Terlingua, Texas Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 178, Terlingua'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

Terlingua is a small community located in Texas, within Brewster County. The total population is 178. It ranks as the 1578th most populous out of 1,795 Census-designated places in Texas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Terlingua is 41.1 years. This is 15% higher than the state median of 35.6 years. With 44.4% of the population under 18, Terlingua has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community. 10.1% 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 Terlingua is $46,094. This is 41% lower than the state median of $78,476. It is also 43% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 1.7%. This is 88% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The survey records no unemployed residents in Terlingua, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $109,700. Housing costs are 61% lower than the state median of $283,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Terlingua is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 89.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 44% higher than the state average of 62.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Terlingua has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 96.1% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.3%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (96.1% vs 39.1%). The Hispanic or Latino population (2.3%) is well below the state average of 39.7%.

Education

16.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 52% 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 90.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Terlingua, 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.