Dawson is a small town of 1,070 in Texas, with a median household income of $42,083
and a 7.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Dawson stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Dawson is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Dawson 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: 87.5
Dawson's overall cost of living index is 87.5,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Dawson costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Dawson, TX
National Avg
Median Home Value
$99,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$603
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
60.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$42,083
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Dawson's violent crime rate is 355.2 per 100,000 residents
— 7% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
355.2 /100k
Property Crime
1618.3 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Dawson is served primarily by DAWSON ISD.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.1:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Dawson, TX
National Avg
School District
DAWSON ISD
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.1:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
11.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
92.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Dawson sees average highs of 57.1°F in January
and 95.0°F in July,
with 40.5 inches of annual precipitation
.
Dawson's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Dawson roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $99,500 and median rent is $603/month.
Dawson's violent crime rate is 355.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1618.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Dawson are operated by DAWSON ISD.
The district has several elementary, several middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.1:1. 11.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Dawson, TX has a population of 1,070, a median household income of $42,083, and an unemployment rate of 7.4%.
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.
Dawson averages 57.1°F in January and 95.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 40.5 inches
.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Dawson, TX is covered by 1 ZIP code: 76639.
The population of Dawson, Texas is 1,070 with a median age of 43.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Dawson: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $99,500, median household income $42,083, crime index 87 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Dawson side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.