The Town FilesPonder, Texas
Town in Denton County · population 2,442 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $321,000
- Household income
- $106,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 96°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 33.2
Ponder is a town of 2,442 people in Denton County, Texas. The median home is worth $321,000, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better for families than 96% of Texas towns, more upscale than 90% of Texas towns, better for cycling than 80% of Texas towns.
How Ponder 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 Ponder is worth $321,000, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $106,250, which is more affordable than 49% of Texas towns. Median rent is $2,158 a month. 87.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ponder | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $321,000 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $2,158 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $106,250 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 87.5% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 2008 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Ponder
| People | Ponder | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.2 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.7% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 33.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.5% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 1.0% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 9.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.7% | — |
| Work from home | 12.8% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 30.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.8% | 89.2% |
Weather in Ponder
July highs average 95.7°F and January lows 32.2°F. About 35.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.2 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 104 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 52 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ponder since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 24, 2011 about 6.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 29, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 167 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on May 10, 2021.
Severe weather in Denton County since 1996
Denton County has been included in 24 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 |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4485: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3458: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Denton County
Denton County had 313,782 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $65,626 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Ponder itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in Ponder
3 public schools with 1,676 students, about 14.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| PONDER EL | PK-5 | 773 | 15.2 |
| PONDER H S | 9-12 | 536 | 12.8 |
| PONDER J H | 6-8 | 367 | 13.6 |
Towns near Ponder
- Justin, TX5.8 mi · 4,409 people · home $406,800
- Northlake, TX7.2 mi · 5,201 people · home $565,600
- Krum, TX7.7 mi · 5,483 people · home $336,500
- Argyle, TX8.3 mi · 4,403 people · home $695,300
- New Fairview, TX9.1 mi · 1,386 people · home $233,000
- Denton, TX9.5 mi · 139,869 people · home $348,200
- Bartonville, TX10.4 mi · 1,725 people · home $932,700
- Roanoke, TX11.5 mi · 9,665 people · home $466,900
Ponder questions
Is Ponder, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ponder scores better for retirees than 62% of Texas towns and quieter than 57%. 10.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.2).
How much does a house cost in Ponder?
The median owner-occupied home in Ponder is valued at $321,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $106,250, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $2,158 a month.
What is the weather like in Ponder?
July highs average 95.7°F and January lows 32.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.2 inches of snow.
Does Ponder get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ponder since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on May 24, 2011. 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)