Newton County, Texas Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Newton County is located in Texas with a total population of 12,193. It is the 153rd most populous county out of 254 in Texas. The county encompasses 3 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Newton County is 45.8 years. This is 29% higher than the state median of 35.5 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Newton County is $41,044. This is 46% lower than the state median of $76,292. It is also 48% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 22.4%. This is 62% 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 10.5%. This is 105% higher than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $83,100. Housing costs are 68% lower than the state median of $260,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.0x, Newton County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 81.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 30% higher than the state average of 62.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Newton County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 75.2% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 17.9%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (75.2% vs 39.9%). The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (17.9% vs 11.9%). The Hispanic or Latino population (3.4%) is well below the state average of 39.5%. The Asian population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 5.3%.

Education

6.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 81% 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 84.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Newton 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.