Town in Harris County, part of the Houston metro

Living in El Lago, TX

A+

20th of 745Texas towns of 1,000 to 10,000 people
Overall score 97 of 100
10th of 125 in the Houston area

El Lago gets an overall grade of A+ and ranks 20th of 745 Texas towns of 1,000 to 10,000 people. It does best on errands and things to do and home ownership, and trails on getting around. It is a strong pick for families, young professionals, retirees and remote workers.

  • Good for families
  • Good for young professionals
  • Good for retirees
  • Good for remote workers
  • Getting around scores low (18 of 100)
  • Coastal flooding risk is very high
Map of Texas showing where El Lago isSan AntonioDallasAustinFort WorthEl Lago
Where El Lago is in Texas.
Population
2,984-2.8% since 2020
Median rent
$1,374about the same as Texas
Median home value
$320,90013% higher than Texas
Household income
$95,625Median
Average commute
31 minOne way
Violent crime
No dataNo full-year report

What it's like to live in El Lago

El Lago sits about 25 miles from downtown Houston, in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands metro. 2,984 people lived here in 2025, down 2.8% from 2020. It is densely built.

Local spots people know include McNair Memorial Park and Witty Memorial Park.

The median age is 43.9, 27% of households have children, 80% of homes are owned by the people living in them and the typical household earns $95,625 a year (22% higher than the Texas median).

Pros of living in El Lago

No clear standouts in our data.

Cons of living in El Lago

  • Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of coastal flooding, hurricanes and tornadoes as very high here.

Who El Lago suits

  • FamiliesA reasonable fit. Compared with similar Texas places, it beats 98% for families.
  • Young professionalsA reasonable fit: household income is 22% higher than the Texas median, with 4 restaurants and 1 cafe in town. Compared with similar Texas places, it beats 96% for young professionals.
  • RetireesA reasonable fit: 12% of working-age adults are uninsured. Compared with similar Texas places, it beats 98% for retirees.
  • Remote workersA reasonable fit: 94% of homes have broadband and the median rent of $1,374 is about the same as the Texas median. Compared with similar Texas places, it beats 95% for remote workers.
  • People on a budgetA reasonable fit: the median rent of $1,374 is about the same as the Texas median. Compared with similar Texas places, it beats 62% for people on a budget.

El Lago report card

Ten grades, one for each part of daily life we measure. Most compare El Lago with other US towns of 1,000 to 10,000 people. Schools, safety and errands compare it with other Texas towns of 1,000 to 10,000 people.

  • Cost of living: grade C+

    Median rent $1,374, homes cost 3.4x income.

    56 of 100 vs US towns

  • Jobs and income: grade A-

    Median household income $95,625, 3.5% unemployed.

    85 of 100 vs US towns

  • Schools: grade A-

    1 rated campuses, 100% rated A or B.

    81 of 100 vs TX towns

  • Safety: no grade

    No full year of crime data from local police.

    No score vs TX towns

  • Errands and things to do: grade A

    0 grocery stores, 4 restaurants, 2 parks mapped in town.

    93 of 100 vs TX towns

  • Getting around: grade D

    Average commute 31 min, 13% work from home.

    18 of 100 vs US towns

  • Education levels: grade A-

    52% have a bachelor’s degree.

    84 of 100 vs US towns

  • Health: grade B

    12% of adults uninsured.

    65 of 100 vs US towns

  • Home ownership: grade A-

    80% of homes owner-occupied.

    87 of 100 vs US towns

  • Internet access: grade B

    94% of homes have broadband.

    71 of 100 vs US towns

Where El Lago stands out compared with Texas

Better than Texas

  • Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent: 14%38 points lower than Texas (52%)
  • Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher: 52%18 points higher than Texas (34%)
  • Homes owned by the people living in them: 80%17 points higher than Texas (63%)

Worse than Texas

  • Average commute: 31 min15% higher than Texas (27 min)
  • Workers who walk, bike or take transit: 1.1%1 points lower than Texas (2.6%)

Cost of living in El Lago

El Lago renters pay a median of $1,374 a month, about the same as the statewide median. The usual rule is to spend no more than 30% of income on rent, which means earning around $55,000 a year for a median unit. Right now 14% of renters here pay more than 30% of their income on rent.

