What are the schools like in Cactus, TX?

Cactus is served primarily by DUMAS ISD. The district operates 3 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.7:1.

What is the median household income in Cactus?

The median household income in Cactus, TX is $49,605 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.7%.

What is the weather like in Cactus, TX?

Cactus has an average high temperature of 49.2°F in January and 92.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 17.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 9.1 inches.

Cactus, TX Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Cactus, TX affordable or expensive?

Cactus's cost of living index is 86, where 100 represents the national average. This means Cactus is 14% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $56,500 and the median rent is $699 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Cactus, TX?

Cactus has a violent crime rate of 386.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 611.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Cactus, TX a Good Place to Live?

Cactus is a small town of 3,055 in Texas, with a median household income of $49,605 and a 2.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is 14% below the national average.

Strengths: Cactus stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Cactus is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Cactus city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 85.9

Cactus's overall cost of living index is 85.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Cactus costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.

Metric	Cactus, TX	National Avg
Median Home Value	$56,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$699	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	40.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$49,605	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Cactus's violent crime rate is 386.2 per 100,000 residents — 2% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

386.2 /100k

Property Crime

611.5 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Cactus is served primarily by DUMAS ISD. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Cactus, TX	National Avg
School District	DUMAS ISD	—
Elementary Schools	3	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	0.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	26.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Cactus sees average highs of 49.2°F in January and 92.2°F in July, with 17.7 inches of annual precipitation and 9.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Cactus, TX
Average High — January	49.2°F
Average High — July	92.2°F
Annual Precipitation	17.7"
Annual Snowfall	9.1"

Demographics

Metric	Cactus, TX	National Avg
Population	3,055	—
Median Age	30.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	13.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	60.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	10.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	20.1%	18.9%
Asian	9.0%	6.3%
Under 18	31.9%	22.2%
65 and over	5.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Sunray, TX 10 mi Dumas, TX 13 mi Stratford, TX 21 mi Hartley, TX 24 mi Dalhart, TX 28 mi

ZIP Codes in Cactus

Cactus, TX is covered by 1 ZIP code:

79013

Cactus vs Other Cities

Cactus, TX vs Sunray, TX Cactus, TX vs Dumas, TX Cactus, TX vs Stratford, TX Cactus, TX vs Hartley, TX Cactus, TX vs Dalhart, TX

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cactus, TX affordable or expensive?

Cactus's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average. That makes Cactus roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $56,500 and median rent is $699/month.

What is the crime rate in Cactus, TX?

Cactus's violent crime rate is 386.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 611.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Cactus?

Public schools in Cactus are operated by DUMAS ISD. The district has 3 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.7:1. 0.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Cactus, TX a good place to live?

Cactus, TX has a population of 3,055, a median household income of $49,605, and an unemployment rate of 2.7%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Cactus?

Cactus averages 49.2°F in January and 92.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 17.7 inches with about 9.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Cactus?

Cactus, TX is covered by 1 ZIP code: 79013.

What is the population of Cactus?

The population of Cactus, Texas is 3,055 with a median age of 30.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Cactus?

Key numbers for living in Cactus: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $56,500, median household income $49,605, crime index 73 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Cactus side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.