Smiley, Texas

2026 Edition · 10 cards · data as of Oct 30, 2026

ALMANAC

Units needed

Closing the gap would add 0–0.5% to the 220 homes here.

0–1

is the estimated number of missing housing units, from the lowest to the highest of three estimates.

Range computed by the Almanac from 2023 jobs and household data, using three demand models: 1% of jobs located here, 1% of renter households, and a rate by town size applied to renters. The low end is the lowest of the three and the high end the highest. It is an estimate, not a count.Sources: Computed by the Almanac

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Population

Growing. Up 3.9% since 2020.

501

people, the 987th-largest of Texas's cities and towns.

Census Population Estimates, 2025. Rank among Texas's cities and towns computed by the Almanac. Sources: Census Population Estimates
The workday

Every job here goes to someone who lives somewhere else.

100.0%

of 26 jobs located in Smiley are filled by in-commuters.

Census LEHD LODES, 2023. Sources: Census LEHD LODES
Rent

Median rent is up 70% since the 2005–2009 survey, before inflation.

$921

a month. Texas's median is $1,403.

Census ACS 5-year, 2020-2024 (latest), with earlier 5-year windows. Survey estimates for a place this size carry wide margins of error. Sources: Census ACS 5-year
The seam

Cross one tract line and median rent doubles.

A $664 gap between neighbors, the sharpest rent edge between adjacent tracts in Gonzales County.
- $470 Tract 2
- $1,134 Tract 6
Census ACS 5-year, 2020-2024, adjacent tracts compared by the Almanac. Tract estimates carry wide margins of error. Sources: Census ACS 5-year
Room to build

The median rent sits inside what local wages can carry.

$875–$1,313

is the monthly rent range local workforce wages support.
- $921 median
Supportable rent computed by the Almanac from 2023 source wage data. Median rent: Census ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Sources: Computed by the Almanac, Census ACS 5-year
Building

Most of the housing here is older than 2000.
- 0 homes permitted, 2022–2025
- 86% of all homes were built before 2000
Census Building Permits Survey, 2022–2025; Census ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Survey estimates for a place this size carry wide margins of error. Sources: Census Building Permits Survey, Census ACS 5-year
Units needed

Closing the gap would add 0–0.5% to the 220 homes here.

0–1

is the estimated number of missing housing units, from the lowest to the highest of three estimates.

Range computed by the Almanac from 2023 jobs and household data, using three demand models: 1% of jobs located here, 1% of renter households, and a rate by town size applied to renters. The low end is the lowest of the three and the high end the highest. It is an estimate, not a count. Sources: Computed by the Almanac
Home value

A median home costs 52% less than Texas's.

$135,300

median home value in Smiley.
- $135,300 Smiley
- $283,800 Texas
- $332,700 U.S.
Census ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Survey estimates for a place this size carry wide margins of error. Sources: Census ACS 5-year

Smiley, Texas

Smiley,
Texas.

Growing. Up 3.9% since 2020.

Every job here goes to someone who lives somewhere else.

Median rent is up 70% since the 2005–2009 survey, before inflation.

Cross one tract line and median rent doubles.

The median rent sits inside what local wages can carry.

Most of the housing here is older than 2000.

Closing the gap would add 0–0.5% to the 220 homes here.

A median home costs 52% less than Texas's.

Every number came from a public source, with its date.

Growing. Up 3.9% since 2020.

Every job here goes to someone who lives somewhere else.

Median rent is up 70% since the 2005–2009 survey, before inflation.

Cross one tract line and median rent doubles.

The median rent sits inside what local wages can carry.

Most of the housing here is older than 2000.

Closing the gap would add 0–0.5% to the 220 homes here.

A median home costs 52% less than Texas's.

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