The Town FilesSebastian, Texas
Community in Willacy County · population 1,684 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $35,900
- Household income
- $22,786
- Jan low / Jul high
- 49° / 96°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 42.1
Sebastian is a community of 1,684 people in Willacy County, Texas. The median home is worth $35,900, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks easier by car than 93% of Texas towns, hipper than 83% of Texas towns, more of a college town than 79% of Texas towns.
- #4 in 25 Small Towns in Texas With the Cheapest Homes
- #6 in The 25 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Texas With Mild Winters
- #31 in 50 Small Towns in America With the Cheapest Rent
- #31 in 50 Places in America With the Cheapest Rent
- #36 in 50 Small Towns in America With the Cheapest Homes
- #36 in 50 Places in America With the Cheapest Homes
How Sebastian 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 Sebastian is worth $35,900, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $22,786, which is more affordable than 91% of Texas towns. Median rent is $326 a month. 60.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sebastian | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $35,900 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $326 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $22,786 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 60.9% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Sebastian
| People | Sebastian | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.1 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 31.1% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 15.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 1.7% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 38.0% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 1.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 21.4% | — |
| Work from home | 26.3% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 24.2 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 70.2% | 89.2% |
Weather in Sebastian
July highs average 96.3°F and January lows 48.8°F. About 24.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.1 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 166 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 2 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sebastian since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 24, 1970 about 1.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 8, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 12, 1969.
Severe weather in Willacy County since 1996
Willacy County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, freezing.
| 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 Willacy County
Willacy County had 4,297 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,749 a year. Unemployment was 7.8% in 2023; in Sebastian itself the ACS puts it at 12.6%.
Towns near Sebastian
- Lyford, TX4.8 mi · 2,249 people · home $59,400
- Santa Rosa, TX6.4 mi · 2,450 people · home $67,400
- Combes, TX8.1 mi · 2,999 people · home $143,900
- La Villa, TX8.8 mi · 2,804 people · home $101,000
- Primera, TX8.9 mi · 5,257 people · home $160,900
- Raymondville, TX9.1 mi · 10,236 people · home $52,200
- Palm Valley, TX10.1 mi · 1,413 people · home $275,000
- Las Palmas II, TX10.6 mi · 891 people · home $147,300
Sebastian questions
Is Sebastian, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sebastian scores better for retirees than 71% of Texas towns and quieter than 76%. 31.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.1).
How much does a house cost in Sebastian?
The median owner-occupied home in Sebastian is valued at $35,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $22,786, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is $326 a month.
What is the weather like in Sebastian?
July highs average 96.3°F and January lows 48.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 24.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.1 inches of snow.
Does Sebastian get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sebastian since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 24, 1970. 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)