The Town FilesTool, Texas
City in Henderson County · population 2,175 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $213,300
- Household income
- $71,333
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 95°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 49.6
Tool is a city of 2,175 people in Henderson County, Texas. The median home is worth $213,300, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better for a vacation home than 97% of Texas towns, quieter than 95% of Texas towns, better for retirees than 87% of Texas towns.
How Tool 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 Tool is worth $213,300, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $71,333, which is more affordable than 49% of Texas towns. Median rent is $1,386 a month. 81.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Tool | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $213,300 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $1,386 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $71,333 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 81.1% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 20.5% | — |
Who lives in Tool
| People | Tool | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.6 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.9% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.8% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.3% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 9.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.6% | — |
| Work from home | 11.3% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 47.2 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.8% | 89.2% |
Weather in Tool
July highs average 94.6°F and January lows 34.8°F. About 42.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.2 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 100 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 37 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tool since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 29, 2019 about 6.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 16, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 45 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on October 24, 2010.
Severe weather in Henderson County since 1996
Henderson County has been included in 25 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 |
| April 21, 2023 | Winter Storm | DR-4705: Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Henderson County
Henderson County had 19,534 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,745 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Tool itself the ACS puts it at 7.1%.
Public schools in Tool
1 public school with 246 students, about 10.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOOL EL | PK-5 | 246 | 10.3 |
Towns near Tool
- Seven Points, TX3.3 mi · 1,370 people · home $91,100
- Gun Barrel City, TX4.1 mi · 6,190 people · home $237,300
- Payne Springs, TX5.7 mi · 741 people · home $233,200
- Mabank, TX7.3 mi · 4,050 people · home $254,900
- Trinidad, TX9.1 mi · 860 people · home $146,900
- Eustace, TX9.5 mi · 1,137 people · home $192,900
- Log Cabin, TX9.6 mi · 678 people · home —
- Kerens, TX10.8 mi · 1,505 people · home $128,000
Tool questions
Is Tool, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Tool scores better for retirees than 87% of Texas towns and quieter than 95%. 22.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.6).
How much does a house cost in Tool?
The median owner-occupied home in Tool is valued at $213,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,333, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,386 a month.
What is the weather like in Tool?
July highs average 94.6°F and January lows 34.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.1 inches of precipitation a year and 0.2 inches of snow.
Does Tool get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tool since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on May 29, 2019. 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)