The Town FilesSam Rayburn, Texas
Community in Jasper County · population 1,273 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $255,200
- Household income
- $83,056
- Jan low / Jul high
- 41° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 53.2
Sam Rayburn is a community of 1,273 people in Jasper County, Texas. The median home is worth $255,200, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better for a vacation home than 95% of Texas towns, quieter than 92% of Texas towns, better for retirees than 90% of Texas towns.
How Sam Rayburn 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 Sam Rayburn is worth $255,200, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $83,056, which is more affordable than 45% of Texas towns. Median rent is $1,108 a month. 82.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sam Rayburn | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $255,200 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $1,108 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $83,056 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 82.2% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1989 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 27.8% | — |
Who lives in Sam Rayburn
| People | Sam Rayburn | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.2 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 35.3% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.6% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 0.9% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 14.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 8.9% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 30.5 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.0% | 89.2% |
Weather in Sam Rayburn
July highs average 93.9°F and January lows 41.0°F. About 60.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 94 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 30 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sam Rayburn since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 8, 2024 about 7.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 8, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 12 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on May 9, 2019.
Severe weather in Jasper County since 1996
Jasper County has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 9, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4798: Hurricane Beryl |
| 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 |
| December 9, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4572: Hurricane Laura |
Jobs and pay in Jasper County
Jasper County had 9,073 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,026 a year. Unemployment was 6.3% in 2023; in Sam Rayburn itself the ACS puts it at 6.9%.
Towns near Sam Rayburn
- Jasper, TX10.9 mi · 6,884 people · home $130,100
- Pineland, TX12.1 mi · 888 people · home $80,700
- Hemphill, TX21.1 mi · 1,029 people · home $125,700
- Newton, TX22.4 mi · 1,633 people · home $102,100
- Zavalla, TX23.9 mi · 603 people · home $74,000
- Colmesneil, TX26.2 mi · 542 people · home $119,900
- Milam, TX29.3 mi · 1,355 people · home $206,300
- Kirbyville, TX29.9 mi · 2,036 people · home $87,400
Sam Rayburn questions
Is Sam Rayburn, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sam Rayburn scores better for retirees than 90% of Texas towns and quieter than 92%. 35.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.2).
How much does a house cost in Sam Rayburn?
The median owner-occupied home in Sam Rayburn is valued at $255,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $83,056, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,108 a month.
What is the weather like in Sam Rayburn?
July highs average 93.9°F and January lows 41.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 60.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Sam Rayburn get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sam Rayburn since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 8, 2024. 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)