The Town FilesMcDade, Texas
Community in Bastrop County · population 720 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $314,300
- Household income
- $50,489
- Jan low / Jul high
- 39° / 95°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 39.5
McDade is a community of 720 people in Bastrop County, Texas. The median home is worth $314,300, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 88% of Texas towns, quieter than 80% of Texas towns, hipper than 76% of Texas towns.
How McDade 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 McDade is worth $314,300, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 6.2 times the median household income of $50,489, which is more affordable than 3% of Texas towns. Median rent is $1,208 a month. 92.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | McDade | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $314,300 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $1,208 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $50,489 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.2× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 92.6% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.5% | — |
Who lives in McDade
| People | McDade | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.5 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.0% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 41.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.2% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.3% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 15.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.8% | — |
| Work from home | 11.8% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 31.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.2% | 89.2% |
Weather in McDade
July highs average 95.0°F and January lows 39.2°F. About 36.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 117 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 18 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of McDade since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 7, 1980 about 7.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 21, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 35 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on October 21, 1984.
Severe weather in Bastrop County since 1996
Bastrop County has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 21, 2023 | Winter Storm | DR-4705: Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Bastrop County
Bastrop County had 22,593 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,112 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in McDade itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Public schools in McDade
2 public schools with 360 students, about 11.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCDADE EL | PK-6 | 195 | 13.0 |
| MCDADE H S | 7-12 | 165 | 10.3 |
Towns near McDade
- Camp Swift, TX6.7 mi · 7,943 people · home $208,500
- Circle D-KC Estates, TX8.2 mi · 2,588 people · home $385,100
- Elgin, TX9.8 mi · 9,784 people · home $326,400
- Bastrop, TX12.3 mi · 9,688 people · home $339,600
- Wyldwood, TX17.0 mi · 3,694 people · home $195,700
- Lexington, TX17.2 mi · 1,217 people · home $175,000
- Manor, TX19.0 mi · 13,652 people · home $347,900
- Garfield, TX19.2 mi · 1,825 people · home $112,100
McDade questions
Is McDade, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, McDade scores better for retirees than 53% of Texas towns and quieter than 80%. 30.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.5).
How much does a house cost in McDade?
The median owner-occupied home in McDade is valued at $314,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,489, so homes cost about 6.2 times income. Median rent is $1,208 a month.
What is the weather like in McDade?
July highs average 95.0°F and January lows 39.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.1 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does McDade get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of McDade since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 7, 1980. 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)