Baylor County, Texas Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Baylor County is located in Texas with a total population of 3,464. It is the 211th most populous county out of 254 in Texas. The county encompasses 1 Census-designated place.

Age Demographics

The median age in Baylor County is 47.5 years. This is 34% higher than the state median of 35.5 years. 11.8% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Baylor County is $42,313. This is 45% lower than the state median of $76,292. It is also 46% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 20.8%. This is 51% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 3.8%. This is 26% lower than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $93,300. Housing costs are 64% lower than the state median of $260,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Baylor County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 66.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% higher than the state average of 62.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Baylor County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 75.9% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 13.7%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (75.9% vs 39.9%). The Black or African American population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 11.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population (13.7%) is well below the state average of 39.5%.

Education

28.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 14% lower than the state rate of 33.1%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 82.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Baylor County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023), with comparisons drawn against Texas and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.