West is a city in McLennan County, Texas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,531. It is named after Thomas West, the city's first postmaster. The city is in north-central Texas, about 70 miles (110 km) south of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, 20 miles north of Waco, and 120 miles north of Austin. Despite its name, the city is not in West Texas; area residents sometimes call the community "West comma Texas" to avoid confusion. As of 2012 it has one of the largest concentrations of Czech Texans of any city in the state.

Official town website ↗

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

How West ranks

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#1Most conserved land in TX #41Highest graduation rate in TX #44Safest in TX All TX rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code76691

Area code254

Living in West

Housing in West

$300K▲ 2.1% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical West home is worth about $300,000, up 2.1% in a year, close to the Texas typical home.

A strong seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market48

Sale-to-list95.5%

Sold in May5

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in West

A⁻

Safety Grade A-

West reports less crime per resident than 78% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.

Violent crime per 1,000

West 1.2

Texas 3.5

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

West 3.8

Texas 18.1

U.S. 15.5

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

Work & commute in West

Full picture →

Most working residents leave West for work: only 18% work in town. The top destinations are Waco (25%), Austin (3%) and Lacy-Lakeview (3%). Half commute less than 19 miles.

Waco

25%

Austin

Lacy-Lakeview

Fort Worth

18%Work in townlive and work in West 19 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 1,202Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in West →

Health in West

C⁺

Health Grade C+

Healthier than 42% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 62% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Texas

3better than TX·5worse

of 26 measures CDC estimates. The other 18 are too close to call.

Conditions 5▼ 7 close Habits all close Care 3▲ 4 close Mind all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

13.7%Fewer uninsured adultsTX 19.1% · better 63.7%More adults screened for colon cancerTX 57.9% · better 9.2%More adults who have had cancerTX 6.1% · worse

Care nearby

Hill Regional HospitalHillsboro · 15.3 mi · ER · rural critical access

Waco Family Medicine - BellmeadWaco · 13.8 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 West · CMS · HRSAHealth in West →

Natural hazards in West

Very low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 2% of U.S. communities.

🌪️ Tornadoes🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves

0Does West flood?no paid flood claims on record 1Disasters that paid out herefederal disaster sent FEMA money to West

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

Climate in West

Full climate →

West has mild winters and hot summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 95°, a January night drops to 37°, and snow is almost unheard of.

60° / 38°Winter

77° / 55°Spring

94° / 73°Summer

79° / 56°Fall

How much snow does West get?Almost none.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Nov 15, with the last in spring around Mar 15.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.7° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

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

Schools in West

All West schools →

A⁻

School Grade A-

The public schools West’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 78% of Texas’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.

#168Best public schoolsof 583 in TX

DistrictWEST ISDSchools3

St. Marys SchoolElementary · Grades PK–8 · 115 students West Middle B+Middle · Grades 6–8 · 279 students West H S B+High · Grades 9–12 · 375 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.