Nueces County, Texas Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Nueces County is located in Texas with a total population of 352,829. It is the 17th most populous county out of 254 in Texas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Nueces County is 36.8 years. This is 4% higher than the state median of 35.5 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Nueces County is $66,021. This is 13% lower than the state median of $76,292. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 16% lower. The poverty rate stands at 17.7%. This is 28% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. The unemployment rate is 5.6%. This is 9% higher than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $194,700. Housing costs are 25% lower than the state median of $260,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.9x, Nueces County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 59.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% lower than the state average of 62.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Nueces County is Hispanic or Latino, making up 62.1% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 29.9%. The Black or African American population (3.7%) is well below the state average of 11.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (62.1% vs 39.5%). The Asian population (2.3%) is well below the state average of 5.3%.

Education

23.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 28% 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 85.3%.