Wharton County, Texas Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Wharton County is located in Texas with a total population of 41,651. It is the 80th most populous county out of 254 in Texas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Wharton County is 38.4 years. This is 8% higher than the state median of 35.5 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Wharton County is $66,100. This is 13% lower than the state median of $76,292. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 16% lower. The poverty rate stands at 14.5%. This is 5% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. The unemployment rate is 7.0%. This is 36% higher than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $182,700. Housing costs are 30% lower than the state median of $260,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Wharton County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 70.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% higher than the state average of 62.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Wharton County is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 41.5%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 5.3%.

Education

19.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 42% 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 83.9%.