HUD sets fair market rents for this area at $1,261 for a one-bedroom, $1,497 for a two-bedroom and $2,017 for a three-bedroom (fiscal year 2027). These figures include utilities and describe a modest unit, so newer apartments often ask for more.

The median home is worth $320,900, 13% higher than the Texas median. With 20% down and a 30-year loan at 7.28%, the monthly payment comes to about $1,757 before tax, or $2,295 with property tax. That is $921 a month more than the median rent, so renting is the cheaper monthly choice unless you plan to stay for years.

Texas has no state income tax, but property taxes are among the highest in the country. The median homeowner in El Lago pays $6,464 a year, 53% higher than the Texas median of $4,232. Budget for it, along with homeowners insurance, which our numbers do not include.

Typical rent by apartment size

Fair market rent by bedroom count in El LagoStudio$1,2331 bedroom$1,2612 bedrooms$1,4973 bedrooms$2,0174 bedrooms$2,502
HUD fair market rent for FY2027, Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX HUD Metro FMR Area. This is what a typical, modest unit rents for, including utilities.
MeasureHereTexasUS
Median rentAbout the same as Texas$1,374$1,403$1,413
Median home value13% higher than Texas$320,900$283,800$332,700
Home value to income7% lower than Texas3.4x3.6x4.1x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent38 points lower than Texas14%52%51%
Median property tax per year53% higher than Texas$6,464$4,232$3,119
Homes owned by the people living in them17 points higher than Texas80%63%65%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Texas197719921980

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$2,295
Mortgage payment
$1,757
Property tax
$539
Median rent, for comparison
$1,374

Based on a $320,900 home in El Lago, 20% down and a 30-year loan at 7.28% (Freddie Mac average, week of 2026-10-01). Property tax is the median paid locally, or the county median where the local figure is not published. Insurance and fees are not included.

Schools in El Lago

El Lago has 1 public school campuses with a 2025 state rating inside the city, and 100% of them earn an A or B. Most students here are served by Clear Creek ISD.

Texas districts usually assign students by attendance zone rather than the closest campus, so check the zone for a specific address with the district before you sign a lease or buy.

Schools grade
81
of 100 vs Texas towns
Average rating
87
Texas median 81

Ratings are the 2025 Texas Education Agency A to F accountability ratings. Always check which school serves a specific address with the district.

Top-rated schools

  • BEd H White ElementaryElementary, Clear Creek ISD87 of 100

Daily life in El Lago

Everyday places mapped inside El Lago, from Overture Maps. Well-known spots include McNair Memorial Park, Witty Memorial Park.

The average one-way commute is 31 minutes, 15% longer than the Texas average. 13% of workers work from home. Fewer than 3% walk, bike or take transit to work, so plan on driving for almost everything.

Downtown Houston is about 25 miles away in a straight line. Many people who live in El Lago work elsewhere in the metro, so test the drive at rush hour before you commit.

The median household income is $95,625, income per person is $51,033, unemployment is 3.5% and 52% of adults hold a bachelor's degree.

Grocery stores
0
Pharmacies
0
Restaurants
4
Cafes
1
Bars
0
Parks
2
Gyms
0
Hospitals and urgent care
0
Childcare
0
Libraries
0

Jobs, income and education

MeasureHereTexasUS
Median household income22% higher than Texas$95,625$78,476$80,734
Income per person25% higher than Texas$51,033$40,752$44,673
Unemployment rate2 points lower than Texas3.5%5.3%5.2%
People below the poverty line11 points lower than Texas2.4%14%12%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher18 points higher than Texas52%34%36%
Adults with a high school diploma or higher10 points higher than Texas96%86%90%
Adults 18 to 64 without health insurance8 points lower than Texas12%20%11%
Homes with broadband internet3 points higher than Texas94%91%91%

Getting to work

MeasureHereTexasUS
Average commute15% higher than Texas31 min27 min26 min
Workers who work from home1 points lower than Texas13%14%15%
Workers who work from home13%
Workers who take transit0%
Workers who walk1.1%
Workers who bike0%

Who lives in El Lago

Under 1822%
18 to 3416%
35 to 6444%
65 and over18%

Median age 43.9 years. 27% of households have children.

Race and ethnicity
White70%
Hispanic or Latino11%
Black7.3%
Asian9.7%
Other or more than one race1.9%

Shown for information only. It is never part of any grade.

