Center is a city in Shelby County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,221 at the 2020 U.S. census. It is the county seat of Shelby County located in deep East Texas. It was named for its location near the center of Shelby County; the community is near the Louisiana border.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Center ranks

All →

#36Shortest commute in TX #40Most affordable in TX #72Cheapest rent in TX All TX rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code75935

Area code936

Living in Center

Housing in Center

$213K▼ 5.4% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Center home is worth about $213,000, down 5.4% in a year, 29% below the Texas typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Center

Safety Grade D

Center reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 87% report less.

Violent crime per 1,000

Center 6.5

Texas 3.5

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Center 16.5

Texas 18.1

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Center

Full picture →

49% of Center’s working residents work right in town. The top destinations are Houston (5%), Nacogdoches (4%) and Lufkin (3%). Half commute less than 3 miles.

Houston

Nacogdoches

Lufkin

Beaumont

49%Work in townlive and work in Center 3 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 5,901Jobs based herea job hub

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Center →

Health in Center

D⁻

Health Grade D−

Healthier than 3% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Texas

2better than TX·16worse

of 26 measures CDC estimates. The other 8 are too close to call.

Conditions 8▼ 4 close Habits 1▲ 2▼ 1 close Care 1▲ 3▼ 3 close Mind 3▼ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

13.4%Fewer binge drinkersTX 17% · better 78.2%More adults treating high blood pressureTX 74.1% · better 23.6%More older adults who have lost all their teethTX 12.5% · worse

Care nearby

Chi St. Lukes Health Memorial San AugustineSan Augustine · 18.6 mi · ER

Hope Community Medicine- Center LocationCenter · 0.9 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Center · CMS · HRSAHealth in Center →

Natural hazards in Center

Very low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 17% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes💨 Strong wind

2Does Center flood?paid flood claims since 1992 8Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Center

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Center →

Climate in Center

Full climate →

Center has mild winters and hot summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 93°, a January night drops to 37°, and snow is almost unheard of.

60° / 39°Winter

77° / 54°Spring

92° / 71°Summer

78° / 55°Fall

How much snow does Center get?Almost none.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Nov 15, with the last in spring around Mar 13.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.4° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Center →

Schools in Center

All Center schools →

School Grade B

The public schools Center’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 56% of Texas’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

See how Center’s schools compare in TX →

DistrictCENTER ISDSchools5

F L Moffett PriElementary · Grades PK–2 · 630 students Center El C+Elementary · Grades 3–5 · 476 students Center Middle B+Middle · Grades 6–8 · 496 students Center H S BHigh · Grades 9–12 · 662 students Roughrider Academy D-High · Grades 9–12 · 43 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within TX. Ratings are from neighbors.