The Town FilesKress, Texas
City in Swisher County · population 596 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $87,600
- Household income
- $30,357
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 33
- Median age
- 44.7
Kress is a city of 596 people in Swisher County, Texas. The median home is worth $87,600, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better transit than 97% of Texas towns, better for first-time buyers than 89% of Texas towns, better for retirees than 79% of Texas towns.
How Kress 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 Kress is worth $87,600, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $30,357, which is more affordable than 53% of Texas towns. Median rent is $770 a month. 88.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Kress | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $87,600 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $770 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $30,357 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 88.1% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Kress
| People | Kress | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.7 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.2% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.4% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 38.0% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 2.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 14.0% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 17.8 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 75.8% | 89.2% |
Weather in Kress
July highs average 91.4°F and January lows 23.7°F. About 18.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 8.4 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 73 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 108 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kress since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 17, 1970 about 6.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 0 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 25, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 50 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 12, 2005.
Severe weather in Swisher County since 1996
Swisher County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, tornado, hurricane.
| 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 |
| July 1, 2011 | Fire | DR-1999: Wildfires |
Jobs and pay in Swisher County
Swisher County had 1,834 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,388 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Kress itself the ACS puts it at 8.2%.
Public schools in Kress
2 public schools with 264 students, about 10.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRESS EL | PK-6 | 134 | 12.2 |
| KRESS H S | 7-12 | 130 | 9.3 |
Towns near Kress
- Seth Ward, TX10.8 mi · 1,603 people · home $62,400
- Tulia, TX12.0 mi · 4,473 people · home $81,100
- Plainview, TX12.2 mi · 20,187 people · home $113,000
- Hart, TX20.9 mi · 869 people · home $52,200
- Hale Center, TX21.4 mi · 2,062 people · home $76,200
- Lockney, TX24.2 mi · 1,498 people · home $82,600
- Olton, TX25.6 mi · 1,989 people · home $50,800
- Silverton, TX26.4 mi · 629 people · home $77,900
Kress questions
Is Kress, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Kress scores better for retirees than 79% of Texas towns and quieter than 78%. 13.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.7).
How much does a house cost in Kress?
The median owner-occupied home in Kress is valued at $87,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $30,357, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $770 a month.
What is the weather like in Kress?
July highs average 91.4°F and January lows 23.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 18.4 inches of precipitation a year and 8.4 inches of snow.
Does Kress get tornadoes?
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kress since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 17, 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)