Rusk County, Texas Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Rusk County is located in Texas with a total population of 52,613. It is the 64th most populous county out of 254 in Texas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Rusk County is 38.8 years. This is 9% higher than the state median of 35.5 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Rusk County is $67,506. This is 12% lower than the state median of $76,292. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 14% lower. The poverty rate stands at 14.3%. This is 4% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. The unemployment rate is 3.8%. This is 27% lower than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $166,900. Housing costs are 36% lower than the state median of $260,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.5x, Rusk County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 80.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 28% higher than the state average of 62.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Rusk County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 61.9% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 18.7%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (61.9% vs 39.9%). The Hispanic or Latino population (18.7%) 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 84.9%.