Real County, Texas Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Real County is located in Texas with a total population of 2,821. It is the 226th most populous county out of 254 in Texas. The county encompasses 2 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Real County is 56.5 years. This is 59% higher than the state median of 35.5 years. 15.1% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Real County is $45,417. This is 40% lower than the state median of $76,292. It is also 42% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 20.5%. This is 49% 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 7.0%. This is 36% higher than the state rate of 5.1%. 75.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 21% higher than the state average of 62.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Real County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 74.7% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 23.5%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (74.7% vs 39.9%). The Black or African American population (1.4%) is well below the state average of 11.9%.

Education

19.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 42% 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 86.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Real 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.