The Town FilesTenaha, Texas
Town in Shelby County · population 989 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $91,500
- Household income
- $27,813
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 29.8
Tenaha is a town of 989 people in Shelby County, Texas. The median home is worth $91,500, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better transit than 80% of Texas towns, easier by car than 80% of Texas towns, better for first-time buyers than 72% of Texas towns.
How Tenaha 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 Tenaha is worth $91,500, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $27,813, which is more affordable than 36% of Texas towns. Median rent is $600 a month. 45.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Tenaha | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $91,500 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $600 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $27,813 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 45.5% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.6% | — |
Who lives in Tenaha
| People | Tenaha | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 29.8 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.8% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 30.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.0% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 43.1% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.6% | — |
| Work from home | 0.4% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 28.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 73.7% | 89.2% |
Weather in Tenaha
July highs average 93.8°F and January lows 35.7°F. About 56.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.6 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 97 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 42 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tenaha since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 7, 1989 about 8.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on February 14, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 54 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 6, 2018.
Severe weather in Shelby County since 1996
Shelby County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| 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 |
| August 24, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3540: Tropical Storms Marco And Laura |
Jobs and pay in Shelby County
Shelby County had 8,678 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,298 a year. Unemployment was 4.5% in 2023; in Tenaha itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Tenaha
1 public school with 459 students, about 13.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| TENAHA SCHOOLS | PK-12 | 459 | 13.1 |
Towns near Tenaha
- Timpson, TX9.2 mi · 989 people · home $82,000
- Center, TX11.1 mi · 5,221 people · home $83,300
- Joaquin, TX11.7 mi · 734 people · home $52,000
- Logansport, LA15.0 mi · 1,340 people · home $126,600
- Carthage, TX15.4 mi · 6,569 people · home $164,200
- Garrison, TX16.7 mi · 789 people · home $91,300
- Beckville, TX24.1 mi · 722 people · home $115,400
- Mount Enterprise, TX25.7 mi · 505 people · home $196,400
Tenaha questions
Is Tenaha, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Tenaha scores better for retirees than 66% of Texas towns and quieter than 65%. 11.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 29.8).
How much does a house cost in Tenaha?
The median owner-occupied home in Tenaha is valued at $91,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $27,813, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $600 a month.
What is the weather like in Tenaha?
July highs average 93.8°F and January lows 35.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.6 inches of snow.
Does Tenaha get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tenaha since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 7, 1989. 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)