Fort Stockton, Texas Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Fort Stockton is a small city located in Texas, within Pecos County. The total population is 8,278. It ranks as the 313th most populous out of 1,795 Census-designated places in Texas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Fort Stockton is 34.4 years. This is 3% lower than the state median of 35.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Fort Stockton is $84,784. This is 8% higher than the state median of $78,476. It is also 5% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 21.0%. This is 52% 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 2.2%. This is 58% lower than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $199,600. Housing costs are 30% lower than the state median of $283,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Fort Stockton is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 69.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% higher than the state average of 62.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Fort Stockton is Hispanic or Latino, making up 76.5% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 18.6%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (18.6%) is well below the state average of 39.1%. The Black or African American population (2.2%) is well below the state average of 11.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (76.5% vs 39.7%). The Asian population (2.5%) is well below the state average of 5.5%.

Education

16.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 52% 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 88.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Fort Stockton, 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.