The Town FilesMarfa, Texas
City in Presidio County · population 1,788 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $251,400
- Household income
- $44,306
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 47.7
Marfa is a city of 1,788 people in Presidio County, Texas. The median home is worth $251,400, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better for retirees than 100% of Texas towns, hipper than 100% of Texas towns, better for cycling than 100% of Texas towns.
How Marfa 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 Marfa is worth $251,400, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 5.7 times the median household income of $44,306, which is more affordable than 4% of Texas towns. Median rent is $474 a month. 75.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Marfa | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $251,400 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $474 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $44,306 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.7× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 75.2% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1949 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 11.8% | — |
Who lives in Marfa
| People | Marfa | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.7 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.8% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 16.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.1% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.9% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 4.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 13.6% | — |
| Work from home | 13.8% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 5.9 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 77.9% | 89.2% |
Weather in Marfa
July highs average 89.5°F and January lows 35.3°F. About 16.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.3 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 77 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 40 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Marfa since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. The strongest, an F0, struck on June 7, 1992 about 2.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 7, 1992.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 3, 2005.
Severe weather in Presidio County since 1996
Presidio County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, hurricane, biological.
| 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 Presidio County
Presidio County had 2,083 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,460 a year. Unemployment was 6.3% in 2023; in Marfa itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Marfa
1 public school with 223 students, about 8.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARFA SCHOOLS | PK-12 | 223 | 8.6 |
Towns near Marfa
- Fort Davis, TX20.1 mi · 1,024 people · home $256,000
- Alpine, TX21.8 mi · 6,035 people · home $219,800
Marfa questions
Is Marfa, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Marfa scores better for retirees than 100% of Texas towns and quieter than 95%. 27.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.7).
How much does a house cost in Marfa?
The median owner-occupied home in Marfa is valued at $251,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,306, so homes cost about 5.7 times income. Median rent is $474 a month.
What is the weather like in Marfa?
July highs average 89.5°F and January lows 35.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 16.5 inches of precipitation a year and 4.3 inches of snow.
Does Marfa get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Marfa since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on June 7, 1992. 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)