What are the schools like in Smiley, TX?

Smiley is served primarily by NIXON-SMILEY CISD. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.0:1.

What is the median household income in Smiley?

The median household income in Smiley, TX is $33,438 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 12.2%.

What is the weather like in Smiley, TX?

Smiley has an average high temperature of 64.6°F in January and 95.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 34.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.1 inches.

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

Q: Is Smiley, TX affordable or expensive?

Smiley's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Smiley is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $81,400 and the median rent is $950 per month.

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

Smiley has a violent crime rate of 715.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1382.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Smiley, TX a Good Place to Live?

Smiley is a small town of 514 in Texas, with a median household income of $33,438 and a 12.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Smiley stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B).

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

All Smiley 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: 90.1

Smiley's overall cost of living index is 90.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Smiley costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Smiley, TX	National Avg
Median Home Value	$81,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$950	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	80.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$33,438	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Smiley's violent crime rate is 715.1 per 100,000 residents — 88% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

715.1 /100k

Property Crime

1382.2 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Smiley is served primarily by NIXON-SMILEY CISD. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Smiley, TX	National Avg
School District	NIXON-SMILEY CISD	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	8.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	74.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Smiley sees average highs of 64.6°F in January and 95.3°F in July, with 34.4 inches of annual precipitation and 0.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Smiley, TX
Average High — January	64.6°F
Average High — July	95.3°F
Annual Precipitation	34.4"
Annual Snowfall	0.1"

Demographics

Metric	Smiley, TX	National Avg
Population	514	—
Median Age	41.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	12.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	31.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	81.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	16.1%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	25.7%	22.2%
65 and over	18.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Nixon, TX 8 mi Stockdale, TX 20 mi Gonzales, TX 20 mi Yorktown, TX 21 mi Nordheim, TX 24 mi

ZIP Codes in Smiley

Smiley, TX is covered by 1 ZIP code:

78159

Smiley vs Other Cities

Smiley, TX vs Nixon, TX Smiley, TX vs Stockdale, TX Smiley, TX vs Gonzales, TX Smiley, TX vs Yorktown, TX Smiley, TX vs Nordheim, TX

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Smiley, TX affordable or expensive?

Smiley's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Smiley roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $81,400 and median rent is $950/month.

What is the crime rate in Smiley, TX?

Smiley's violent crime rate is 715.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1382.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Smiley?

Public schools in Smiley are operated by NIXON-SMILEY CISD. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.0:1. 8.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Smiley, TX a good place to live?

Smiley, TX has a population of 514, a median household income of $33,438, and an unemployment rate of 12.2%. 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 Smiley?

Smiley averages 64.6°F in January and 95.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 34.4 inches with about 0.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Smiley?

Smiley, TX is covered by 1 ZIP code: 78159.

What is the population of Smiley?

The population of Smiley, Texas is 514 with a median age of 41.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Smiley?

Key numbers for living in Smiley: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $81,400, median household income $33,438, crime index 139 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Smiley side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.