The Town FilesRiesel, Texas
City in McLennan County · population 1,062 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $178,500
- Household income
- $98,063
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 95°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 30.9
Riesel is a city of 1,062 people in McLennan County, Texas. The median home is worth $178,500, close to the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 98% of Texas towns, more of a college town than 93% of Texas towns, better for families than 89% of Texas towns.
How Riesel 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 Riesel is worth $178,500, close to the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $98,063, which is more affordable than 86% of Texas towns. Median rent is $1,172 a month. 76.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Riesel | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $178,500 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $1,172 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $98,063 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 76.5% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Riesel
| People | Riesel | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.9 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 8.9% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.2% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.8% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 7.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 7.6% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 24.4 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.2% | 89.2% |
Weather in Riesel
July highs average 94.5°F and January lows 33.5°F. About 39.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.2 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 102 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 38 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Riesel since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 10, 1973 about 6.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 10, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 28, 2026.
Severe weather in McLennan County since 1996
McLennan County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| 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 |
| May 29, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4223: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in McLennan County
McLennan County had 122,697 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,387 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Riesel itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Riesel
2 public schools with 652 students, about 12.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| FOSTER EL | PK-6 | 327 | 15.6 |
| RIESEL SCHOOL | 7-12 | 325 | 10.8 |
Towns near Riesel
- Mart, TX8.2 mi · 1,748 people · home $116,100
- Golinda, TX10.4 mi · 618 people · home $138,300
- Robinson, TX10.6 mi · 12,443 people · home $302,200
- Marlin, TX11.9 mi · 5,462 people · home $66,000
- Bellmead, TX12.2 mi · 10,494 people · home $155,100
- Beverly Hills, TX12.9 mi · 1,878 people · home $156,700
- Lacy-Lakeview, TX14.4 mi · 6,988 people · home $160,600
- Chilton, TX14.7 mi · 776 people · home $213,000
Riesel questions
Is Riesel, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Riesel scores better for retirees than 43% of Texas towns and quieter than 49%. 8.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.9).
How much does a house cost in Riesel?
The median owner-occupied home in Riesel is valued at $178,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $98,063, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $1,172 a month.
What is the weather like in Riesel?
July highs average 94.5°F and January lows 33.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.1 inches of precipitation a year and 0.2 inches of snow.
Does Riesel get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Riesel since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 10, 1973. 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)