The Town FilesRunaway Bay, Texas
City in Wise County · population 1,546 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $307,600
- Household income
- $96,875
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 96°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 54.3
Runaway Bay is a city of 1,546 people in Wise County, Texas. The median home is worth $307,600, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 99% of Texas towns, quieter than 89% of Texas towns, easier by car than 82% of Texas towns.
How Runaway Bay 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 Runaway Bay is worth $307,600, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $96,875, which is more affordable than 39% of Texas towns. Median rent is $1,227 a month. 84.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Runaway Bay | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $307,600 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $1,227 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $96,875 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 84.8% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1989 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.6% | — |
Who lives in Runaway Bay
| People | Runaway Bay | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.3 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.7% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 12.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.5% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.1% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 9.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 17.2% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 36.2 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.5% | 89.2% |
Weather in Runaway Bay
July highs average 95.6°F and January lows 30.9°F. About 33.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.8 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 101 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 61 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Runaway Bay since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 25, 2026 about 1.0 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 9 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 25, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 83 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on April 24, 1964.
Severe weather in Wise County since 1996
Wise County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| 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 Wise County
Wise County had 21,209 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,376 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Runaway Bay itself the ACS puts it at 3.7%.
Towns near Runaway Bay
- Bridgeport, TX6.4 mi · 5,923 people · home $253,500
- Chico, TX9.4 mi · 946 people · home $170,300
- Alvord, TX16.2 mi · 1,351 people · home $212,500
- Jacksboro, TX16.8 mi · 4,184 people · home $259,700
- Decatur, TX17.0 mi · 6,538 people · home $284,500
- Springtown, TX18.1 mi · 3,064 people · home $261,300
- Boyd, TX19.1 mi · 1,416 people · home $264,900
- Carter, TX19.4 mi · 1,637 people · home $316,400
Runaway Bay questions
Is Runaway Bay, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Runaway Bay scores better for retirees than 60% of Texas towns and quieter than 89%. 30.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 54.3).
How much does a house cost in Runaway Bay?
The median owner-occupied home in Runaway Bay is valued at $307,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $96,875, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,227 a month.
What is the weather like in Runaway Bay?
July highs average 95.6°F and January lows 30.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.3 inches of precipitation a year and 1.8 inches of snow.
Does Runaway Bay get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Runaway Bay since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 25, 2026. 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)