Howard County, TX

County

Add Comparison
    2024 Population
    32,290
    US Senator
    John Cornyn
    Republican Party
    US Senator
    Ted Cruz
    Republican Party
    2024 Median Age
    36.7
    0.811% 1-year decrease
    2024 Poverty Rate
    13.8%
    8.27% 1-year decrease
    2024 Median Household Income
    $69,649
    2.53% 1-year decline
    2024 Median Property Value
    $155,600
    3.53% 1-year growth
    2024 Employed Population
    13,498
    1.19% 1-year decline

    About

    None of the households in Howard County, TX reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

    92.1% of the residents in Howard County, TX are U.S. citizens.

    The largest universities in Howard County, TX are Howard College (651 degrees awarded in 2024) and Southwest College for the Deaf (11 degrees).

    In 2024, the median property value in Howard County, TX was $155,600, and the homeownership rate was 69.5%.

    Most people in Howard County, TX drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 21.7 minutes. The average car ownership in Howard County, TX was 2 cars per household.

    United StatesTexasBig Spring, TX

    Population & Diversity

    Howard County, TX is home to a population of 32.3k people, from which 92.1% are citizens. As of 2024, 9.83% of Howard County, TX residents were born outside of the country (3.17k people).

    In 2024, there were 2.06 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (13.9k people) in Howard County, TX than any other race or ethnicity. There were 6.77k White (Hispanic) and 5.62k Two Races Including Other (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

    Population & Diversity

    Citizenship

    92.1%
    2024 Citizenship
    91.6%
    2023 Citizenship

    As of 2024, 92.1% of Howard County, TX residents were US citizens, which is lower than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Howard County, TX was 91.6%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

    The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Howard County, TX compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Diversity

    Race and Ethnicity

    The 3 largest ethnic groups in Howard County, TX
    1. White (Non-Hispanic)
      13.9k ± 164
    2. White (Hispanic)
      6.77k ± 809
    3. Two Races Including Other (Hispanic)
      5.62k ± 852
    47.7%
    Hispanic Population
    15.4k people

    In 2024, there were 2.06 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (13.9k people) in Howard County, TX than any other race or ethnicity. There were 6.77k White (Hispanic) and 5.62k Two Races Including Other (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

    47.7% of the people in Howard County, TX are hispanic (15.4k people).

    The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Howard County, TX as a share of the total population.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Global Diversity

    The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Texas.
    Most Common Origin
    1. Mexico
      2,408,340 ± 36,549 people
    2. India
      354,317 ± 14,528 people
    3. El Salvador
      223,512 ± 11,564 people

    In 2024, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Texas was Mexico, the natal country of 2,408,340 Texas residents, followed by India with 354,317 and El Salvador with 223,512.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Foreign-Born Population

    9.83%
    2024 Foreign-Born Population
    3.17k people
    10.6%
    2023 Foreign-Born Population
    3.5k people

    As of 2024, 9.83% of Howard County, TX residents (3.17k people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Howard County, TX was 10.6%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

    The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Howard County, TX compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Military

    Veterans

    Most Common Service Period
    1. Vietnam
      453 ± 111
    2. Gulf War (1990s)
      426 ± 139
    3. Gulf War (2001-)
      344 ± 133

    Howard County, TX has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.06 times greater than any other conflict.

    The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Howard County, TX.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Health

    86.4% of the population of Howard County, TX has health coverage, with 44.7% on employee plans, 16.2% on Medicaid, 10.2% on Medicare, 14.6% on non-group plans, and 0.796% on military or VA plans.

    Primary care physicians in Howard County, TX see 4,875 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (4,875 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1871 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 436 patients per year.

    By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 52.2% were men and 47.8% were women.

    Coverage

    Patient to Clinician Ratios

    4,875 to 1
    Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Howard County, TX

    Primary care physicians in Howard County, TX see an average of 4,875 patients per year. This represents a 0% change from the previous year (4,875 patients).

    The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Howard County, TX in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Health Care Diversity

    In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 26.5% under 18 years, 21.8% between 18 and 34 years, 38.2% between 35 and 64 years, and 13.6% over 64 years.

    By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 52.2% were men and 47.8% were women.

    The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Uninsured People

    13.6%
    Uninsured
    44.7%
    Employer Coverage
    16.2%
    Medicaid
    10.2%
    Medicare
    14.6%
    Non-Group
    0.796%
    Military or VA

    Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Howard County, TX declined by 4.3% from 14.2% to 13.6%.

    The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Howard County, TX changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Health Indicators

    Health Outcomes

    Indicator

    In 2025, the average number of mentally unhealthy days reported in past 30 days (age-adjusted) was 5.64 in Howard County, TX.

