The Town FilesHarker Heights, Texas
City in Bell County · population 33,097 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $287,800
- Household income
- $81,190
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 96°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 33.0
Harker Heights is a city of 33,097 people in Bell County, Texas. The median home is worth $287,800, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks more of a college town than 90% of Texas towns, more vibrant than 87% of Texas towns, better for young professionals than 86% of Texas towns.
How Harker Heights 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 Harker Heights is worth $287,800, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $81,190, which is more affordable than 29% of Texas towns. Median rent is $1,146 a month. 61.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Harker Heights | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $287,800 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $1,146 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $81,190 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 61.7% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 2001 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Harker Heights
| People | Harker Heights | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.0 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.2% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 29.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.2% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.2% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 27.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.6% | — |
| Work from home | 8.1% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 24.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.5% | 89.2% |
Weather in Harker Heights
July highs average 95.7°F and January lows 36.1°F. About 34.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 105 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 31 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Harker Heights since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 12, 2022 about 3.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 38 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 12, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 107 times; the largest was 5.68 inches on April 12, 2022.
Severe weather in Bell County since 1996
Bell County has been included in 23 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 Bell County
Bell County had 129,627 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,107 a year. Unemployment was 4.5% in 2023; in Harker Heights itself the ACS puts it at 3.9%.
Public schools in Harker Heights
7 public schools with 7,110 students, about 16.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| HARKER HEIGHTS H S | 9-12 | 2,268 | 17.4 |
| NOLAN MIDDLE | 6-8 | 1,156 | 17.3 |
| SKIPCHA EL | PK-5 | 968 | 16.7 |
| MOUNTAIN VIEW EL | PK-5 | 740 | 15.1 |
| HARKER HEIGHTS EL | PK-5 | 720 | 14.1 |
| UNION GROVE MIDDLE | 6-8 | 669 | 17.6 |
| EASTERN HILLS MIDDLE | 6-8 | 589 | 15.1 |
Towns near Harker Heights
- Nolanville, TX2.6 mi · 5,917 people · home $244,900
- Killeen, TX5.4 mi · 153,095 people · home $215,400
- Belton, TX9.8 mi · 23,054 people · home $258,700
- Morgan's Point Resort, TX12.9 mi · 4,636 people · home $245,100
- Temple, TX15.5 mi · 82,073 people · home $239,000
- Copperas Cove, TX16.6 mi · 36,670 people · home $180,500
- Sonterra, TX17.4 mi · 7,679 people · home $273,600
- Georgetown, TX27.0 mi · 67,176 people · home $429,100
Harker Heights questions
Is Harker Heights, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Harker Heights scores better for retirees than 23% of Texas towns and quieter than 2%. 10.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.0).
How much does a house cost in Harker Heights?
The median owner-occupied home in Harker Heights is valued at $287,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $81,190, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,146 a month.
What is the weather like in Harker Heights?
July highs average 95.7°F and January lows 36.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Harker Heights get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Harker Heights since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 12, 2022. 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)