Donley County, Texas Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Donley County is located in Texas with a total population of 3,276. It is the 218th most populous county out of 254 in Texas. The county encompasses 4 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Donley County is 45.4 years. This is 28% higher than the state median of 35.5 years. 12.1% 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 Donley County is $56,648. This is 26% lower than the state median of $76,292. It is also 28% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 8.3%. This is 40% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. The unemployment rate is 0.0%. This is 100% lower than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $90,500. Housing costs are 65% lower than the state median of $260,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.6x, Donley County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 75.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 21% higher than the state average of 62.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Donley County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 78.5% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 12.2%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (78.5% vs 39.9%). The Black or African American population (5.4%) is well below the state average of 11.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population (12.2%) is well below the state average of 39.5%. The Asian population (2.5%) is well below the state average of 5.3%.

Education

16.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 51% 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 83.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Donley 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.