What are the schools like in Hartley, TX?

Hartley is served primarily by HARTLEY ISD. The district operates several elementary schools, several middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.2:1.

What is the median household income in Hartley?

The median household income in Hartley, TX is $50,848 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.5%.

What is the weather like in Hartley, TX?

Hartley has an average high temperature of 49.4°F in January and 91.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 17.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 14.5 inches.

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

Q: Is Hartley, TX affordable or expensive?

Hartley's cost of living index is 98, where 100 represents the national average. This means Hartley is 2% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $172,900 and the median rent is $1,659 per month.

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

Hartley has a violent crime rate of 35.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 71.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Hartley, TX a Good Place to Live?

Hartley is a small town of 514 in Texas, with a median household income of $50,848 and a 1.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is 2% below the national average.

Strengths: Hartley stands out for below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B+), short average commutes.

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

All Hartley 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: 98.3

Hartley's overall cost of living index is 98.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Hartley costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.

Metric	Hartley, TX	National Avg
Median Home Value	$172,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,659	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	67.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$50,848	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Hartley's violent crime rate is 35.9 per 100,000 residents — 91% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

35.9 /100k

Property Crime

71.7 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Hartley is served primarily by HARTLEY ISD. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Hartley, TX	National Avg
School District	HARTLEY ISD	—
Elementary Schools	N/A	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	27.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	91.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Hartley sees average highs of 49.4°F in January and 91.5°F in July, with 17.7 inches of annual precipitation and 14.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Hartley, TX
Average High — January	49.4°F
Average High — July	91.5°F
Annual Precipitation	17.7"
Annual Snowfall	14.5"

Demographics

Metric	Hartley, TX	National Avg
Population	514	—
Median Age	28.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	13.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	96.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.1%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	24.1%	22.2%
65 and over	24.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Dalhart, TX 13 mi Channing, TX 15 mi Cactus, TX 24 mi Dumas, TX 24 mi Boys Ranch, TX 26 mi

ZIP Codes in Hartley

Hartley, TX is covered by 1 ZIP code:

79044

Hartley vs Other Cities

Hartley, TX vs Dalhart, TX Hartley, TX vs Channing, TX Hartley, TX vs Cactus, TX Hartley, TX vs Dumas, TX Hartley, TX vs Boys Ranch, TX

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hartley, TX affordable or expensive?

Hartley's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average. That makes Hartley roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $172,900 and median rent is $1,659/month.

What is the crime rate in Hartley, TX?

Hartley's violent crime rate is 35.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 71.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Hartley?

Public schools in Hartley are operated by HARTLEY ISD. The district has several elementary, several middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.2:1. 27.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Hartley, TX a good place to live?

Hartley, TX has a population of 514, a median household income of $50,848, and an unemployment rate of 1.5%. 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 Hartley?

Hartley averages 49.4°F in January and 91.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 17.7 inches with about 14.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Hartley?

Hartley, TX is covered by 1 ZIP code: 79044.

What is the population of Hartley?

The population of Hartley, Texas is 514 with a median age of 28.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Hartley?

Key numbers for living in Hartley: cost of living index 98 (100 = US average), median home $172,900, median household income $50,848, crime index 7 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Hartley side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.