Jim Wells County, Texas Demographics 2026

Name: Jim Wells County, Texas Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Jim Wells County, Texas has a population of 38,863, the 81st most populous county in Texas. The median household income is $47,492 and the median home value is $104,800. The poverty rate is 23.2%.

Jim Wells County Quick Facts

Population 38,863

Median Household Income $47,492

Median Home Value $104,800

Poverty Rate 23.2%

Unemployment Rate 5.6%

Median Age 35.5 years

Homeownership Rate 67.5%

Affordability Ratio 2.2x

Bachelor's Degree+ 15.2%

High School Graduation 79.2%

Cities/Places 16

Population 38,863 81st of 254

Median Income $47,492 38% lower than state

Poverty Rate 23.2%

Unemployment 5.6%

Median Household Income

Jim Wells

$47,492

$76,292

National

$78,538

Median Home Value

Jim Wells

$104,800

$260,400

National

$303,400

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 25.1%

$25K-$50K 25.9%

$50K-$100K 23.1%

$100K+ 26.0%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

7.7%

$10K-$15K

7.6%

$15K-$20K

2.9%

$20K-$25K

6.8%

$25K-$30K

6.8%

$30K-$35K

4.9%

$35K-$40K

4.3%

$40K-$45K

4.4%

$45K-$50K

5.5%

$50K-$60K

5.6%

$60K-$75K

8.5%

$75K-$100K

9.0%

$100K-$125K

8.8%

$125K-$150K

8.4%

$150K-$200K

4.8%

$200K+

4.0%

Employment

5.6% Unemployment Rate State: 5.1%|National: 5.2%

55.2% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 67.5%

Renter 32.5%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.2x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

27.4%

18-34

21.4%

35-54

24.0%

55-74

20.6%

75+

6.6%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 67 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Jim Wells County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Alice	17,797	$46,963	30.4%	$107,700
San Diego	3,795	$46,969	32.1%	$59,600
Premont	2,424	$45,712	15.7%	$80,700
Ben Bolt	2,391	$70,500	14.7%	$156,700
Rancho Alegre	1,304	$45,122	37.0%	$50,300
Orange Grove	833	$56,875	13.5%	$119,900
Alice Acres	797	N/A	56.0%	N/A
K-Bar Ranch	524	N/A	0.0%	$28,900
South La Paloma	520	$41,791	51.0%	$38,000
Coyote Acres	499	$93,750	4.8%	N/A
Sandia	298	N/A	8.7%	N/A
Alfred	246	$60,074	2.4%	$9,999
Amargosa	213	N/A	0.0%	N/A
Westdale	204	$75,231	0.0%	$204,600
Owl Ranch	113	N/A	0.0%	N/A
Loma Linda East (Jim Wells County)	34	N/A	32.4%	N/A

Explore Texas Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Jim Wells County is located in Texas with a total population of 38,863. It is the 81st most populous county out of 254 in Texas. The county encompasses 16 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Jim Wells County is 35.5 years. This is about the same as the state median of 35.5 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Jim Wells County is $47,492. This is 38% lower than the state median of $76,292. It is also 40% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 23.2%. This is 68% 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 5.6%. This is 8% higher than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $104,800. Housing costs are 60% lower than the state median of $260,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Jim Wells County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 67.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% higher than the state average of 62.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Jim Wells County is Hispanic or Latino, making up 79.4% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 18.5%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (18.5%) is well below the state average of 39.9%. The Black or African American population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 11.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (79.4% vs 39.5%). The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 5.3%.

Education

15.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 54% 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 79.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Jim Wells 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Jim Wells County, Texas?

Jim Wells County has a population of 38,863, making it the 81st most populous county in Texas.

What is the median income in Jim Wells County?

The median household income in Jim Wells County is $47,492 with a poverty rate of 23.2%.

How many cities are in Jim Wells County, Texas?

Jim Wells County contains 16 Census-designated places.