The Town FilesEl Lago, Texas
City in Harris County · population 3,090 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $320,900
- Household income
- $95,625
- Jan low / Jul high
- 46° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 71
- Median age
- 43.9
El Lago is a city of 3,090 people in Harris County, Texas. The median home is worth $320,900, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks more walkable than 99% of Texas towns, more of a college town than 99% of Texas towns, better for young professionals than 94% of Texas towns.
How El Lago 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 El Lago is worth $320,900, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $95,625, which is more affordable than 32% of Texas towns. Median rent is $1,374 a month. 79.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | El Lago | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $320,900 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $1,374 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $95,625 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 79.5% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in El Lago
| People | El Lago | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.9 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.4% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 21.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 51.9% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.4% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 8.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.7% | — |
| Work from home | 13.0% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 30.6 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.9% | 89.2% |
Weather in El Lago
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 45.7°F. About 60.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.2 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 76 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 9 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
71 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of El Lago since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 17 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on January 24, 2023 about 9.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 99 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 28, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 52 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 29, 1975.
Severe weather in Harris County since 1996
Harris County has been included in 41 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| 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 Harris County
Harris County had 2,445,972 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $88,554 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in El Lago itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Public schools in El Lago
2 public schools with 1,331 students, about 15.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ODYSSEY ACADEMY - BAY AREA (charter) | PK-8 | 718 | 14.7 |
| ED H WHITE EL | PK-5 | 613 | 16.6 |
Towns near El Lago
- Taylor Lake Village, TX0.6 mi · 3,704 people · home $388,900
- Nassau Bay, TX3.1 mi · 5,347 people · home $374,600
- Seabrook, TX3.6 mi · 13,618 people · home $350,000
- Webster, TX5.1 mi · 12,499 people · home $281,400
- Bacliff, TX5.5 mi · 9,677 people · home $201,500
- La Porte, TX6.6 mi · 35,124 people · home $234,600
- League City, TX6.8 mi · 114,392 people · home $360,000
- Dickinson, TX8.3 mi · 20,847 people · home $278,000
El Lago questions
Is El Lago, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, El Lago scores better for retirees than 52% of Texas towns and quieter than 1%. 18.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.9).
How much does a house cost in El Lago?
The median owner-occupied home in El Lago is valued at $320,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $95,625, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,374 a month.
What is the weather like in El Lago?
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 45.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 60.2 inches of precipitation a year and 0.2 inches of snow.
Does El Lago get tornadoes?
71 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of El Lago since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on January 24, 2023. 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)