The Town FilesEncinal, Texas
City in La Salle County · population 540 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $86,900
- Household income
- $50,833
- Jan low / Jul high
- 43° / 98°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 38.5
Encinal is a city of 540 people in La Salle County, Texas. The median home is worth $86,900, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks easier by car than 90% of Texas towns, better transit than 88% of Texas towns, more of a college town than 76% of Texas towns.
How Encinal 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 Encinal is worth $86,900, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $50,833, which is more affordable than 88% of Texas towns. Median rent is $814 a month. 81.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Encinal | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $86,900 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $814 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $50,833 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 81.8% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Encinal
| People | Encinal | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.5 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.3% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.0% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.4% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 11.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.2% | — |
| Work from home | 0.6% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 16.0 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.7% | 89.2% |
Weather in Encinal
July highs average 98.4°F and January lows 42.9°F. About 23.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.3 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 171 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 11 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Encinal since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 5, 1955 about 0.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 4, 2004.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on May 10, 2012.
Severe weather in La Salle County since 1996
La Salle County has been included in 19 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 |
| July 26, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3530: Hurricane Hanna |
Jobs and pay in La Salle County
La Salle County had 3,137 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $84,715 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Encinal itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Encinal
1 public school with 75 students, about 8.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENCINAL EL | PK-5 | 75 | 8.3 |
Towns near Encinal
- Cotulla, TX28.3 mi · 3,718 people · home $93,100
Encinal questions
Is Encinal, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Encinal scores better for retirees than 32% of Texas towns and quieter than 68%. 21.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.5).
How much does a house cost in Encinal?
The median owner-occupied home in Encinal is valued at $86,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,833, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $814 a month.
What is the weather like in Encinal?
July highs average 98.4°F and January lows 42.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 23.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.3 inches of snow.
Does Encinal get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Encinal since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 5, 1955. 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)