The Town FilesJefferson, Texas
City in Marion County · population 1,875 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $148,600
- Household income
- $41,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 37.1
Jefferson is a city of 1,875 people in Marion County, Texas. The median home is worth $148,600, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 99% of Texas towns, better for retirees than 97% of Texas towns, hipper than 95% of Texas towns.
How Jefferson 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 Jefferson is worth $148,600, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $41,500, which is more affordable than 25% of Texas towns. Median rent is $653 a month. 53.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jefferson | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $148,600 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $653 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $41,500 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 53.7% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Jefferson
| People | Jefferson | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.1 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.6% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.3% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.6% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 3.6% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 24.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 72.0% | 89.2% |
Weather in Jefferson
July highs average 94.0°F and January lows 34.2°F. About 49.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.3 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 90 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 55 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jefferson since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on March 7, 2026 about 5.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 7, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 51 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 7, 2003.
Severe weather in Marion County since 1996
Marion County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 9, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4798: Hurricane Beryl |
| February 19, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4586: Severe Winter Storms |
| February 14, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3554: Severe Winter Storm |
| August 24, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3540: Tropical Storms Marco And Laura |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4485: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Marion County
Marion County had 2,263 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,740 a year. Unemployment was 4.8% in 2023; in Jefferson itself the ACS puts it at 8.4%.
Public schools in Jefferson
4 public schools with 1,106 students, about 11.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| JEFFERSON H S | 9-12 | 375 | 11.7 |
| JEFFERSON J H | 5-8 | 323 | 11.1 |
| JEFFERSON EL | 1-4 | 267 | 11.6 |
| JEFFERSON PRI SCH | PK-K | 141 | 15.7 |
Towns near Jefferson
- Pine Harbor, TX8.7 mi · 785 people · home $60,600
- Marshall, TX15.5 mi · 23,392 people · home $141,400
- Linden, TX17.1 mi · 1,825 people · home $131,300
- Ore City, TX21.5 mi · 1,108 people · home $112,500
- Oil City, LA21.9 mi · 901 people · home $70,000
- Hallsville, TX22.2 mi · 4,277 people · home $229,800
- Vivian, LA22.4 mi · 3,073 people · home $62,700
- Hughes Springs, TX23.0 mi · 1,575 people · home $153,300
Jefferson questions
Is Jefferson, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jefferson scores better for retirees than 97% of Texas towns and quieter than 76%. 25.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.1).
How much does a house cost in Jefferson?
The median owner-occupied home in Jefferson is valued at $148,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $41,500, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $653 a month.
What is the weather like in Jefferson?
July highs average 94.0°F and January lows 34.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.7 inches of precipitation a year and 1.3 inches of snow.
Does Jefferson get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jefferson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on March 7, 2026. 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)