Dickens, Texas Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 170, Dickens's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Dickens is a small community located in Texas, within Dickens County. The total population is 170. It ranks as the 1591st most populous out of 1,795 Census-designated places in Texas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Dickens is 59.5 years. This is 67% higher than the state median of 35.6 years. Only 14.1% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Dickens is $39,545. This is 50% lower than the state median of $78,476. It is also 51% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 22.3%. This is 62% 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 3.3%. This is 37% lower than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $47,800. Housing costs are 83% lower than the state median of $283,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.2x, Dickens is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 86.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 38% higher than the state average of 62.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Dickens is White (non-Hispanic), making up 73.5% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 20.0%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (73.5% vs 39.1%). The Black or African American population (4.1%) is well below the state average of 11.9%.

Education

5.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 84% lower than the state rate of 33.8%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 78.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Dickens, Texas is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Texas state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,795 Census-designated places in Texas. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.