Weather in El Lago

El Lago has a hot Texas climate. July highs average 92°F and January lows about 46°F. There are about 76 days a year at 90°F or above, and about 60 inches of rain a year.

Average monthly high and low temperatures in El Lago40°60°80°100°64J67F73M78A85M90J92J92A88S82O72N66DRain

Average daily high and low by month, °F, with rain below. NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals from Houston Nwso, 7 mi away. Orange months average 90°F or more.

Natural hazard risk

FEMA's National Risk Index says river flooding risk is high, coastal flooding risk is very high, hurricane risk is very high, tornado risk is very high and hail risk is low. Before you buy, look up the FEMA flood zone for the exact address and get a flood insurance quote, since standard home policies do not cover floods.

  • River floodingHigh
  • Coastal floodingVery high
  • HurricanesVery high
  • TornadoesVery high
  • HailLow
  • Heat wavesHigh
  • WildfiresLow
  • Winter stormsLow
  • Strong windLow

Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025, Census tract level averaged for the city. Check the FEMA flood map for any address before you buy.

Places near El Lago

Nearby, Taylor Lake Village gets an A+, Seabrook gets a B+ and Clear Lake Shores gets an A-. Each is graded against Texas places of its own size, so a small town and a big city can both earn an A.

  1. A+Taylor Lake VillageTown, 3,721 people1 mi
  2. B+SeabrookSmall city, 13,768 people1 mi
  3. A-Clear Lake ShoresTown, 1,140 people2 mi
  4. D+KemahTown, 2,168 people3 mi
  5. A-Nassau BayTown, 5,230 people3 mi
  6. B+ShoreacresTown, 1,580 people4 mi

El Lago in the Houston area

How it ranks among 125 places in the metro.

  1. 1A+Taylor Lake Village3,721 people25 mito downtown
  2. 2A+Bunker Hill Village3,829 people9 mito downtown
  3. 3A+West University Place14,982 people6 mito downtown
  4. 7A+Cinco Ranch18,611 people23 mito downtown
  5. 8A+Bellaire17,206 people7 mito downtown
  6. 9A+Sugar Land110,016 people20 mito downtown
  7. 10A+El Lago2,997 people25 mito downtown
  8. 11A+The Woodlands121,002 people28 mito downtown
  9. 12A+Hunters Creek Village4,390 people7 mito downtown
  10. 13A+Hilshire Village1,220 people6 mito downtown

See all of the best suburbs of houston

Living in El Lago: common questions

Is El Lago, TX a good place to live?

El Lago gets an overall grade of A+ and ranks 20th of 745 Texas towns of 1,000 to 10,000 people. It does best on errands and things to do and home ownership, and trails on getting around. It is a strong pick for families, young professionals, retirees and remote workers.

How much does it cost to live in El Lago?

Renters in El Lago pay a median of $1,374 a month, about the same as the Texas median. The median home is worth $320,900, 13% higher than the Texas median. A median home costs 3.4x the median household income, compared with 3.6x across Texas. With 20% down at a 7.28% rate, the monthly payment on a median home is about $2,295, including property tax.

Are the schools good in El Lago?

We found 1 rated public school campuses inside El Lago. 100% are rated A or B by the Texas Education Agency. Its schools score is 81 of 100 compared with other Texas towns of 1,000 to 10,000 people.

Does El Lago flood?

FEMA rates river flooding risk in El Lago as high, and coastal flooding as very high. Hazards rated high or very high here: river flooding, coastal flooding, hurricanes, tornadoes and heat waves. Always check the flood map for a specific address before you buy.

What is the weather like in El Lago?

Summers in El Lago peak at about 92°F in July, and January nights fall to about 46°F. Expect around 76 days a year at 90°F or hotter, and 60 inches of rain.

How long is the commute in El Lago?

The average one-way commute is 31 min, 15% higher than the Texas average. About 13% of workers work from home. It is about 25 miles from downtown Houston.

Sources: US Census Bureau 2020-2024 ACS 5-year and 2025 population estimates, CDC PLACES 2025, Texas Education Agency 2025 ratings, FBI Crime Data Explorer, FEMA National Risk Index, NOAA climate normals, HUD fair market rents, Overture Maps. Updated 2026-10-04. How we grade.