The Town FilesMenard, Texas
City in Menard County · population 1,348 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $72,800
- Household income
- $41,144
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 95°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 60.7
Menard is a city of 1,348 people in Menard County, Texas. The median home is worth $72,800, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better for retirees than 100% of Texas towns, better for a vacation home than 100% of Texas towns, quieter than 97% of Texas towns.
- #3 in The 50 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America
- #3 in The 50 Best Quiet, Affordable Places to Retire in America
- #5 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Texas
- #10 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Texas
- #25 in The 50 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America With Mild Winters
- #25 in The 50 Best Affordable Places to Retire in America With Mild Winters
How Menard 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 Menard is worth $72,800, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $41,144, which is more affordable than 86% of Texas towns. Median rent is $673 a month. 77.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Menard | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $72,800 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $673 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $41,144 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 77.1% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1950 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.5% | — |
Who lives in Menard
| People | Menard | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 60.7 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 42.3% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 13.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.1% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.7% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 14.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.2% | — |
| Work from home | 1.3% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 18.8 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 72.6% | 89.2% |
Weather in Menard
July highs average 95.1°F and January lows 29.4°F. About 24.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 104 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 64 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Menard since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. The strongest, an F0, struck on March 4, 2004 about 0.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 26, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 47 times; the largest was 5.87 inches on May 26, 2025.
Severe weather in Menard County since 1996
Menard County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Flood | DR-4935: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 18, 2026 | Flood | EM-3649: Flooding |
| July 6, 2025 | Flood | DR-4879: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| February 19, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4586: Severe Winter Storms |
| February 14, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3554: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Menard County
Menard County had 427 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $34,417 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Menard itself the ACS puts it at 9.2%.
Public schools in Menard
2 public schools with 287 students, about 13.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MENARD ELEMENTARY/JH | PK-8 | 195 | 16.3 |
| MENARD H S | 9-12 | 92 | 9.2 |
Towns near Menard
- Eden, TX20.9 mi · 1,100 people · home $78,100
- Brady, TX29.3 mi · 5,118 people · home $138,800
- Junction, TX29.6 mi · 2,451 people · home $151,900
Menard questions
Is Menard, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Menard scores better for retirees than 100% of Texas towns and quieter than 97%. 42.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 60.7).
How much does a house cost in Menard?
The median owner-occupied home in Menard is valued at $72,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $41,144, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $673 a month.
What is the weather like in Menard?
July highs average 95.1°F and January lows 29.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 24.3 inches of precipitation a year.
Does Menard get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Menard since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on March 4, 2004. 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)