Tornillo is a small town of 1,548 in Texas, with a median household income of $67,917
and a 5.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Tornillo stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Tornillo is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Tornillo 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
Tornillo's overall cost of living index is 90.2,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Tornillo costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Tornillo, TX
National Avg
Median Home Value
$72,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
N/A
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
95.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$67,917
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Tornillo's violent crime rate is 286.0 per 100,000 residents
— 25% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
286.0 /100k
Property Crime
1403.1 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Tornillo is served primarily by TORNILLO ISD.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.8:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Tornillo, TX
National Avg
School District
TORNILLO ISD
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
10.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
51.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Tornillo sees average highs of 61.1°F in January
and 95.4°F in July,
with 8.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 1.7 inches of snow per year.
Tornillo's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Tornillo roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $72,300 and median rent is N/A/month.
Tornillo's violent crime rate is 286.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1403.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Tornillo are operated by TORNILLO ISD.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.8:1. 10.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Tornillo, TX has a population of 1,548, a median household income of $67,917, and an unemployment rate of 5.1%.
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.
Tornillo averages 61.1°F in January and 95.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 8.3 inches
with about 1.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Tornillo, TX is covered by 1 ZIP code: 79853.
The population of Tornillo, Texas is 1,548 with a median age of 39.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Tornillo: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $72,300, median household income $67,917, crime index 72 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Tornillo side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.