The Town FilesOlton, Texas
City in Lamb County · population 1,989 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $50,800
- Household income
- $46,029
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 41
- Median age
- 43.9
Olton is a city of 1,989 people in Lamb County, Texas. The median home is worth $50,800, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better transit than 81% of Texas towns, easier by car than 81% of Texas towns.
How Olton 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 Olton is worth $50,800, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 1.1 times the median household income of $46,029, which is more affordable than 99% of Texas towns. Median rent is $1,045 a month. 66.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Olton | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $50,800 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $1,045 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $46,029 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.1× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 66.8% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.0% | — |
Who lives in Olton
| People | Olton | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.9 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.5% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 7.6% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.4% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 4.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 15.6% | — |
| Work from home | 6.4% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 13.5 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.5% | 89.2% |
Weather in Olton
July highs average 90.3°F and January lows 25.2°F. About 19.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.8 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 67 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 109 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
41 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Olton since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 21, 2007 about 1.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 26, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 48 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 6, 2008.
Severe weather in Lamb County since 1996
Lamb County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, tornado, hurricane.
| 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 Lamb County
Lamb County had 3,938 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,612 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Olton itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Olton
3 public schools with 619 students, about 11.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| HP WEBB EL | PK-5 | 293 | 12.7 |
| OLTON H S | 9-12 | 201 | 10.1 |
| OLTON J H | 6-8 | 125 | 10.4 |
Towns near Olton
- Hart, TX14.3 mi · 869 people · home $52,200
- Earth, TX16.0 mi · 901 people · home $78,300
- Hale Center, TX18.4 mi · 2,062 people · home $76,200
- Amherst, TX19.7 mi · 678 people · home $35,500
- Littlefield, TX21.3 mi · 5,943 people · home $79,400
- Sudan, TX23.5 mi · 940 people · home $100,400
- Plainview, TX23.6 mi · 20,187 people · home $113,000
- Seth Ward, TX25.4 mi · 1,603 people · home $62,400
Olton questions
Is Olton, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Olton scores better for retirees than 17% of Texas towns and quieter than 51%. 17.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.9).
How much does a house cost in Olton?
The median owner-occupied home in Olton is valued at $50,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,029, so homes cost about 1.1 times income. Median rent is $1,045 a month.
What is the weather like in Olton?
July highs average 90.3°F and January lows 25.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 19.0 inches of precipitation a year and 7.8 inches of snow.
Does Olton get tornadoes?
41 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Olton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 21, 2007. 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)