The Town FilesHappy, Texas
Town in Swisher County · population 602 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $91,800
- Household income
- $55,313
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 31
- Median age
- 25.8
Happy is a town of 602 people in Swisher County, Texas. The median home is worth $91,800, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 93% of Texas towns, easier by car than 87% of Texas towns, better for retirees than 85% of Texas towns.
How Happy 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 Happy is worth $91,800, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $55,313, which is more affordable than 88% of Texas towns. Median rent is $1,102 a month. 82.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Happy | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $91,800 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $1,102 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $55,313 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 82.7% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.3% | — |
Who lives in Happy
| People | Happy | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 25.8 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 9.4% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 42.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.6% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 29.2% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 4.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.3% | — |
| Work from home | 23.6% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 24.4 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.6% | 89.2% |
Weather in Happy
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 22.7°F. About 20.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.6 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 74 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 119 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Happy since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 17, 1970 about 7.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 4 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 13, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 61 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 11, 2023.
Severe weather in Swisher County since 1996
Swisher County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| July 1, 2011 | Fire | DR-1999: Wildfires |
Jobs and pay in Swisher County
Swisher County had 1,834 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,388 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Happy itself the ACS puts it at 7.2%.
Public schools in Happy
2 public schools with 270 students, about 10.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| HAPPY EL | PK-6 | 140 | 14.0 |
| HAPPY H S | 7-12 | 130 | 7.6 |
Towns near Happy
- Tulia, TX14.8 mi · 4,473 people · home $81,100
- Canyon, TX17.5 mi · 14,836 people · home $240,300
- Rockwell Place, TX20.6 mi · 1,811 people · home $91,600
- Lake Tanglewood, TX22.1 mi · 686 people · home $633,600
- Kress, TX26.7 mi · 596 people · home $87,600
- Hart, TX28.6 mi · 869 people · home $52,200
- Dimmitt, TX28.9 mi · 4,171 people · home $85,100
Happy questions
Is Happy, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Happy scores better for retirees than 85% of Texas towns and quieter than 80%. 9.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 25.8).
How much does a house cost in Happy?
The median owner-occupied home in Happy is valued at $91,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,313, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $1,102 a month.
What is the weather like in Happy?
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 22.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 20.5 inches of precipitation a year and 10.6 inches of snow.
Does Happy get tornadoes?
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Happy since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 17, 1970. 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)