Sour Lake, Texas (2014) · Nicolas Henderson from Coppell, Texas / CC BY 2.0Postcard of Sour Lake Springs Hotel, Sour Lake, Texas (10001277) · Curt Teich & Company / Public domainDerricks at Sour Lake Texas · Unknown authorUnknown author / Public domain
Sour Lake is a small town of 2,083 in Texas, with a median household income of $65,515
and a 4.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Sour Lake stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Sour Lake is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Sour Lake 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: 90.2
Sour Lake's overall cost of living index is 90.2,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Sour Lake costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Sour Lake, TX
National Avg
Median Home Value
$127,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,152
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
68.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$65,515
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Sour Lake's violent crime rate is 213.1 per 100,000 residents
— 44% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
213.1 /100k
Property Crime
586.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Sour Lake is served primarily by HARDIN-JEFFERSON ISD.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.5:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Sour Lake, TX
National Avg
School District
HARDIN-JEFFERSON ISD
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
2
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
19.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
89.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Sour Lake sees average highs of 62.0°F in January
and 91.9°F in July,
with 61.9 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.2 inches of snow per year.
Sour Lake's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Sour Lake roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $127,900 and median rent is $1,152/month.
Sour Lake's violent crime rate is 213.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 586.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Sour Lake are operated by HARDIN-JEFFERSON ISD.
The district has 2 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.5:1. 19.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sour Lake, TX has a population of 2,083, a median household income of $65,515, and an unemployment rate of 4.9%.
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.
Sour Lake averages 62.0°F in January and 91.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 61.9 inches
with about 0.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Sour Lake, Texas is 2,083 with a median age of 30.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Sour Lake: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $127,900, median household income $65,515, crime index 45 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Sour Lake side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
.jpg)
.jpg)
