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Living in
Big Spring.
About
Life in Big Spring
Big Spring is a community of 24,769 people in Texas. The median household income is $67,581, median rent runs about $1,050 per month, and median home values are around $138,800. Unemployment is low at 4.0%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Big Spring at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
17.1%
Foreign-Born
11.8%
Broadband Internet
87.3%
of households
Population Growth
-15.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics11.8% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Big Spring: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Big Spring, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (60.2%), and 31.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.2%
of residents
65 and Older
12.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
35.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
34.6%
of households
Married Couples
39.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.29
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 25% below TX average
Rent, home values, and income in Big Spring
In Big Spring, rent runs 25% below the TX average, and home values are 51% below the TX average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
47.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
19.7%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$1,420
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
64.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1963
median year built
Vacant Homes
13.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $140,457 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for TX
Unemployment in Big Spring
Unemployment in Big Spring is close to the TX average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Big Spring Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute21.1 min avg
How Big Spring residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Big Spring, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 76% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 47 mi
Midland International Air and Space Port (MAF)
Small hub761k passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 161% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Big Spring runs 161% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
860.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,447.8
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Big Spring Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 15 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
54.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Howard County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Howard County, which includes Big Spring, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 15 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.2M |
| 2024 | 7 | Flash Flood | $500 |
| 2023 | 13 | Flash Flood | $25,000 |
| 2022 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $200,000 |
| 2021 | 13 | Hail | $66,500 |
| 2020 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 11 | Hail | $2,000 |
| 2018 | 6 | High Wind | $7,500 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
120 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Howard County, county-wide
Air Quality42 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2023)
Data not yet available
Climate95°F summers, 33°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Big Spring has hot summers (avg high 95°F) and mild winters (avg low 33°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
79°/51°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
95°/71°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
78°/52°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
60°/33°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
19.6"
Annual Snowfall
2.0"
Hot Days/Year
115
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
54
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
46
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58°F | 31°F | 0.73" |
| Feb | 63°F | 35°F | 0.80" |
| Mar | 71°F | 42°F | 1.15" |
| Apr | 79°F | 50°F | 1.55" |
| May | 87°F | 60°F | 2.54" |
| Jun | 94°F | 68°F | 2.49" |
| Jul | 96°F | 72°F | 1.58" |
| Aug | 95°F | 72°F | 2.40" |
| Sep | 88°F | 64°F | 2.39" |
| Oct | 79°F | 53°F | 1.84" |
| Nov | 67°F | 41°F | 1.35" |
| Dec | 58°F | 33°F | 0.78" |
Healthcare2 hospitals
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Big Spring
Big Spring has 2 hospitals.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
16.5%
of residents
Scenic Mountain Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Big Spring State Hospital
Psychiatric
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education13.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Big Spring
Big Spring's student/teacher ratio is 13.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 12.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
9
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
12.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Big Spring
Public · 2-year · 1,611 students · in-state tuition $2,766 · 35% graduate · median earnings $40,037 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreation
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Big Spring
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Public Libraries in Big Spring
Howard County Library
500 S Main St, Big Spring
Cities Near Big Spring
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Big Spring?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Big Spring FAQ
Is Big Spring, Texas affordable?⌄
Big Spring's median rent is $1,050/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $67,581/year. Median home value is $140,200.
Is Big Spring, Texas safe?⌄
Big Spring's violent crime rate was 860 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2448 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Big Spring, Texas?⌄
Big Spring has an unemployment rate of 4.0%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Big Spring, Texas?⌄
The cost of living in Big Spring is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,050/month and median household income is $67,581/year. The median home value is $140,200. About 47% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Big Spring, Texas?⌄
The average commute in Big Spring is 21 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from