Panola County, Texas Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Panola County is located in Texas with a total population of 22,624. It is the 105th most populous county out of 254 in Texas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Panola County is 40.5 years. This is 14% higher than the state median of 35.5 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Panola County is $62,593. This is 18% lower than the state median of $76,292. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 20% lower. The poverty rate stands at 11.9%. This is 14% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. The unemployment rate is 2.6%. This is 50% lower than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $146,000. Housing costs are 44% lower than the state median of $260,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Panola County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 79.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 27% higher than the state average of 62.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Panola County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 71.7% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 11.4%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (71.7% vs 39.9%). The Hispanic or Latino population (10.0%) is well below the state average of 39.5%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 5.3%.

Education

17.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 46% 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 85.0%.