The Town FilesRankin, Texas
City in Upton County · population 780 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $127,000
- Household income
- $71,596
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 96°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 38.5
Rankin is a city of 780 people in Upton County, Texas. The median home is worth $127,000, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better for families than 90% of Texas towns, more of a college town than 90% of Texas towns, easier by car than 80% of Texas towns.
How Rankin 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 Rankin is worth $127,000, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $71,596, which is more affordable than 86% of Texas towns. Median rent is $564 a month. 78.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rankin | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $127,000 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $564 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $71,596 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 78.9% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Rankin
| People | Rankin | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.5 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.6% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.9% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.3% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 3.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.8% | — |
| Work from home | 11.0% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 30.0 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.4% | 89.2% |
Weather in Rankin
July highs average 96.3°F and January lows 32.8°F. About 14.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.1 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 130 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 46 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rankin since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 26, 1960 about 8.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 18, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 35 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 19, 2025.
Severe weather in Upton County since 1996
Upton County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, drought, 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 |
| July 1, 2011 | Fire | DR-1999: Wildfires |
Jobs and pay in Upton County
Upton County had 3,975 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $87,660 a year. Unemployment was 1.7% in 2023; in Rankin itself the ACS puts it at 8.1%.
Public schools in Rankin
1 public school with 295 students, about 7.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| RANKIN SCHOOL | PK-12 | 295 | 7.0 |
Towns near Rankin
- McCamey, TX17.8 mi · 1,831 people · home $96,000
- Iraan, TX21.7 mi · 1,055 people · home $94,700
- Crane, TX26.8 mi · 3,478 people · home $164,900
- Big Lake, TX28.8 mi · 2,965 people · home $157,900
Rankin questions
Is Rankin, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rankin scores better for retirees than 64% of Texas towns and quieter than 61%. 12.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.5).
How much does a house cost in Rankin?
The median owner-occupied home in Rankin is valued at $127,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,596, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $564 a month.
What is the weather like in Rankin?
July highs average 96.3°F and January lows 32.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 14.8 inches of precipitation a year and 1.1 inches of snow.
Does Rankin get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rankin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on April 26, 1960. 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)