Kenedy Texas (1 of 1), 2018
Kenedy’s story
139 years in pictures
Census counts: 1,147 in 1910, 3,473 in 2020. The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 3 maps from 1956 on.
- 1887Kenedy is settled
KenedyTX
A town of 3,305, settled in 1887.
Photo: Renelibrary · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
3,305
2025 Census estimate · −5.4% since 2020
Typical home
$175K
−4.1% in a year
Household income
$61K
median
Median age
36.9
years
Jobs based here
1,579
Balanced
TownGrade
D
#473 of 640 in TX
Is Kenedy a good place to live?
Kenedy earns a D, ranked 473rd of 640 in Texas, mostly because of health and safety. CDC estimates put its residents' health behind 87% of the country. It reports more crime per resident than 78% of U.S. towns, including 7 violent crimes reported to the FBI in 2025. One bright spot: it is more walkable than 72% of U.S. towns. Kenedy’s property crime rate is 28.3 per 1,000 residents, above both Texas’ towns (10.7) and U.S. towns (9.9). Kenedy's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) trails 92% of U.S. towns. The biggest park or preserve is Joe Gulley Park, at 46 acres.
What makes Kenedy stand out
Where Kenedy beats most towns.
How Kenedy grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Texas), ordered by how far Kenedy is from typical.
HealthOtto Kaiser Memorial Hospital 3.1 miles awayDOpen →SafetyC−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.3 of 20; 17% of households have no carB+Open →SchoolsCOpen →Jobs & income$61K median household income; 1,579 jobs based hereC+Open →Cost of livingB−Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 49% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors0 miles of trails; 2% conserved landB−Open →History6 notable people born hereCOpen →Civic life2.9 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsDOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateMild winters, 97° summer afternoons–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 36.9; 11% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Kenedy: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Kenedy, and how to reach them.
PowerGuadalupe Valley Elec Coop11.8¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of Kenedy water system1 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet7 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Kenedy’s trash rules yet
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 hereKarnes County Early Voting ClerkKarnes County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025
ZIP code7811978119 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 Kenedy.
Kenedy has milder winter nights than nearly all U.S. towns, trades workers with San Antonio and other neighbors and has home values still below their peak.
HealthD
Kenedy earns a D for health
19% of adults have diabetes in Kenedy. Kenedy beats the Texas average on 1 of 31 CDC measures and trails it on 16. 30% of adults 18 to 64 have no health insurance in Kenedy.
13%healthier than U.S. townsDHealth Grade
| Kenedy | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 13% | 12% |
| No health insurance, 18–64 (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 18% | 8.1% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 30% | 25% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 24% | 19% |
31 measures vs. Texas
1 better14 too close to call16 worse
| What stands out | Kenedy | TX |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 77.6% | 74.1% |
| More uninsured adults | 29.9% | 19.1% |
Otto Kaiser Memorial Hospital
3.1 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
19th
percentile among TX towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
SchoolsC
Kenedy’s schools rank behind 72% of Texas districts
Its public schools are run by Kenedy ISD. Two of its 3 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
28%of TX districts it outscoresCSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenedy ElLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 384 | C− |
| Kenedy H SLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 219 | B |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within TX on state tests and graduation
HousingCost of living grade B−
Kenedy stands out in Texas and nationally: a smaller share of its households own their home
The typical value, about $175K, is 36% below its December 2021 peak. At about $175K, home values are down 33% in five years, against a rise of 10% across Texas.
40% of Kenedy households own their home. The typical Kenedy home is worth about $175,000, down 4.1% in a year, 41% below the Texas typical home.
$175KZillow home value
| Kenedy | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 40% | 69% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,099 a month | $1,208 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Kenedy$175K
Texas$296K
−4.1%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
SafetyC−
Kenedy earns a C− for safety
Kenedy reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 78% report less.
22%of U.S. towns report more crimeC−Safety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Kenedy2.1
Texas3.5
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Kenedy28.3
Texas18.1
U.S.15.5
22nd
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
23rd
percentile among TX towns
7
violent crimes reported in 2025
95
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Climate
Kenedy has mild winters and hot summers
January nights average 43°, milder than in 96% of U.S. towns; July afternoons average 95.6°.
Kenedy has warm winters and hot summers. The January low in Kenedy is 43°F. Snow is almost unheard of.
97°summer high
| Kenedy | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| January low | 43°F | 37°F | 22°F |
| July high | 96°F | 95°F | 85°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter45–67°
Spring60–82°
Summer73–95°
Fall60–83°
Dec 9
typical first frost
Feb 16
typical last frost
+1.1°
vs. the 20th-century average
97°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C+
About one in eight working residents works right in Kenedy
Kenedy has about as many jobs (1,579) as working residents, but only 232 people both live and work here. The average commute takes 16.9 minutes, against 26.7 across Texas.
Most working residents leave Kenedy for work: only 13% work in town. Kenedy’s average trip to work is 17 minutes. The top destinations are San Antonio (14%), Austin (5%) and Houston (5%).
13%work in town
| Kenedy | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 17 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 16% | 12% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 13% | 8.3% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Kenedy13%
San Antonio14%
Austin5%
Houston5%
Karnes City4%
56 mi
median commute distance
1,579
jobs based in Kenedy
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
B+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 72% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
2.3%conserved
| Kenedy | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.1 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 2.3% | 1.9% | 4.3% |
2.3%
conserved · 64 of 2,826 acres
0.4 mi
of trails · 0.1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Joe Gulley Park | 0.2 mi | 46 |
| 2. Escondido Creek Parkway | — | 17 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B−
Inland flooding leads a moderate hazard risk in Kenedy
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 51% of U.S. communities. Since 1981, 3 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Kenedy.
49risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHurricanesTornadoes
3
paid flood claims since 1981
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Kenedy
20pages on Kenedy
The big questions
SchoolsCBehind 72% of TX districts · 3 schoolsSafetyC−2.1 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthDBetter than TX on 1 of 31 CDC measuresCost of livingB−$175K typical home · down 4.1% in a yearWork & commuteC+$61K median household income · 1,579 jobs hereNatural hazardsB−FEMA risk higher than 49% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Kenedy; the nearest are
Coastal Bend CollegeCommunity college · Public · Beeville26.5 mi$2,916 in-state tuitionTexas A&M University-San AntonioUniversity or college · Public · San Antonio53 mi$9,654 in-state tuition
About 2 of every 100 Kenedy residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Texas.
Famous people from Kenedy
6 notable people were born in Kenedy.
C
Carl BaughAmerican Christian creationist · born 1936M
Mike WhitwellAmerican football player · born 1958N
Nelson StokleyAmerican football player and coach, college athletics administrator · 1944–2010C
Clair BranchAmerican gridiron football player · 1938–2022C
Cliff GustafsonAmerican baseball player and coach · 1931–2023About Kenedy
City in Texas, United States
Kenedy is a city in Karnes County, Texas, United States, named for Mifflin Kenedy, who bought 400,000 acres (1,600 km2) and wanted to develop a new town that would carry his name. The population was 3,473 at the 2020 census, up from 3,296 at the 2010 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 3.7 sq mi
- Elevation
- 266 ft
- ZIP code
- 78119
- Area code
- 830
Questions about Kenedy
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Kenedy, TX a good place to live?
Kenedy grades D overall, better than 12% of U.S. towns and #473 of 640 in Texas. It grades D for health, C− for safety and C for schools. Health is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Kenedy, TX expensive?
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 Kenedy, TX known for?
6 notable people were born here, including Jim Busby and Carl Baugh.