Penelope, Texas Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Penelope, Texas had a total population of 235, the 1525th largest town in Texas, with a median household income of $60,000, which is 24% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 16.2%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Near full employment with an unemployment rate of just 1.8%.
Penelope Quick Facts
How Penelope Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 223 | 235 | +5.4% |
| Median household income | $65,938 | $60,000 | -9.0% |
How Penelope Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.
State average: 67 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Penelope Rankings in Texas
Explore Texas Rankings
Other Cities in Hill County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsboro | 8,506 | $56,083 | 20.0% | $157,900 |
| Itasca | 2,073 | $77,227 | 6.8% | $114,800 |
| Whitney | 2,050 | $48,571 | 23.9% | $108,900 |
| Hubbard | 1,327 | $50,859 | 15.4% | $134,900 |
| Abbott | 470 | $103,214 | 0.9% | $173,600 |
| Mount Calm | 439 | $49,934 | 14.8% | $111,700 |
| Blum | 336 | $53,750 | 30.4% | $68,500 |
| Carl's Corner | 298 | $81,250 | 13.1% | $93,800 |
| Malone | 280 | $31,083 | 48.2% | $117,600 |
| Covington | 274 | $43,977 | 15.9% | $132,500 |
Cities Similar to Penelope
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industry | 235 | $61,250 | $294,400 | 32.2% | 3.9% |
| Rancho Viejo | 238 | N/A | N/A | 15.9% | 0.0% |
| Ranchette Estates | 229 | N/A | N/A | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Weinert | 235 | $63,889 | $73,200 | 11.4% | 9.4% |
| Gail | 243 | N/A | $108,800 | 30.9% | 12.3% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 235, Penelope's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Penelope is a small community located in Texas, within Hill County. The total population is 235. It ranks as the 1525th most populous out of 1,795 Census-designated places in Texas.
Age Demographics
The median age in Penelope is 40.9 years. This is 15% higher than the state median of 35.6 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Penelope is $60,000. This is 24% lower than the state median of $78,476. It is also 26% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 16.2%. This is 17% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. The unemployment rate is 1.8%. This is 65% lower than the state rate of 5.3%. 86.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 38% higher than the state average of 62.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Penelope is White (non-Hispanic), making up 69.4% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 28.5%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (69.4% vs 39.1%).
Education
19.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 42% 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 75.2%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Penelope, 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 Penelope, Texas?
Penelope, Texas has a population of 235 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Penelope, TX?
The median household income in Penelope is $60,000, which is 26% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Penelope, TX?
The poverty rate in Penelope is 16.2%. This means approximately 38 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Penelope, Texas?
Penelope's population is 69.4% White, 0.0% Black, 28.5% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Penelope, TX?
The Census Bureau does not publish a reliable median home value estimate for Penelope — there are too few owner-occupied homes in the ACS sample. The national median is $332,700.
How educated is Penelope, Texas?
19.6% of adults (25+) in Penelope hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 5.2% hold a graduate or professional degree.