Skip to main content

Ward County, Texas Demographics 2026

Ward County, Texas has a population of 11,255, the 159th most populous county in Texas. The median household income is $71,719 and the median home value is $138,800. The poverty rate is 14.6%.

Ward County Quick Facts

Population 11,255
Median Household Income $71,719
Median Home Value $138,800
Poverty Rate 14.6%
Unemployment Rate 4.0%
Median Age 34.9 years
Homeownership Rate 78.4%
Affordability Ratio 1.9x
Bachelor's Degree+ 10.7%
High School Graduation 81.0%
Cities/Places 7
Population 11,255 159th of 254
Median Income $71,719 6% lower than state
Poverty Rate 14.6%
Unemployment 4.0%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 11.9%
$25K-$50K 23.2%
$50K-$100K 31.1%
$100K+ 33.8%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
4.3%
$10K-$15K
2.4%
$15K-$20K
2.9%
$20K-$25K
2.3%
$25K-$30K
3.3%
$30K-$35K
8.0%
$35K-$40K
2.9%
$40K-$45K
4.5%
$45K-$50K
4.5%
$50K-$60K
8.8%
$60K-$75K
9.0%
$75K-$100K
13.3%
$100K-$125K
8.8%
$125K-$150K
9.3%
$150K-$200K
9.9%
$200K+
5.8%

Employment

4.0% Unemployment Rate State: 5.1%|National: 5.2%
64.3% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 78.4%
Renter 21.6%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
1.9x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

55out of 100
High Diversity

A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.

State average: 67 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Ward County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Monahans7,536$70,82016.9%$159,000
Southwest Sandhill1,174$71,6187.2%$117,800
Thorntonville678$59,56317.0%$203,300
Wickett644$76,2504.5%$88,100
Grandfalls322$56,00018.3%N/A
Barstow193$53,18216.6%$99,300
Pyote96N/A26.0%$191,700

Population Overview

Ward County is located in Texas with a total population of 11,255. It is the 159th most populous county out of 254 in Texas. The county encompasses 7 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Ward County is 34.9 years. This is 2% lower than the state median of 35.5 years. With 29.1% of the population under 18, Ward County has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Ward County is $71,719. This is 6% lower than the state median of $76,292. It is also 9% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 14.6%. This is 6% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. The unemployment rate is 4.0%. This is 21% lower than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $138,800. Housing costs are 47% lower than the state median of $260,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x, Ward County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 78.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 25% higher than the state average of 62.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Ward County is Hispanic or Latino, making up 55.4% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 37.5%. The Black or African American population (4.8%) is well below the state average of 11.9%. The Asian population (1.6%) is well below the state average of 5.3%.

Education

10.7% 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 68% 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 81.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Ward 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Ward County, Texas?

Ward County has a population of 11,255, making it the 159th most populous county in Texas.

What is the median income in Ward County?

The median household income in Ward County is $71,719 with a poverty rate of 14.6%.

How many cities are in Ward County, Texas?

Ward County contains 7 Census-designated places.