The Town FilesOdem, Texas
City in San Patricio County · population 2,255 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $89,400
- Household income
- $69,267
- Jan low / Jul high
- 45° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 39.0
Odem is a city of 2,255 people in San Patricio County, Texas. The median home is worth $89,400, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks more of a college town than 96% of Texas towns, more seaside character than 95% of Texas towns, easier by car than 83% of Texas towns.
How Odem 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 Odem is worth $89,400, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 1.3 times the median household income of $69,267, which is more affordable than 96% of Texas towns. Median rent is $780 a month. 71.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Odem | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $89,400 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $780 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $69,267 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.3× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 71.0% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Odem
| People | Odem | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.0 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.1% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.4% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.5% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 1.3% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 22.9 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 77.7% | 89.2% |
Weather in Odem
July highs average 92.8°F and January lows 44.9°F. About 33.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.4 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 113 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 7 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Odem since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 26, 1976 about 5.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 25, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 33 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 24, 2016.
Severe weather in San Patricio County since 1996
San Patricio County has been included in 34 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 4, 2025 | Fire | FM-5552: Welder Fire |
| July 9, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4798: Hurricane Beryl |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in San Patricio County
San Patricio County had 21,522 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $63,090 a year. Unemployment was 4.8% in 2023; in Odem itself the ACS puts it at 5.9%.
Public schools in Odem
4 public schools with 913 students, about 13.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ODEM H S | 9-12 | 274 | 10.5 |
| ODEM EL | PK-2 | 246 | 16.4 |
| ODEM J H | 6-8 | 197 | 14.1 |
| ODEM INT | 3-5 | 196 | 14.0 |
Towns near Odem
- Morgan Farm, TX4.6 mi · 573 people · home $275,000
- Sinton, TX8.2 mi · 5,504 people · home $142,000
- St. Paul, TX10.1 mi · 608 people · home —
- Taft Southwest, TX11.2 mi · 1,296 people · home $94,100
- North San Pedro, TX11.5 mi · 735 people · home $86,200
- Robstown, TX11.6 mi · 10,143 people · home $103,000
- Taft, TX12.1 mi · 2,801 people · home $124,200
- Portland, TX16.1 mi · 20,383 people · home $234,800
Odem questions
Is Odem, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Odem scores better for retirees than 71% of Texas towns and quieter than 40%. 21.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.0).
How much does a house cost in Odem?
The median owner-occupied home in Odem is valued at $89,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,267, so homes cost about 1.3 times income. Median rent is $780 a month.
What is the weather like in Odem?
July highs average 92.8°F and January lows 44.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.4 inches of snow.
Does Odem get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Odem since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 26, 1976. 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)