Sweetwater, Texas Demographics & Population 2026
Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Sweetwater, Texas had a total population of 10,385, the 265th largest city in Texas, with a median household income of $44,892, which is 43% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 28.1%.
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 43% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (28.1%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.8x.
Sweetwater Quick Facts
How Sweetwater 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 | 10,626 | 10,385 | -2.3% |
| Median household income | $51,135 | $44,892 | No clear change (-12.2%) |
| Median home value¹ | $83,811 | $80,800 | No clear change (-3.6%) |
| Median gross rent | $850 | $907 | No clear change (+6.7%) |
How Sweetwater 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: 49.0%
- Black: 2.5%
- Hispanic: 42.8%
- Asian: 0.0%
- Other: 0.2%
Diversity Index
A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.
State average: 67 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
- < High School: 18.9%
- HS Diploma: 34.7%
- Some College: 23.9%
- Associate's: 8.5%
- Bachelor's: 8.3%
- Graduate+: 5.7%
Sweetwater Rankings in Texas
Explore Texas Rankings
Other Cities in Nolan County
Cities Similar to Sweetwater
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galena Park | 10,487 | $51,220 | $117,700 | 8.2% | 20.9% |
| San Elizario | 10,116 | $49,977 | $110,400 | 5.7% | 25.9% |
| Raymondville | 10,185 | $51,442 | $52,200 | 10.0% | 31.0% |
| Bellmead | 10,566 | $52,075 | $155,100 | 13.4% | 24.9% |
| Commerce | 9,383 | $44,386 | $161,600 | 30.0% | 23.4% |
Population Overview
Sweetwater is a small city located in Texas, within Nolan County. The total population is 10,385. It ranks as the 265th most populous out of 1,795 Census-designated places in Texas.
Age Demographics
The median age in Sweetwater is 37.1 years. This is 4% higher than the state median of 35.6 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Sweetwater is $44,892. This is 43% lower than the state median of $78,476. It is also 44% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 28.1%. This is 104% 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 6.9%. This is 31% higher than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $80,800. Housing costs are 72% lower than the state median of $283,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.8x, Sweetwater is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 59.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% lower than the state average of 62.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Sweetwater is White (non-Hispanic), making up 49.0% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 42.8%. The Black or African American population (2.5%) is well below the state average of 11.9%.
Education
14.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 58% 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 81.1%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Sweetwater, 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Sweetwater, Texas?
Sweetwater, Texas has a population of 10,385 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Sweetwater, TX?
The median household income in Sweetwater is $44,892, which is 44% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Sweetwater, TX?
The poverty rate in Sweetwater is 28.1%. This means approximately 2,847 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Sweetwater, Texas?
Sweetwater's population is 49.0% White, 2.5% Black, 42.8% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Sweetwater, TX?
The median home value in Sweetwater is $80,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.8x.
How educated is Sweetwater, Texas?
14.1% of adults (25+) in Sweetwater hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 5.7% hold a graduate or professional degree.