The Town FilesKemah, Texas
City in Galveston County · population 1,807 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $281,100
- Household income
- $85,357
- Jan low / Jul high
- 46° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 56
- Median age
- 36.0
Kemah is a city of 1,807 people in Galveston County, Texas. The median home is worth $281,100, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks more seaside character than 96% of Texas towns, better for a vacation home than 91% of Texas towns, more vibrant than 90% of Texas towns.
How Kemah 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 Kemah is worth $281,100, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $85,357, which is more affordable than 36% of Texas towns. Median rent is $1,775 a month. 53.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Kemah | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $281,100 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $1,775 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $85,357 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 53.7% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1997 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.6% | — |
Who lives in Kemah
| People | Kemah | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.0 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.8% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.1% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 29.4% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 7.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 20.4% | — |
| Work from home | 18.8% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 25.9 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.2% | 89.2% |
Weather in Kemah
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 45.7°F. About 60.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.2 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 76 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 9 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
56 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kemah since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 30, 2002 about 6.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 33 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 28, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 29, 1975.
Severe weather in Galveston County since 1996
Galveston County has been included in 31 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 |
| December 9, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4572: Hurricane Laura |
| August 24, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3540: Tropical Storms Marco And Laura |
Jobs and pay in Galveston County
Galveston County had 122,734 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,650 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Kemah itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Public schools in Kemah
1 public school with 713 students, about 15.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAVACE STEWART EL | PK-5 | 713 | 15.8 |
Towns near Kemah
- Clear Lake Shores, TX1.3 mi · 1,258 people · home $463,400
- Bacliff, TX2.3 mi · 9,677 people · home $201,500
- El Lago, TX3.3 mi · 3,090 people · home $320,900
- Taylor Lake Village, TX3.8 mi · 3,704 people · home $388,900
- Nassau Bay, TX4.2 mi · 5,347 people · home $374,600
- Seabrook, TX4.9 mi · 13,618 people · home $350,000
- San Leon, TX5.4 mi · 6,135 people · home $183,100
- Dickinson, TX5.7 mi · 20,847 people · home $278,000
Kemah questions
Is Kemah, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Kemah scores better for retirees than 15% of Texas towns and quieter than 19%. 10.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.0).
How much does a house cost in Kemah?
The median owner-occupied home in Kemah is valued at $281,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $85,357, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $1,775 a month.
What is the weather like in Kemah?
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 45.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 60.2 inches of precipitation a year and 0.2 inches of snow.
Does Kemah get tornadoes?
56 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kemah since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 30, 2002. 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)