Onalaska, Texas Demographics & Population 2026
Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Onalaska, Texas had a total population of 3,210, the 552nd largest city in Texas, with a median household income of $51,912, which is 34% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 23.7%.
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 34% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- Unemployment rate of 9.4% is notably above the national average.
Onalaska Quick Facts
How Onalaska 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 | 2,779 | 3,210 | +15.5% |
| Median household income | $59,026 | $51,912 | No clear change (-12.1%) |
| Median home value¹ | $72,119 | $165,800 | +129.9% |
| Median gross rent | $1,097 | $1,083 | No clear change (-1.2%) |
How Onalaska 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: 78.0%
- Black: 1.1%
- Hispanic: 16.7%
- Asian: 0.0%
- Other: 0.0%
Diversity Index
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+)
- < High School: 17.4%
- HS Diploma: 30.5%
- Some College: 37.0%
- Associate's: 3.4%
- Bachelor's: 10.5%
- Graduate+: 1.1%
Onalaska Rankings in Texas
Explore Texas Rankings
Other Cities in Polk County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Livingston | 8,199 | $61,943 | 18.8% | $153,600 |
| Livingston | 5,718 | $48,841 | 27.5% | $200,100 |
| Corrigan | 1,784 | $37,700 | 30.6% | $122,900 |
| Indian Springs | 938 | $49,896 | 5.9% | $95,900 |
| Pleasant Hill | 830 | $53,237 | 5.9% | $79,900 |
| Cedar Point | 328 | N/A | 2.4% | $250,400 |
| Goodrich | 323 | $30,938 | 36.8% | $216,100 |
| Seven Oaks | 118 | $60,733 | 17.0% | $114,100 |
Cities Similar to Onalaska
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Saline | 3,203 | $50,028 | $119,600 | 9.3% | 18.7% |
| Barrett | 3,273 | $48,125 | $190,000 | 14.7% | 34.0% |
| San Saba | 3,056 | $50,373 | $124,000 | 15.8% | 15.2% |
| George West | 3,094 | $48,415 | $151,700 | 11.5% | 13.6% |
| Dublin | 3,419 | $53,030 | $149,300 | 21.5% | 32.3% |
Population Overview
Onalaska is a small community located in Texas, within Polk County. The total population is 3,210. It ranks as the 552nd most populous out of 1,795 Census-designated places in Texas.
Age Demographics
The median age in Onalaska is 43.8 years. This is 23% higher than the state median of 35.6 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Onalaska is $51,912. This is 34% lower than the state median of $78,476. It is also 36% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 23.7%. This is 72% 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 9.4%. This is 79% higher than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $165,800. Housing costs are 42% lower than the state median of $283,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.2x. 78.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 25% higher than the state average of 62.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Onalaska is White (non-Hispanic), making up 78.0% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 16.7%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (78.0% vs 39.1%). The Black or African American population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 11.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population (16.7%) is well below the state average of 39.7%.
Education
11.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 65% 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 82.6%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Onalaska, 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.
Free data download: Get all Texas city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Onalaska, Texas?
Onalaska, Texas has a population of 3,210 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Onalaska, TX?
The median household income in Onalaska is $51,912, which is 36% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Onalaska, TX?
The poverty rate in Onalaska is 23.7%. This means approximately 762 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Onalaska, Texas?
Onalaska's population is 78.0% White, 1.1% Black, 16.7% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Onalaska, TX?
The median home value in Onalaska is $165,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.2x.
How educated is Onalaska, Texas?
11.7% of adults (25+) in Onalaska hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 1.1% hold a graduate or professional degree.