
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 31
- Median age
- 28.8
De Kalb is a city of 1,527 people in Bowie County, Texas. The median home is worth $89,200, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks easier by car than 91% of Texas towns, better transit than 81% of Texas towns, better for retirees than 80% of Texas towns.
How De Kalb 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 De Kalb is worth $89,200, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $50,104, which is more affordable than 86% of Texas towns. Median rent is $891 a month. 44.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | De Kalb | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $89,200 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $891 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $50,104 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 44.7% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in De Kalb
| People | De Kalb | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.8 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.9% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 29.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.4% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.8% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.9% | — |
| Work from home | 1.7% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 22.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 67.8% | 89.2% |
Weather in De Kalb
July highs average 93.3°F and January lows 31.6°F. About 52.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.7 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 88 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 49 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of De Kalb since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 12, 1971 about 8.1 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 29 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 4, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on September 20, 1996.
Severe weather in Bowie County since 1996
Bowie County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 9, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4798: Hurricane Beryl |
| 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 |
| August 24, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3540: Tropical Storms Marco And Laura |
Jobs and pay in Bowie County
Bowie County had 42,229 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,061 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in De Kalb itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Public schools in De Kalb
4 public schools with 968 students, about 11.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEKALB EL | PK-4 | 366 | 14.6 |
| DEKALB H S | 9-12 | 278 | 10.3 |
| JAMES L GERMANY MIDDLE | 5-8 | 257 | 11.2 |
| HUBBARD ISD | PK-8 | 67 | 6.1 |
Towns near De Kalb
- New Boston, TX11.8 mi · 4,612 people · home $111,500
- Hooks, TX19.2 mi · 2,518 people · home $69,800
- Foreman, AR19.3 mi · 977 people · home $95,100
- Maud, TX19.8 mi · 977 people · home $96,800
- Naples, TX21.4 mi · 1,387 people · home $104,900
- Redwater, TX23.3 mi · 853 people · home $110,600
- Omaha, TX23.5 mi · 936 people · home $106,000
- Red Lick, TX26.3 mi · 946 people · home $320,800
De Kalb questions
Is De Kalb, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, De Kalb scores better for retirees than 80% of Texas towns and quieter than 57%. 15.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 28.8).
How much does a house cost in De Kalb?
The median owner-occupied home in De Kalb is valued at $89,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,104, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $891 a month.
What is the weather like in De Kalb?
July highs average 93.3°F and January lows 31.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.8 inches of precipitation a year and 2.7 inches of snow.
Does De Kalb get tornadoes?
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of De Kalb since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 12, 1971. 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)