The Town FilesPetrolia, Texas
City in Clay County · population 514 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $95,600
- Household income
- $63,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 97°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 51.2
Petrolia is a city of 514 people in Clay County, Texas. The median home is worth $95,600, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks quieter than 98% of Texas towns, easier by car than 88% of Texas towns, better for retirees than 86% of Texas towns.
How Petrolia 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 Petrolia is worth $95,600, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 1.5 times the median household income of $63,750, which is more affordable than 94% of Texas towns. Median rent is $942 a month. 81.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Petrolia | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $95,600 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $942 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $63,750 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.5× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 81.5% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Petrolia
| People | Petrolia | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.2 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.4% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.9% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.5% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 6.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 22.2 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 77.2% | 89.2% |
Weather in Petrolia
July highs average 96.5°F and January lows 28.9°F. About 32.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.8 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 96 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 70 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Petrolia since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 10, 1979 about 6.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on November 3, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 62 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 3, 1964.
Severe weather in Clay County since 1996
Clay County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| 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 |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4485: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3458: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Clay County
Clay County had 1,621 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,729 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Petrolia itself the ACS puts it at 10.7%.
Public schools in Petrolia
2 public schools with 476 students, about 11.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| PETROLIA EL | PK-6 | 260 | 12.4 |
| PETROLIA JUNIOR HIGH/HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 216 | 10.3 |
Towns near Petrolia
- Henrietta, TX13.9 mi · 3,111 people · home $145,600
- Ryan, OK15.9 mi · 667 people · home $48,400
- Waurika, OK16.7 mi · 1,837 people · home $64,800
- Temple, OK17.9 mi · 862 people · home $51,600
- Wichita Falls, TX18.4 mi · 102,316 people · home $156,800
- Burkburnett, TX19.7 mi · 10,939 people · home $151,900
- Lakeside City, TX21.8 mi · 1,082 people · home $268,300
- Walters, OK24.9 mi · 2,412 people · home $126,900
Petrolia questions
Is Petrolia, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Petrolia scores better for retirees than 86% of Texas towns and quieter than 98%. 20.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.2).
How much does a house cost in Petrolia?
The median owner-occupied home in Petrolia is valued at $95,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,750, so homes cost about 1.5 times income. Median rent is $942 a month.
What is the weather like in Petrolia?
July highs average 96.5°F and January lows 28.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.8 inches of snow.
Does Petrolia get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Petrolia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 10, 1979. 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)