The Town FilesRice Tracts, Texas
Community in Cameron County · population 733 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $241,000
- Household income
- $133,472
- Jan low / Jul high
- 51° / 97°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 35.4
Rice Tracts is a community of 733 people in Cameron County, Texas. The median home is worth $241,000, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better for families than 74% of Texas towns.
How Rice Tracts 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 Rice Tracts is worth $241,000, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $133,472, which is more affordable than 86% of Texas towns. 100.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rice Tracts | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $241,000 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | — | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $133,472 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 100.0% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 2002 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Rice Tracts
| People | Rice Tracts | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.4 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.0% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 30.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.4% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.7% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 2.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 19.5% | — |
| Work from home | 7.4% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 26.5 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.9% | 89.2% |
Weather in Rice Tracts
July highs average 96.6°F and January lows 51.1°F. About 28.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.1 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 151 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 1 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rice Tracts since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 12, 1969 about 3.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 11, 2012.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 4, 2023.
Severe weather in Cameron County since 1996
Cameron County has been included in 34 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2025 | Flood | DR-4871: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 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 Cameron County
Cameron County had 156,619 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,590 a year. Unemployment was 5.4% in 2023; in Rice Tracts itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Rice Tracts
- Palmer, TX1.0 mi · 1,082 people · home —
- Encantada-Ranchito-El Calaboz, TX1.6 mi · 1,981 people · home $68,800
- La Paloma, TX1.7 mi · 3,218 people · home $82,400
- Rancho Viejo, TX4.7 mi · 2,838 people · home $264,500
- San Benito, TX5.1 mi · 24,861 people · home $85,300
- Olmito, TX5.8 mi · 1,021 people · home —
- Green Valley Farms, TX5.9 mi · 655 people · home $60,000
- Los Indios, TX6.7 mi · 1,008 people · home $63,500
Rice Tracts questions
Is Rice Tracts, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rice Tracts scores better for retirees than 13% of Texas towns and quieter than 38%. 10.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.4).
How much does a house cost in Rice Tracts?
The median owner-occupied home in Rice Tracts is valued at $241,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $133,472, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Rice Tracts?
July highs average 96.6°F and January lows 51.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 28.2 inches of precipitation a year and 0.1 inches of snow.
Does Rice Tracts get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rice Tracts since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 12, 1969. 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)