The Town FilesWest Columbia, Texas
City in Brazoria County · population 3,644 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $140,800
- Household income
- $43,490
- Jan low / Jul high
- 47° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 39.2
West Columbia is a city of 3,644 people in Brazoria County, Texas. The median home is worth $140,800, below the typical Texas town ($184,100).
How West Columbia 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 West Columbia is worth $140,800, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $43,490, which is more affordable than 39% of Texas towns. Median rent is $964 a month. 60.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | West Columbia | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $140,800 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $964 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $43,490 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 60.7% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in West Columbia
| People | West Columbia | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.2 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.3% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.6% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.6% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 4.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.4% | — |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 25.9 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.4% | 89.2% |
Weather in West Columbia
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 46.8°F. About 53.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 83 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 6 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Columbia since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. The strongest, an F1, struck on December 12, 2001 about 8.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 25, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 10 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on March 12, 2007.
Severe weather in Brazoria County since 1996
Brazoria County has been included in 34 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| July 26, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3530: Hurricane Hanna |
Jobs and pay in Brazoria County
Brazoria County had 122,793 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $68,223 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in West Columbia itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Public schools in West Columbia
3 public schools with 1,590 students, about 15.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| COLUMBIA H S | 9-12 | 896 | 15.4 |
| WEST COLUMBIA EL | K-5 | 693 | 16.5 |
| BRAZORIA CO J J A E P | 9-9 | 1 | — |
Towns near West Columbia
- Sweeny, TX7.2 mi · 3,626 people · home $199,100
- Brazoria, TX8.4 mi · 2,866 people · home $162,400
- Angleton, TX13.4 mi · 19,429 people · home $212,900
- Lake Jackson, TX13.5 mi · 28,177 people · home $250,100
- Richwood, TX15.9 mi · 4,781 people · home $249,600
- Clute, TX17.2 mi · 10,604 people · home $271,700
- Needville, TX20.9 mi · 3,089 people · home $221,700
- Bay City, TX21.7 mi · 18,061 people · home $160,800
West Columbia questions
Is West Columbia, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West Columbia scores better for retirees than 64% of Texas towns and quieter than 62%. 21.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.2).
How much does a house cost in West Columbia?
The median owner-occupied home in West Columbia is valued at $140,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $43,490, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $964 a month.
What is the weather like in West Columbia?
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 46.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.4 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does West Columbia get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Columbia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on December 12, 2001. 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)