What are the schools like in Harper, TX?

Harper is served primarily by HARPER ISD. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.8:1.

What is the median household income in Harper?

The median household income in Harper, TX is $65,375 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 12.1%.

What is the weather like in Harper, TX?

Harper has an average high temperature of 60.1°F in January and 92.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 29.9 inches.

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

Q: Is Harper, TX affordable or expensive?

Harper's cost of living index is 99, where 100 represents the national average. This means Harper is 1% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $386,800 and the median rent is $1,053 per month.

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

Harper has a violent crime rate of 92.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 366.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Harper, TX a Good Place to Live?

Harper is a small town of 1,214 in Texas, with a median household income of $65,375 and a 12.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 99 (US average = 100), which is 1% below the national average.

Strengths: Harper stands out for solid school ratings (B+), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Harper is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Harper 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: 98.7

Harper's overall cost of living index is 98.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Harper costs roughly 1% less than the average American city.

Metric	Harper, TX	National Avg
Median Home Value	$386,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,053	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	68.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$65,375	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Harper's violent crime rate is 92.6 per 100,000 residents — 76% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

92.6 /100k

Property Crime

366.8 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Harper is served primarily by HARPER ISD. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Harper, TX	National Avg
School District	HARPER ISD	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	24.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	82.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Harper sees average highs of 60.1°F in January and 92.0°F in July, with 29.9 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Harper, TX
Average High — January	60.1°F
Average High — July	92.0°F
Annual Precipitation	29.9"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Harper, TX	National Avg
Population	1,214	—
Median Age	35.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	12.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	21.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	87.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	10.9%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	28.6%	22.2%
65 and over	14.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Ingram, TX 13 mi Kerrville, TX 18 mi Fredericksburg, TX 24 mi Center Point, TX 27 mi Comfort, TX 30 mi

ZIP Codes in Harper

Harper, TX is covered by 1 ZIP code:

78631

Harper vs Other Cities

Harper, TX vs Ingram, TX Harper, TX vs Kerrville, TX Harper, TX vs Fredericksburg, TX Harper, TX vs Center Point, TX Harper, TX vs Comfort, TX

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Harper, TX affordable or expensive?

Harper's cost of living index is 99, where 100 is the national average. That makes Harper roughly 1% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $386,800 and median rent is $1,053/month.

What is the crime rate in Harper, TX?

Harper's violent crime rate is 92.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 366.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Harper?

Public schools in Harper are operated by HARPER ISD. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.8:1. 24.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Harper, TX a good place to live?

Harper, TX has a population of 1,214, a median household income of $65,375, and an unemployment rate of 12.1%. 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 Harper?

Harper averages 60.1°F in January and 92.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 29.9 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Harper?

Harper, TX is covered by 1 ZIP code: 78631.

What is the population of Harper?

The population of Harper, Texas is 1,214 with a median age of 35.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Harper?

Key numbers for living in Harper: cost of living index 99 (100 = US average), median home $386,800, median household income $65,375, crime index 22 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Harper side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.