The Town FilesIdalou, Texas
City in Lubbock County · population 2,193 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $211,000
- Household income
- $58,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 44.2
Idalou is a city of 2,193 people in Lubbock County, Texas. The median home is worth $211,000, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better for families than 87% of Texas towns, more of a college town than 83% of Texas towns, more vibrant than 75% of Texas towns.
How Idalou 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 Idalou is worth $211,000, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $58,500, which is more affordable than 25% of Texas towns. Median rent is $678 a month. 70.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Idalou | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $211,000 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $678 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $58,500 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 70.9% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in Idalou
| People | Idalou | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.2 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.8% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.6% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.9% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 9.3% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 28.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.0% | 89.2% |
Weather in Idalou
July highs average 93.4°F and January lows 27.2°F. About 18.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.0 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 92 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 84 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Idalou since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on May 11, 1970 about 6.6 miles from the town center and killed 26. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 26 deaths and 506 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 1, 2013.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 116 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on June 13, 1969.
Severe weather in Lubbock County since 1996
Lubbock County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, drought, tornado.
| 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 |
| February 9, 2016 | Severe Storm | DR-4255: Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lubbock County
Lubbock County had 151,811 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,452 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Idalou itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Public schools in Idalou
3 public schools with 976 students, about 11.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| IDALOU EL | PK-4 | 398 | 14.2 |
| IDALOU MIDDLE | 5-8 | 293 | 12.2 |
| IDALOU H S | 9-12 | 285 | 9.2 |
Towns near Idalou
- Lorenzo, TX8.5 mi · 964 people · home $100,800
- Ransom Canyon, TX9.1 mi · 1,189 people · home $341,000
- New Deal, TX10.4 mi · 730 people · home —
- Lubbock, TX13.7 mi · 257,141 people · home $212,400
- Abernathy, TX14.9 mi · 2,865 people · home $176,400
- Slaton, TX15.1 mi · 5,858 people · home $84,600
- Petersburg, TX15.2 mi · 1,014 people · home $72,700
- Ralls, TX17.2 mi · 1,665 people · home $72,200
Idalou questions
Is Idalou, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Idalou scores better for retirees than 51% of Texas towns and quieter than 16%. 25.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.2).
How much does a house cost in Idalou?
The median owner-occupied home in Idalou is valued at $211,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,500, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $678 a month.
What is the weather like in Idalou?
July highs average 93.4°F and January lows 27.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 18.3 inches of precipitation a year and 7.0 inches of snow.
Does Idalou get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Idalou since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on May 11, 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)