Howard County, TX

County

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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 (648 degrees awarded in 2023) and Southwest College for the Deaf (15 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.

Howard County, TX borders Borden County, TX, Dawson County, TX, Glasscock County, TX, Martin County, TX, Mitchell County, TX, and Sterling County, TX.

United States Texas Big 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.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Howard County, TX

White (Non-Hispanic)
13.9k ± 164
White (Hispanic)
6.77k ± 809
Two Races Including Other (Hispanic)
5.62k ± 852

47.7%

Hispanic Population

15.4k people

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.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Texas.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
2,397,739 ± 36,447 people
India
325,248 ± 13,925 people
El Salvador
221,729 ± 11,517 people

In 2023, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Texas was Mexico, the natal country of 2,397,739 Texas residents, followed by India with 325,248 and El Salvador with 221,729.

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.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
453 ± 111
Gulf War (1990s)
426 ± 139
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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

43
Retail Trade
39
Other Services (except Public Administration)
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.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$133k
Health Care and Social Assistance
$67.4k
Manufacturing
$47k
Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction

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

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

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Howard County, TX. Showing the available data for Texas.

2024 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (56.1%)
Republican Party
Kamala Harris (42.5%)
Democratic Party
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.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Texas

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Texas.

John Cornyn

Senator from Texas

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 Texas

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.

Education

In 2023, universities in Howard County, TX awarded 663 degrees. The student population of Howard County, TX in 2023 is skewed towards women, with 1,697 male students and 2,486 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Howard County, TX are Hispanic or Latino (330 and 50.8%), White (267 and 41.1%), Black or African American (23 and 3.54%), and Two or More Races (19 and 2.93%).

The largest universities in Howard County, TX by number of degrees awarded are Howard College (648 and 97.7%) and Southwest College for the Deaf (15 and 2.26%).

The most popular majors in Howard County, TX are General Studies (98 and 14.8%), General Business (77 and 11.6%), and Registered Nursing (69 and 10.4%).

Admissions & Enrollments

Enrollments by Gender and Races

In 2023 there were 4,183 students enrolled in Howard County, TX, 40.6% men and 59.4% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in Hispanic or Latino with 2,068 records, of which 61% were women and 39% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

General Studies
98 degrees awarded
Registered Nursing
69 degrees awarded
General Business
60 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common concentation for Associates Degree recipients in Howard County, TX was General Studies with 98 degrees awarded.

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

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Howard College
648 degrees awarded
Southwest College for the Deaf
15 degrees awarded

In 2023, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Howard College with 648 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

In 2023, 207 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Howard County, TX, which is 0.454 times less than the 456 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2023, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was Hispanic or Latino students. These 330 degrees mean that there were 1.24 times more degrees awarded to Hispanic or Latino students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, White, with 267 degrees awarded.

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.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Public, 2-year ($4,320) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2023.

Public, 2-year ($306) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2023.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Howard County, TX is from Texas.

0.475

2023 Wage GINI in Texas

0.476

2022 Wage GINI in Texas

In 2023, the income inequality in Texas was 0.475 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.208% decline from 2022 to 2023, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Texas was lower than than the national average of 0.476. In other words, wages are distributed more 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.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024

Drove Alone (79.1%)
Carpooled (16%)
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Health Indicators

Health Outcomes

Indicator

In 2025, the number of deaths among residents under age 18 per 100,000 population was 75.9 in Howard County, TX.

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

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.