    The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Howard County, TX.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Health Behaviors

    Indicator

    In 2025, the percentage of the adult population (age 18 and older) that reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted) was 41.6% in Howard County, TX.

    The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Howard County, TX.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Clinical Care

    Indicator

    In 2025, the percentage of population under age 65 without health insurance was 19.8% in Howard County, TX.

    The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Howard County, TX.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Economy

    The economy of Howard County, TX employs 13.5k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Howard County, TX were Health Care & Social Assistance (2,229 people), Educational Services (1,447 people), and Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction (1,306 people), and the highest paying industries were Utilities ($79,695), Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($77,727), and Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($74,435).

    Employment

    Occupations

    13.5k
    2024 Value
    ± 874
    −1.19%
    1 Year decline
    ± 9.42%

    From 2023 to 2024, employment in Howard County, TX declined at a rate of −1.19%, from 13.7k employees to 13.5k employees.

    The most common job groups, by number of people living in Howard County, TX, are Management Occupations (1,418 people), Office & Administrative Support Occupations (1,235 people), and Construction & Extraction Occupations (1,032 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Howard County, TX.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Unemployment Insurance Claims

    Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Texas.

    This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Texas (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

    The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Industries

    Employment by Industries

    13.5k
    2024 Value
    ± 874
    −1.19%
    1 Year decline
    ± 9.42%

    From 2023 to 2024, employment in Howard County, TX declined at a rate of −1.19%, from 13.7k employees to 13.5k employees.

    The most common employment sectors for those who live in Howard County, TX, are Health Care & Social Assistance (2,229 people), Educational Services (1,447 people), and Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction (1,306 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Howard County, TX, though some of these residents may live in Howard County, TX and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Median Earnings by Industry

    $62,087
    Median earning men ± $4,007
    $35,763
    Median earning women ± $3,149

    The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($136,450), Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($78,679), and Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($73,740).

    The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($69,818), Public Administration ($69,750), and Construction ($65,417).

    View Data
    Save Image

    Employment by Industry Sector

    Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Texas.
    Y-Axis
    4.59%
    Year-over-year growth
    Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

    As of February 2023, there are 13.8M people employed in Texas. This represents a 4.59% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

    Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 9.63%.

    The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Texas.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Establishments by Size

    The industries with the most establishments
    1. 43
      Retail Trade
    2. 39
      Other Services (except Public Administration)
    3. 39
      Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

    The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

    The visualization shows the number of establishments and its share across establishment sizes.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Payroll by Industry Sector

    The industries with the highest total annual payroll
    1. $133k
      Health Care and Social Assistance
    2. $67.4k
      Manufacturing
    3. $47k
      Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction

    The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Civics

    In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Texas went to Donald J. Trump with 56.1% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (42.5%), followed by Jill Stein (0.726%).

    John Cornyn and Ted Cruz are the senators currently representing the state of Texas. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

    Texas is currently represented by 38 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

    Presidential Elections

    Voting results are not available for Howard County, TX. Showing the available data for Texas.
    2024 Election Results
    1. Donald J. Trump (56.1%)
      Republican Party
    2. Kamala Harris (42.5%)
      Democratic Party
    3. Jill Stein (0.726%)
      Green Party

    In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Texas went to Donald J. Trump with 56.1% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (42.5%), followed by Jill Stein (0.726%).

    The following chart shows the popular vote results in Texas for each registered party from 1976 to 2024.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Senator Elections

    US Senators from Texas

    Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Texas.
    John Cornyn
    Senator from Texas2
    Assumed office on December 2, 2002
    Phil Gramm resigned (effective November 30, 2002) a few weeks before the expiration of his term in hopes that his successor, fellow Republican John Cornyn, could gain seniority over other newly elected senators. However, Cornyn did not gain additional seniority due to a 1980 Rules Committee policy.
    Ted Cruz
    Senator from Texas1
    Assumed office on January 3, 2013

    John Cornyn and Ted Cruz are the senators currently representing Texas.

    In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

    The following chart shows elected senators in Texas over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Education

    In 2024, universities in Howard County, TX awarded 662 degrees. The student population of Howard County, TX in 2024 is skewed towards women, with 1,574 male students and 2,574 female students.

    Most students graduating from Universities in Howard County, TX are Hispanic or Latino (307 and 46.4%), White (292 and 44.2%), Black or African American (29 and 4.39%), and Two or More Races (23 and 3.48%).

    The largest universities in Howard County, TX by number of degrees awarded are Howard College (651 and 98.3%) and Southwest College for the Deaf (11 and 1.66%).

    The most popular majors in Howard County, TX are Registered Nursing (89 and 13.4%), General Business (74 and 11.2%), and General Studies (67 and 10.1%).

