The Town FilesHico, Texas
City in Hamilton County · population 1,335 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $176,700
- Household income
- $67,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 35.6
Hico is a city of 1,335 people in Hamilton County, Texas. The median home is worth $176,700, close to the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better for retirees than 98% of Texas towns, easier by car than 88% of Texas towns, better for families than 83% of Texas towns.
How Hico 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 Hico is worth $176,700, close to the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $67,500, which is more affordable than 63% of Texas towns. Median rent is $767 a month. 76.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hico | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $176,700 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $767 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $67,500 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 76.9% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.0% | — |
Who lives in Hico
| People | Hico | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.6 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.1% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 33.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.9% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.5% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 4.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.9% | — |
| Work from home | 7.6% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 20.6 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 73.6% | 89.2% |
Weather in Hico
July highs average 94.4°F and January lows 31.5°F. About 36.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.3 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 92 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 55 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hico since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on October 12, 2001 about 0.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 19, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 51 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 1, 2003.
Severe weather in Hamilton County since 1996
Hamilton County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 6, 2025 | Flood | DR-4879: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Hamilton County
Hamilton County had 2,877 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,248 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Hico itself the ACS puts it at 2.6%.
Public schools in Hico
2 public schools with 643 students, about 12.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| HICO H S | 6-12 | 329 | 11.3 |
| HICO EL | PK-5 | 314 | 14.3 |
Towns near Hico
- Walnut Springs, TX17.0 mi · 795 people · home $81,700
- Stephenville, TX19.4 mi · 20,897 people · home $241,300
- Dublin, TX19.5 mi · 3,359 people · home $149,300
- Hamilton, TX20.4 mi · 2,895 people · home $102,100
- Meridian, TX22.6 mi · 1,396 people · home $116,700
- Glen Rose, TX24.4 mi · 2,659 people · home $261,000
- Tolar, TX28.7 mi · 941 people · home $198,100
- Clifton, TX29.6 mi · 3,465 people · home $160,000
Hico questions
Is Hico, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hico scores better for retirees than 98% of Texas towns and quieter than 81%. 19.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.6).
How much does a house cost in Hico?
The median owner-occupied home in Hico is valued at $176,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,500, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $767 a month.
What is the weather like in Hico?
July highs average 94.4°F and January lows 31.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.2 inches of precipitation a year and 1.3 inches of snow.
Does Hico get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hico since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on October 12, 2001. 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)