Downtown Hico, Texas Wagon Team. circa 1910, 1910
Hico’s story
166 years in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1910.
- 1860Hico is settled
HicoTX
Trash day: look up yoursPhoto: Renelibrary · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
1,496
2025 Census estimate · +12.7% since 2020
Typical home
$328K
−0.6% in a year
Household income
$68K
median
Median age
35.6
years
Jobs based here
395
Balanced
Is Hico a good place to live?
The best of Hico’s subject grades is an A− for safety; the weakest is a C− for incomes. Hico City Park, at 66 acres with 1.6 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve. Hico has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Hico stand out
Where Hico beats most towns.
Small town
1,496 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
How Hico grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Texas), ordered by how far Hico is from typical.
SafetyA−Open →Jobs & income$68K median household incomeC−Open →SchoolsB+Open →Cost of livingB+Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 41% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listBOpen →HealthTexas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Stephenvill 19.3 miles awayC+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 8.6 of 20; 11% of households have no car; 0.2% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors2 miles of trails; 4% conserved landB+Open →History2 notable people born hereC+Open →Civic life3.8 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Hico: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Hico, and how to reach them.
PowerUnited Electric Coop Service13.9¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of Hico water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpBy addressDay by addressTown site
Register to voteIn personTexas has no online registration; you can register in person until 30 days before Election Day or by mail (postmarked 30 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereHamilton County Early Voting ClerkHamilton County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025
ZIP code7645776457 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Hico.
SafetyA−
Hico reports less crime per resident than 78% of U.S. towns
Hico’s violent crime rate comes in at 3.3 per 1,000 residents. Its rate of thefts and burglaries is 4 per 1,000 residents, where Texas’ towns sit at 10.7 and U.S. towns at 9.9.
78%of U.S. towns report more crimeA−Safety Grade
| Hico | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 3.3 per 1,000 residents | 1.9 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 4 per 1,000 residents | 10.7 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Hico3.3
Texas3.5
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Hico4
Texas18.1
U.S.15.5
78th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
5
violent crimes reported in 2025
6
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
SchoolsB+
Hico’s schools rank ahead of 69% of Texas districts
Its public schools are run by Hico ISD. The largest public high school is Hico H S, with 324 students. Also worth knowing: 2 public schools serve Hico, with 627 students in all.
69%of TX districts it outscoresB+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hico ElLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 303 | B+ |
| Hico H SLargest public high schoolGrades 6–12 | Grades 6–12 | 324 | A− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within TX on state tests and graduation
Climate
Mild winters and hot summers in Hico
July afternoons reach 95°, January nights drop to 34° and snow is almost unheard of.
96°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter36–60°
Spring53–77°
Summer71–94°
Fall54–78°
Nov 7
typical first frost
Mar 24
typical last frost
+0.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
96°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
More children than Texas overall
Hico: 19% of residents are 65 or older, above Texas’ towns (14%) and close to U.S. towns (18%). Children under 18 are 33% of residents (25% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 16% of residents (24% statewide). The Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate puts Hico at 1,496 residents, up 13% since 2020. Its midpoint age comes in at 35.6 years.
35.6median age · TX 35.6
| Hico | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or older | 19% | 14% | 18% |
| Median age | 35.6 years | 35.9 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 24% | 23% | 29% |
HicoTexasUnited States
Ages · share of residents
27%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma9%
High school33%
Some college30%
Associate’s4%
Bachelor’s18%
Graduate6%
Women and men · all residents
54% women, 46% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±7.7 points. Across Texas, 50.1% of residents are women.
| Hico | TX | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 27% | 13.3% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 6% | 11.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 4.1% | 9.7% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 12.1% | 14.5% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 9.8% | 14.1% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 9.5% | 12.3% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 12.4% | 11.1% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 6% | 8.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 13.2% | 5.2% | 7% |
| No diploma | 9.2% | 14% | 10.4% |
| High school | 32.6% | 24.3% | 26% |
| Some college | 30% | 20.1% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 4.3% | 7.7% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 17.8% | 21.5% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 6.1% | 12.3% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 1,500, single groups can be off by several points
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C−
Most of Hico’s workers commute out: the town has 0.8 jobs for each of them
In Hico, the average trip to work is 21 minutes. Employers in Hico added 74 jobs between 2013 and 2023, to 395. The top destinations are Stephenville (9%), Austin (6%) and Hamilton (4%). Half commute less than 23 miles.
16%work in town
| Hico | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 21 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 16% | 8.3% | 8% |
| Median household income | $68,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 12% | 12% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Hico16%
Stephenville9%
Austin6%
Hamilton4%
San Antonio3%
23 mi
median commute distance
395
jobs based in Hico
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
C+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 44% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HousingCost of living grade B+
A typical Hico home is worth about $328K
For households in Hico, the share who are owner-occupiers is 77%.
$328KZillow home value
Typical home value
Hico$328K
Texas$296K
−0.6%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B
Top of a moderate hazard risk in Hico: inland flooding
FEMA expects less storm and flood damage in Hico than in 59% of U.S. communities. Of the losses FEMA expects in the town, 32% come from inland flooding and 24% from tornadoes. Federal aid has come to Hico households in 2 declared disasters; the latest was in 2021.
41risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesWildfire
1
paid flood claims since 2012
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HealthC+
Health in Hico trails 57% of U.S. towns
The share of adults in Hico who had a checkup this year: 76%. The town does better than the Texas average on 8 of 31 CDC measures and worse on 7.
43%healthier than U.S. townsC+Health Grade
| Hico | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No health insurance, 18–64 (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 18% | 8.1% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 38% | 35% | 35% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 76% | 74% | 79% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 39% | 36% |
31 measures vs. Texas
8 better16 too close to call7 worse
| What stands out | Hico | TX |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 13.2% | 19.1% |
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 11.4% | 16.4% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 9.8% | 6.1% |
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Stephenvill
19.3 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
OutdoorsB+
Hico keeps 3.8% of its land conserved
The trail network density is 0.9 miles per square mile.
3.8%conserved
| Hico | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.9 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 3.8% | 1.9% | 4.3% |
3.8%
conserved · 44 of 1,164 acres
1.6 mi
of trails · 0.9 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Hico City Park | 1.6 mi | 66 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Hico
20pages on Hico
The big questions
SchoolsB+Beat 69% of TX districts · 2 schoolsSafetyA−3.3 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthC+Better than TX on 8 of 31 CDC measuresCost of livingB+$328K typical home · down 0.6% in a yearWork & commuteC−$68K median household income · 395 jobs hereNatural hazardsBFEMA risk higher than 41% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Hico; the nearest are
Tarleton State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Stephenville19.6 mi$8,302 in-state tuitionRanger CollegeCommunity college · Public · Ranger50.4 mi$2,766 in-state tuition
About 2 of every 100 Hico residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Texas.
About Hico
City in Texas, United States
Hico (, HY-koh) is a small city located in Hamilton County in central Texas, United States. The population was 1,335 at the time of the 2020 census, down from 1,341 in the 2010 census. Over the years, it became a cattle and cotton market. Today, ranching and tourism dominate the local economy.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.8 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,027 ft
- ZIP code
- 76457
- Area code
- 254
Questions about Hico
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Hico, TX expensive?
Not for the area. That is 5.6 years of the area's median household income ($58,219 across the county). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B+.
What is Hico, TX known for?
2 notable people were born here, including Mattie Parker and Howard Carson.