The Town FilesNew Chapel Hill, Texas
City in Smith County · population 620 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $186,400
- Household income
- $63,672
- Jan low / Jul high
- 39° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 32
- Median age
- 41.2
New Chapel Hill is a city of 620 people in Smith County, Texas. The median home is worth $186,400, close to the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks easier by car than 81% of Texas towns, more of a college town than 79% of Texas towns, better for cycling than 79% of Texas towns.
How New Chapel Hill 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 New Chapel Hill is worth $186,400, close to the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $63,672, which is more affordable than 53% of Texas towns. Median rent is $1,095 a month. 70.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | New Chapel Hill | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $186,400 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $1,095 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $63,672 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 70.2% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in New Chapel Hill
| People | New Chapel Hill | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.2 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.0% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.5% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.8% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 9.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 8.7% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 25.9 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.0% | 89.2% |
Weather in New Chapel Hill
July highs average 93.1°F and January lows 38.5°F. About 47.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.5 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 96 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 28 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of New Chapel Hill since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 15, 1987 about 1.0 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 19 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 20, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 94 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on April 11, 1962.
Severe weather in Smith County since 1996
Smith County has been included in 33 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 17, 2024 | Flood | DR-4781: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 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 |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4485: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Smith County
Smith County had 113,523 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,439 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in New Chapel Hill itself the ACS puts it at 12.5%.
Towns near New Chapel Hill
- Whitehouse, TX6.2 mi · 8,257 people · home $253,800
- Tyler, TX8.1 mi · 105,995 people · home $235,300
- Arp, TX8.5 mi · 892 people · home $106,100
- Troup, TX10.9 mi · 2,006 people · home $159,400
- Overton, TX11.6 mi · 2,275 people · home $115,300
- Winona, TX13.4 mi · 623 people · home $153,300
- Bullard, TX13.8 mi · 3,318 people · home $247,100
- Noonday, TX13.8 mi · 612 people · home $267,200
New Chapel Hill questions
Is New Chapel Hill, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, New Chapel Hill scores better for retirees than 47% of Texas towns and quieter than 31%. 23.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.2).
How much does a house cost in New Chapel Hill?
The median owner-occupied home in New Chapel Hill is valued at $186,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,672, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $1,095 a month.
What is the weather like in New Chapel Hill?
July highs average 93.1°F and January lows 38.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.7 inches of precipitation a year and 0.5 inches of snow.
Does New Chapel Hill get tornadoes?
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of New Chapel Hill since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on November 15, 1987. 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)