At a Glance
Median Income
$67,431
$24,097 per capita
Home Value
$124,200
Zillow: $160,386
Median Rent
$980/mo
28.4% of income on rent
Violent Crime
136/100K
847/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
12.7%
77.9% high school+
Unemployment
7.9%
20.0% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
45.1%
16.8% smoking rate
How Taft Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Taft's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Taft a Good Place to Live?
C+
2.7 / 5.0 - Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Taft residents earn a median household income of $67,431 , which is 10% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $24,097. The unemployment rate stands at 7.9% (119% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 20.0% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 8,568 business establishments, including 982 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Taft is $124,200 , 56% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $160,386. Median rent is $980/month, with 28.4% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 97.1 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1964.
Safety & Crime
Taft reports 136 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 64% below the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 847/100K.
Education
12.7% of adults in Taft hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(62% below the national average).
77.9% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.1/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Taft has an average annual temperature of 71°F (21°C).
Winters average 55°F in January while summers reach 83°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 36.4 inches. Air quality is rated Moderate with a median AQI of 51.
Data Overview
People
Population2,847
Median Age35.0 yrs
Density1,705/mi²
Male / Female47% / 53%
Foreign Born1.1%
Veterans9.4%
Economy
C+
Median Income$67,431
Per Capita$24,097
Unemployment7.9%
Poverty20.0%
County GDP$27,852M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,163
Housing
A+
Home Value$124,200
Rent$980
Ownership68.0%
Zillow$160,386
Housing Units1,093
Rent Burden28.4%
Crime
F
Violent136/100K
Property847/100K
Health
Obesity45.1%
Diabetes17.3%
Smoking16.8%
Heart Disease7.0%
Premature Death10,927/100K
Climate
Avg Temp71°F
Rain36.4 in/yr
AQI51 (Moderate)
Elevation50 ft
Education
C
Bachelor's+12.7%
High School+77.9%
Graduate+2.6%
School Score5.1/10
Community
2024 VoteR 55% / D 44%
Commute27 min
Broadband68.5%
Internet Speed234 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries10
Did You Know?
The median home in Taft was built in 1964.
The nearest airport is Corpus Christi International (16 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.462 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively High" by FEMA.
24.8% of the population has a disability.
Average internet download speed is 234 Mbps.
There are 982 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 38 fatal vehicle crashes.
91 declared natural disasters on record.