The Town FilesLorena, Texas
City in McLennan County · population 1,785 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $281,000
- Household income
- $88,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 95°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 41.4
Lorena is a city of 1,785 people in McLennan County, Texas. The median home is worth $281,000, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better for families than 87% of Texas towns, more upscale than 87% of Texas towns, easier by car than 77% of Texas towns.
How Lorena 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 Lorena is worth $281,000, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $88,250, which is more affordable than 39% of Texas towns. Median rent is $867 a month. 79.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lorena | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $281,000 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $867 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $88,250 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 79.9% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Lorena
| People | Lorena | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.4 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.6% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 27.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.7% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.6% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 10.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 6.7% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 20.0 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.1% | 89.2% |
Weather in Lorena
July highs average 95.1°F and January lows 33.8°F. About 38.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 94 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 35 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lorena since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 27, 1997 about 8.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 23, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 105 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 27, 1997.
Severe weather in McLennan County since 1996
McLennan County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| 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 |
| May 29, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4223: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in McLennan County
McLennan County had 122,697 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,387 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Lorena itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in Lorena
4 public schools with 1,856 students, about 13.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| LORENA HIGH | 9-12 | 553 | 12.0 |
| LORENA EL | 3-5 | 459 | 15.8 |
| LORENA MIDDLE | 6-8 | 431 | 13.1 |
| LORENA PRI | PK-2 | 413 | 14.8 |
Towns near Lorena
- Hewitt, TX4.8 mi · 16,026 people · home $273,300
- Bruceville-Eddy, TX5.9 mi · 1,413 people · home $180,200
- Robinson, TX7.0 mi · 12,443 people · home $302,200
- Woodway, TX8.1 mi · 9,383 people · home $370,500
- Golinda, TX8.3 mi · 618 people · home $138,300
- Beverly Hills, TX10.1 mi · 1,878 people · home $156,700
- Moody, TX10.2 mi · 1,376 people · home $168,800
- Chilton, TX11.1 mi · 776 people · home $213,000
Lorena questions
Is Lorena, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lorena scores better for retirees than 61% of Texas towns and quieter than 69%. 18.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.4).
How much does a house cost in Lorena?
The median owner-occupied home in Lorena is valued at $281,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $88,250, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $867 a month.
What is the weather like in Lorena?
July highs average 95.1°F and January lows 33.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.1 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Lorena get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lorena since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 27, 1997. 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)