Sweetwater is a small city of 10,546 in Texas, with a median household income of $44,306
and a 6.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is
11% below the national average.
Strengths:
Sweetwater stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Sweetwater is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Sweetwater 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: 88.8
Sweetwater's overall cost of living index is 88.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Sweetwater costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
Metric
Sweetwater, TX
National Avg
Median Home Value
$82,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$801
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
56.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$44,306
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Sweetwater's violent crime rate is 501.0 per 100,000 residents
— 32% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
501.0 /100k
Property Crime
1119.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Sweetwater is served primarily by SWEETWATER ISD.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.3:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Sweetwater, TX
National Avg
School District
SWEETWATER ISD
—
Elementary Schools
3
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.3:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
11.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
81.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Sweetwater sees average highs of 55.5°F in January
and 94.6°F in July,
with 21.2 inches of annual precipitation
and 2.3 inches of snow per year.
Sweetwater's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Sweetwater roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $82,600 and median rent is $801/month.
Sweetwater's violent crime rate is 501.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1119.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Sweetwater are operated by SWEETWATER ISD.
The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.3:1. 11.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sweetwater, TX has a population of 10,546, a median household income of $44,306, and an unemployment rate of 6.3%.
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.
Sweetwater averages 55.5°F in January and 94.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 21.2 inches
with about 2.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Sweetwater, TX is covered by 1 ZIP code: 79556.
The population of Sweetwater, Texas is 10,546 with a median age of 35.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Sweetwater: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $82,600, median household income $44,306, crime index 100 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Sweetwater side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
