The Town FilesSalado, Texas
Village in Bell County · population 2,394 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $445,900
- Household income
- $107,679
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 95°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 49.8
Salado is a village of 2,394 people in Bell County, Texas. The median home is worth $445,900, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better for retirees than 95% of Texas towns, better for families than 95% of Texas towns, more upscale than 92% of Texas towns.
How Salado 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 Salado is worth $445,900, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $107,679, which is more affordable than 14% of Texas towns. Median rent is $1,073 a month. 87.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Salado | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $445,900 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $1,073 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $107,679 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 87.4% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1992 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.6% | — |
Who lives in Salado
| People | Salado | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.8 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.8% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 60.2% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.3% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 12.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 23.1% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 24.6 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 98.3% | 89.2% |
Weather in Salado
July highs average 95.2°F and January lows 35.7°F. About 37.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 118 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 33 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salado since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 12, 2022 about 7.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 51 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 12, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 85 times; the largest was 5.68 inches on April 12, 2022.
Severe weather in Bell County since 1996
Bell County has been included in 23 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 Bell County
Bell County had 129,627 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,107 a year. Unemployment was 4.5% in 2023; in Salado itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Public schools in Salado
3 public schools with 2,346 students, about 15.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| THOMAS ARNOLD EL | PK-5 | 1,031 | 15.6 |
| SALADO H S | 9-12 | 725 | 14.8 |
| SALADO MIDDLE | 6-8 | 590 | 16.9 |
Towns near Salado
- Belton, TX7.7 mi · 23,054 people · home $258,700
- Holland, TX8.6 mi · 1,075 people · home $175,500
- Nolanville, TX9.7 mi · 5,917 people · home $244,900
- Harker Heights, TX10.2 mi · 33,097 people · home $287,800
- Sonterra, TX10.5 mi · 7,679 people · home $273,600
- Jarrell, TX10.8 mi · 1,753 people · home $346,300
- Little River-Academy, TX10.9 mi · 1,992 people · home $183,300
- Bartlett, TX12.0 mi · 1,633 people · home $218,900
Salado questions
Is Salado, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Salado scores better for retirees than 95% of Texas towns and quieter than 68%. 29.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.8).
How much does a house cost in Salado?
The median owner-occupied home in Salado is valued at $445,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $107,679, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $1,073 a month.
What is the weather like in Salado?
July highs average 95.2°F and January lows 35.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Salado get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salado since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 12, 2022. 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)