Karnes City, Texas Demographics & Population 2026
Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Karnes City, Texas had a total population of 3,605, the 520th largest city in Texas, with a median household income of $55,354, which is 29% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 29.6%.
Key Takeaways
- More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (29.6%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
- Only 9.9% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.7x.
- Near full employment with an unemployment rate of just 1.8%.
Karnes City Quick Facts
How Karnes City Changed
Change from the non-overlapping 2015–2019 ACS period to 2020–2024. Earlier dollar figures are adjusted to 2024 dollars; changes marked “no clear change” are within the combined 90% margins of error.
| Metric | 2015–2019 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,404 | 3,605 | +5.9% |
| Median household income | $67,497 | $55,354 | No clear change (-18.0%) |
| Median home value¹ | $94,149 | $93,400 | No clear change (-0.8%) |
| Median gross rent | $1,020 | $661 | No clear change (-35.2%) |
How Karnes City Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
- White: 22.9%
- Black: 4.6%
- Hispanic: 69.0%
- Asian: 0.0%
- Other: 0.0%
Diversity Index
Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.
State average: 67 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
- < High School: 26.1%
- HS Diploma: 47.3%
- Some College: 15.3%
- Associate's: 1.4%
- Bachelor's: 7.2%
- Graduate+: 2.7%
Karnes City Rankings in Texas
Explore Texas Rankings
Other Cities in Karnes County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenedy | 3,430 | $61,167 | 16.3% | $140,300 |
| Runge | 1,108 | N/A | 53.2% | $88,500 |
| Falls City | 541 | $56,339 | 3.1% | $174,100 |
Cities Similar to Karnes City
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midway North | 3,594 | $58,184 | $112,200 | 7.3% | 19.6% |
| Ballinger | 3,583 | $58,870 | $109,400 | 16.6% | 8.3% |
| Winnsboro | 3,485 | $54,828 | $172,000 | 15.0% | 16.4% |
| San Diego | 3,675 | $53,174 | $85,600 | 12.1% | 34.0% |
| Elm Creek | 3,680 | $52,263 | $170,100 | 6.3% | 13.8% |
Population Overview
Karnes City is a small community located in Texas, within Karnes County. The total population is 3,605. It ranks as the 520th most populous out of 1,795 Census-designated places in Texas.
Age Demographics
The median age in Karnes City is 35.4 years. This is about the same as the state median of 35.6 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Karnes City is $55,354. This is 29% lower than the state median of $78,476. It is also 31% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 29.6%. This is 115% 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 1.8%. This is 66% lower than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $93,400. Housing costs are 67% lower than the state median of $283,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.7x, Karnes City is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 70.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% higher than the state average of 62.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Karnes City is Hispanic or Latino, making up 69.0% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 22.9%. The Black or African American population (4.6%) is well below the state average of 11.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (69.0% vs 39.7%).
Education
9.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 71% 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 73.9%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Karnes 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Karnes City, Texas?
Karnes City, Texas has a population of 3,605 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Karnes City, TX?
The median household income in Karnes City is $55,354, which is 31% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Karnes City, TX?
The poverty rate in Karnes City is 29.6%. This means approximately 874 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Karnes City, Texas?
Karnes City's population is 22.9% White, 4.6% Black, 69.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Karnes City, TX?
The median home value in Karnes City is $93,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.7x.
How educated is Karnes City, Texas?
9.9% of adults (25+) in Karnes City hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 2.7% hold a graduate or professional degree.