    Admissions & Enrollments

    Enrollments by Gender and Races

    In 2024 there were 4,148 students enrolled in Howard County, TX, 37.9% men and 62.1% women.

    By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in Hispanic or Latino with 1,939 records, of which 64.6% were women and 35.4% men.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Completions

    Concentrations

    Most Common
    1. Registered Nursing
      89 degrees awarded
    2. General Studies
      67 degrees awarded
    3. General Business
      64 degrees awarded

    In 2024, the most common concentation for Associates Degree recipients in Howard County, TX was Registered Nursing with 89 degrees awarded.

    This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Associates Degree from schools in Howard County, TX according to their major.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Universities

    Gender
    Race
    Largest Universities by degrees awarded
    1. Howard College
      651 degrees awarded
    2. Southwest College for the Deaf
      11 degrees awarded

    In 2024, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Howard College with 651 degrees awarded.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Student Diversity

    In 2024, 184 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Howard County, TX, which is 0.385 times less than the 478 female students who received degrees in the same year.

    In 2024, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was Hispanic or Latino students. These 307 degrees mean that there were 1.05 times more degrees awarded to Hispanic or Latino students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, White, with 292 degrees awarded.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Awarded Degrees over Time

    The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

    View Data
    Save Image
    View Data
    Save Image

    Tuition

    Average Net Price by Sector

    Public, 2-year ($4,320) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2024.

    Public, 2-year ($946) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2024.

    Public, 2-year ($1,690) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

    The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Housing & Living

    The median property value in Howard County, TX was $155,600 in 2024, which is 0.468 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $150,300 to $155,600, a 3.53% increase. The homeownership rate in Howard County, TX is 69.5%, which is higher than the national average of 65.2%.

    People in Howard County, TX have an average commute time of 21.7 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Howard County, TX is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

    In 2025, 14.1% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Howard County, TX. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator grew 1.6%.

    Housing

    Property

    $155,600
    Median Property Value 2024
    ±$8,624
    $8,474
    Median Property Taxes
    ±$672

    The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Howard County, TX the largest share of households pay taxes in the < $800 range.

    The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Howard County, TX compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

    View Data
    Save Image
    View Data
    Save Image

    Rent vs Own

    69.5%
    Homeownership
    2024
    67.7%
    Homeowners with Mortgage
    2024

    In 2024, 69.5% of the housing units in Howard County, TX were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 68.6%.

    This chart shows the percentage of owner in Howard County, TX compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Equity

    Household Income

    Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.
    $69,649
    Median Household Income
    ± $3,878
    12.2k
    Number of Households
    ± 764

    In 2024, the median household income of the 12.2k households in Howard County, TX declined from $69,649 from the previous year's value of $71,457.

    The following chart displays the households in Howard County, TX distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Wage Distribution

    The closest comparable wage GINI for Howard County, TX is from Texas.
    0.475
    2024 Wage GINI in Texas
    0.475
    2023 Wage GINI in Texas

    In 2024, the income inequality in Texas was 0.475 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.0391% decline from 2023 to 2024, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Texas was higher than than the national average of 0.474. In other words, wages are distributed less evenly in Texas in comparison to the national average.

    This chart shows the number of workers in Texas across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Transportation

    Commuter Transportation

    Most Common Commute in 2024
    1. Drove Alone (79.1%)
    2. Carpooled (16%)
    3. Worked At Home (3.05%)

    In 2024, 79.1% of workers in Howard County, TX drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (16%) and those who worked at home (3.05%).

    The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Commute Time

    21.7 minutes
    Average Travel Time

    Using averages, employees in Howard County, TX have a shorter commute time (21.7 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 2.76% of the workforce in Howard County, TX have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

    The chart below shows how the median household income in Howard County, TX compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

    View Data
    Save Image
    View Data
    Save Image

    Car Ownership

    2 cars
    Average Number

    The following chart displays the households in Howard County, TX distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Howard County, TX have 2 cars.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Poverty

    Severe Housing Problems

    In 2025, 14.1% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Howard County, TX. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator grew 1.6%.

    The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the population living with severe housing problems.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Poverty & Diversity

    13.8% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Howard County, TX (4.01k out of 29k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 18 - 24 and then Females 35 - 44.

    The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Howard County, TX is Hispanic, followed by White and Two Or More.

    The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Children in Poverty

    In 2025, 21.7% of the children was living in poverty in Howard County, TX. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 5.8%.

    The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the children living in poverty.

    View Data
    Save Image

    Security

    Crimes & Accidents

    Indicator

    In 2022, the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population was 607 in Howard County, TX. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator grew 31% per 100,000 population.

    The graph shows the trend in the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population.

    View Data
    Save Image