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Living in
Orange.
About
Life in Orange
This far-eastern Texas city feels like a place where people settle in rather than pass through—a working community built around its role as a deep-water port and county seat, sitting 113 miles from Houston on the Sabine River. If you're seriously considering a move here, understand that Orange is fundamentally shaped by its industrial and maritime economy, which means stable work exists in port operations and related industries, though the job market isn't as diverse as larger metros nearby. Housing is genuinely affordable—median home values hover around $165,000 with median rent under $1,100—which attracts families looking to stretch their dollars, and the 4.7% unemployment rate suggests locals aren't struggling to find work.
Orange at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
15.4%
Foreign-Born
3.2%
Broadband Internet
87.1%
of households
Population Growth
+0.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.2% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Orange: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Orange, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (48.5%), and 6.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
28.5%
of residents
65 and Older
17.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
32.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
28.7%
of households
Married Couples
40.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.64
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 21% below TX average
Rent, home values, and income in Orange
In Orange, rent runs 21% below the TX average, and home values are 42% below the TX average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
90.0
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,154
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
59.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1973
median year built
Vacant Homes
20.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $182,024 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts above TX average
Unemployment in Orange
Unemployment in Orange County, which includes Orange, is 0.4 percentage points higher than the TX average.
Unemployment rate
Orange: Orange County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Orange County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Orange Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute23 min avg
How Orange residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Orange, most residents drive alone to work (81%), and 67% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 20 mi
Jack Brooks Regional Airport (BPT)
Regional airport · few flights33k passengers boarded in 2025
- 96 mi
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
Major hub23.3M 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 35% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Orange runs 35% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
446.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
959.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Orange Police Department
Natural DisastersFlash Flood most common — 3 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
85.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Orange County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Orange County, which includes Orange, the most common type is flash flood, with 3 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 | Thunderstorm Wind | $4,000 |
| 2024 | 8 | Flash Flood | $3,000 |
| 2023 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.0M |
| 2022 | 1 | Flash Flood | None reported |
| 2021 | 4 | Flash Flood | $5.0M |
| 2020 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | $32,000 |
| 2019 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | $50.0M |
| 2018 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $548,000 |
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.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Orange County, county-wide
Air Quality45 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Orange County, which includes Orange, is typically good — 219 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
45
Good Days
219
per year
Moderate Days
145
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Orange County, county-wide
Climate89°F summers, 42°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Orange has warm summers (avg high 89°F) and mild winters (avg low 42°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
76°/57°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
89°/72°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
78°/57°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
62°/42°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
62.7"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
74
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
19
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
84
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 61°F | 40°F | 5.65" |
| Feb | 64°F | 44°F | 4.18" |
| Mar | 70°F | 50°F | 3.52" |
| Apr | 76°F | 56°F | 4.18" |
| May | 83°F | 64°F | 5.14" |
| Jun | 88°F | 71°F | 6.84" |
| Jul | 90°F | 73°F | 5.82" |
| Aug | 90°F | 72°F | 6.71" |
| Sep | 87°F | 67°F | 6.44" |
| Oct | 79°F | 57°F | 5.96" |
| Nov | 69°F | 47°F | 4.71" |
| Dec | 62°F | 42°F | 5.26" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Orange
Uninsured
16.3%
of residents
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Education13.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Orange
Orange's student/teacher ratio is 13.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 18.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
18.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Big Thicket National Preserve, 44 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Orange
Orange has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Big Thicket National Preserve (44 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Big Thicket National Preserve
National Preserve
44 mi awayPublic Libraries in Orange
Orange Public Library
220 5th St, Orange
Cities Near Orange
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Orange?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Orange FAQ
Is Orange, Texas affordable?⌄
Orange's median rent is $1,108/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $62,891/year. Median home value is $164,900.
Is Orange, Texas safe?⌄
Orange's violent crime rate was 446 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 960 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Orange, Texas?⌄
Orange County, which includes Orange, has an unemployment rate of 4.6%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Orange, Texas?⌄
The cost of living in Orange is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,108/month and median household income is $62,891/year. The median home value is $164,900. About 47% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Orange, Texas?⌄
The average commute in Orange is 23 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