The Town FilesLyford, Texas
City in Willacy County · population 2,249 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $59,400
- Household income
- $56,071
- Jan low / Jul high
- 48° / 97°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 37.0
Lyford is a city of 2,249 people in Willacy County, Texas. The median home is worth $59,400, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks easier by car than 95% of Texas towns, better for first-time buyers than 78% of Texas towns.
How Lyford 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 Lyford is worth $59,400, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 1.1 times the median household income of $56,071, which is more affordable than 99% of Texas towns. Median rent is $748 a month. 80.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lyford | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $59,400 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $748 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $56,071 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.1× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 80.9% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Lyford
| People | Lyford | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.0 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.6% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.5% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.8% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 13.9% | — |
| Work from home | 10.7% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 20.8 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.9% | 89.2% |
Weather in Lyford
July highs average 96.9°F and January lows 48.1°F. About 25.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.2 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 161 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 3 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lyford since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 24, 1970 about 0.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 8, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 12, 1969.
Severe weather in Willacy County since 1996
Willacy County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, freezing.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2025 | Flood | DR-4871: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Willacy County
Willacy County had 4,297 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,749 a year. Unemployment was 7.8% in 2023; in Lyford itself the ACS puts it at 7.3%.
Public schools in Lyford
3 public schools with 1,440 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| LYFORD EL | PK-5 | 673 | 16.8 |
| LYFORD H S | 9-12 | 470 | 11.5 |
| LYFORD MIDDLE | 6-8 | 297 | 14.1 |
Towns near Lyford
- Raymondville, TX4.3 mi · 10,236 people · home $52,200
- Sebastian, TX4.8 mi · 1,684 people · home $35,900
- Lasara, TX8.1 mi · 909 people · home $57,700
- San Perlita, TX11.0 mi · 538 people · home $56,600
- Santa Rosa, TX11.2 mi · 2,450 people · home $67,400
- Monte Alto, TX11.7 mi · 1,930 people · home $89,400
- La Villa, TX11.8 mi · 2,804 people · home $101,000
- Combes, TX12.2 mi · 2,999 people · home $143,900
Lyford questions
Is Lyford, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lyford scores better for retirees than 48% of Texas towns and quieter than 67%. 18.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.0).
How much does a house cost in Lyford?
The median owner-occupied home in Lyford is valued at $59,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,071, so homes cost about 1.1 times income. Median rent is $748 a month.
What is the weather like in Lyford?
July highs average 96.9°F and January lows 48.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 25.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.2 inches of snow.
Does Lyford get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lyford since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 24, 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)