Post office and business establishments on the main street of Waelder, Texas, 1939
Waelder’s story
152 years in pictures
The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 1939.
- 1874Waelder is settled
WaelderTX
A town of 954, settled in 1874.
Population
954
2025 Census estimate · +2% since 2020
Typical home
$285K
−9.1% in a year
Household income
$61K
median
Median age
40.9
years
Jobs based here
497
A job hub
Is Waelder a good place to live?
Waelder’s January low is 41°F, above both the Texas town median (37°F) and the median of U.S. towns (22°F). Waelder has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
954 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Waelder: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Waelder, and how to reach them.
PowerCity of WaelderEIAHIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of Waelder water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Waelder’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 hereGonzales County Early Voting ClerkGonzales County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025
ZIP code7895978959 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 Waelder.
Work & commute
With 1.5 jobs for every working resident, Waelder draws in 471 commuters
Most working residents leave Waelder for work: only 8% work in town. Jobs based in Waelder fell to 497 in 2023, 99 fewer than in 2013. At $61,000, Waelder’s median household income is where Texas’ towns sit at $69,000 and U.S. towns at $80,000.
8%work in town
| Waelder | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $61,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 13% | 12% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Waelder8%
Gonzales12%
Austin7%
San Antonio7%
Houston4%
41 mi
median commute distance
497
jobs based in Waelder
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Schools
The schools Waelder’s kids attend
Its public schools are run by Waelder ISD. Its one school is below. The largest public high school is Waelder School, with 302 students.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waelder SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades PK–12 | Grades PK–12 | 302 | D |
NCES · EDFacts
Climate
Mild winters and hot summers in Waelder
Waelder has warm winters and hot summers. The July high in Waelder is 95°F.
97°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter43–65°
Spring58–80°
Summer73–95°
Fall59–82°
Nov 28
typical first frost
Feb 26
typical last frost
+1.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
97°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Safety
Crime reported in Waelder
4 crimes were reported in Waelder in 2025: 2 property and 2 violent. In a town this small, a few incidents move the numbers a lot, so rates aren't shown.
Waelder is small, so we show counts rather than rates.
2
violent crimes reported in 2025
2
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Health
How healthy Waelder is
Waelder beats the Texas average on 1 of 31 CDC measures and trails it on 14. 19% of Waelder adults have diabetes.
| Waelder | 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) | 38% | 30% | 25% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 24% | 19% |
31 measures vs. Texas
1 better16 too close to call14 worse
| What stands out | Waelder | TX |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 77.6% | 74.1% |
| More uninsured adults | 29.6% | 19.1% |
Ascension Seton Edgar B Davis
21.4 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Housing
Homes in Waelder are worth about $285K, by Zillow’s estimate
The typical Waelder home is worth about $285,000, down 9.1% in a year, close to the Texas typical home. Waelder’s median rent is $959 a month.
$285KZillow home value
| Waelder | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $959 a month | $1,208 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 71% | 69% | 73% |
Typical home value
Waelder$285K
Texas$296K
−9.1%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Natural hazards
Moderate risk in Waelder, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 52% of U.S. communities. Since 1981, 2 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Waelder.
48risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHurricanes
2
paid flood claims since 1981
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 820 acres
1.0 mi
of trails · 0.8 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Macario Garcia Park | 0.1 mi | 2 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Waelder
19pages on Waelder
The big questions
Schools1 schoolSafety2.1 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthBetter than TX on 1 of 31 CDC measuresCost of living$285K typical home · down 9.1% in a yearWork & commute$61K median household income · 497 jobs hereNatural hazardsFEMA risk higher than 48% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Waelder; the nearest are
Texas State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · San Marcos41 mi$11,450 in-state tuitionBlinn College DistrictCommunity college · Public · Brenham62.2 mi$4,890 in-state tuition
About 2 of every 100 Waelder residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Texas.
A shrinking town
Waelder has shrunk 11% since 2010
1,065 counted in 2010 and 933 in 2020; an estimated 954 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
Questions about Waelder
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Waelder, TX a good place to live?
Waelder has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.