Gainesville, Texas Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Gainesville, Texas had a total population of 17,883, the 180th largest city in Texas, with a median household income of $58,809, which is 25% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 19.1%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Unemployment rate of 8.1% is notably above the national average.
Gainesville Quick Facts
How Gainesville Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 17,688 | 17,883 | +1.1% |
| Median household income | $56,341 | $58,809 | +4.4% |
| Median home value | $162,900 | $177,000 | +8.7% |
How Gainesville Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.
State average: 67 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Gainesville Rankings in Texas
Explore Texas Rankings
Other Cities in Cooke County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Kiowa | 2,476 | $125,956 | 2.1% | $526,900 |
| Muenster | 1,329 | $88,333 | 10.2% | $270,700 |
| Lindsay | 1,142 | $115,417 | 2.8% | $352,300 |
| Road Runner | 1,021 | $43,224 | 37.3% | N/A |
| Valley View | 702 | $67,303 | 13.0% | $250,500 |
| Callisburg | 459 | $46,023 | 23.5% | $181,300 |
| Oak Ridge (Cooke County) | 353 | $50,104 | 26.9% | N/A |
| Myra | 263 | $85,052 | 0.0% | N/A |
Cities Similar to Gainesville
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White Settlement | 18,150 | $56,784 | $187,100 | 17.4% | 12.7% |
| Bay City | 17,730 | $53,840 | $160,800 | 20.2% | 26.0% |
| Pampa | 16,659 | $56,626 | $100,700 | 17.0% | 17.2% |
| Brenham | 18,641 | $65,112 | $241,100 | 32.5% | 18.9% |
| Humble | 16,521 | $57,011 | $216,400 | 17.4% | 18.8% |
Population Overview
Gainesville is a small city located in Texas, within Cooke County. The total population is 17,883. It ranks as the 180th most populous out of 1,795 Census-designated places in Texas.
Age Demographics
The median age in Gainesville is 36.5 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 35.6 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Gainesville is $58,809. This is 25% lower than the state median of $78,476. It is also 27% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 19.1%. This is 38% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. The unemployment rate is 8.1%. This is 54% higher than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $177,000. Housing costs are 38% lower than the state median of $283,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 57.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% lower than the state average of 62.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Gainesville is White (non-Hispanic), making up 58.2% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 31.1%. The Asian population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 5.5%.
Education
19.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 43% 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 84.2%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Gainesville, 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Gainesville, Texas?
Gainesville, Texas has a population of 17,883 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Gainesville, TX?
The median household income in Gainesville is $58,809, which is 27% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Gainesville, TX?
The poverty rate in Gainesville is 19.1%. This means approximately 3,315 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Gainesville, Texas?
Gainesville's population is 58.2% White, 6.8% Black, 31.1% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.9% Asian.
What is the median home value in Gainesville, TX?
The median home value in Gainesville is $177,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x.
How educated is Gainesville, Texas?
19.4% of adults (25+) in Gainesville hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 6.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.