Terry County, Texas Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Terry County is located in Texas with a total population of 11,699. It is the 156th most populous county out of 254 in Texas. The county encompasses 3 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Terry County is 35.7 years. This is about the same as the state median of 35.5 years. With 28.1% of the population under 18, Terry County has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Terry County is $45,905. 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 21.9%. This is 58% 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 3.8%. This is 26% lower than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $111,200. Housing costs are 57% lower than the state median of $260,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Terry County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 64.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% higher than the state average of 62.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Terry County is Hispanic or Latino, making up 56.2% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 38.3%. The Black or African American population (3.9%) is well below the state average of 11.9%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 5.3%.

Education

11.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 67% 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 77.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Terry 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.