Shepherd is a small town of 2,318 in Texas, with a median household income of $47,094
and a 14.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Shepherd stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Shepherd is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Shepherd 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: 88.1
Shepherd's overall cost of living index is 88.1,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Shepherd costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Shepherd, TX
National Avg
Median Home Value
$96,100
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$667
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
64.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$47,094
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Shepherd's violent crime rate is 50.6 per 100,000 residents
— 87% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
50.6 /100k
Property Crime
505.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Shepherd is served primarily by SHEPHERD ISD.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.9:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Shepherd, TX
National Avg
School District
SHEPHERD ISD
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.9:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
9.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
83.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Shepherd sees average highs of 60.8°F in January
and 91.4°F in July,
with 52.1 inches of annual precipitation
.
Shepherd's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Shepherd roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $96,100 and median rent is $667/month.
Shepherd's violent crime rate is 50.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 505.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Shepherd are operated by SHEPHERD ISD.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.9:1. 9.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Shepherd, TX has a population of 2,318, a median household income of $47,094, and an unemployment rate of 14.7%.
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.
Shepherd averages 60.8°F in January and 91.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 52.1 inches
.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Shepherd, TX is covered by 1 ZIP code: 77371.
The population of Shepherd, Texas is 2,318 with a median age of 35.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Shepherd: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $96,100, median household income $47,094, crime index 18 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Shepherd side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
