Gary City, Texas Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 407, Gary City'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

Gary City is a small community located in Texas, within Panola County. The total population is 407. It ranks as the 1338th most populous out of 1,795 Census-designated places in Texas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Gary City is 29.5 years. This is 17% lower than the state median of 35.6 years. With 28.0% of the population under 18, Gary City has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Gary City is $66,250. This is 16% lower than the state median of $78,476. It is also 18% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 20.4%. This is 48% 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 1.1%. This is 80% lower than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $168,800. Housing costs are 41% lower than the state median of $283,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.5x, Gary City is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 91.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 46% higher than the state average of 62.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Gary City is White (non-Hispanic), making up 76.7% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 7.6%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (76.7% vs 39.1%). The Black or African American population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 11.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population (7.6%) is well below the state average of 39.7%.

Education

14.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 57% 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 87.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Gary City, 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.