The Town FilesMatador, Texas
Town in Motley County · population 569 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $87,600
- Household income
- $69,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 44.6
Matador is a town of 569 people in Motley County, Texas. The median home is worth $87,600, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks quieter than 98% of Texas towns, better for retirees than 81% of Texas towns, better for first-time buyers than 78% of Texas towns.
How Matador 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 Matador is worth $87,600, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 1.3 times the median household income of $69,500, which is more affordable than 96% of Texas towns. Median rent is $584 a month. 72.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Matador | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $87,600 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $584 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $69,500 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.3× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 72.4% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 11.0% | — |
Who lives in Matador
| People | Matador | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.6 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.1% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 15.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.3% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.7% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 10.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 9.3% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 14.4 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.5% | 89.2% |
Weather in Matador
July highs average 93.4°F and January lows 28.4°F. About 23.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.5 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 93 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 72 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Matador since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on June 21, 2023 about 0.3 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 16 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 24, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 84 times; the largest was 5.00 inches on April 24, 2025.
Severe weather in Motley County since 1996
Motley County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, drought, tornado.
| 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 |
| February 9, 2016 | Severe Storm | DR-4255: Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Motley County
Motley County had 305 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $35,700 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Matador itself the ACS puts it at 1.5%.
Public schools in Matador
1 public school with 160 students, about 10.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MOTLEY COUNTY SCHOOL | PK-12 | 160 | 10.0 |
Towns near Matador
- Floydada, TX29.6 mi · 2,675 people · home $89,700
- Paducah, TX29.6 mi · 1,063 people · home $49,000
Matador questions
Is Matador, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Matador scores better for retirees than 81% of Texas towns and quieter than 98%. 28.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.6).
How much does a house cost in Matador?
The median owner-occupied home in Matador is valued at $87,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,500, so homes cost about 1.3 times income. Median rent is $584 a month.
What is the weather like in Matador?
July highs average 93.4°F and January lows 28.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 23.0 inches of precipitation a year and 6.5 inches of snow.
Does Matador get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Matador since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on June 21, 2023. 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)