Population 48,669 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Caldwell County
Household size in Caldwell County
| Period | Caldwell County | Austin area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.96 | 2.69 | 2.87 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.91 | 2.79 | 2.93 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.87 | 2.83 | 2.95 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.92 | 2.55 | 2.83 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.04 | −0.14 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Caldwell County is a place of big households: 2.92 people per home on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. Numbers like that usually point to plenty of families with kids. Household size has edged down from 2.96 in 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Caldwell County
| Period | Caldwell County | Austin area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.4 | 34.0 | 34.7 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.7 | 35.2 | 35.4 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.3 | 36.3 | 36.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.7 | 37.2 | 36.7 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.3 | +3.3 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Caldwell County is a little younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 37.7, against 40.1 nationally. The Austin area as a whole looks much the same. The median age has climbed from 35.4 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Caldwell County
| Period | Caldwell County | Austin area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.7% | 11.8% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 13.8% | 11.2% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.9% | 9.8% | 13.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 16.1% | 9.7% | 12.9% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | −2.2 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in six households in Caldwell County (16.1%), well above the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is up 1.4 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell. Caldwell County has a higher share of single-parent households than at least four in five Texas counties.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Caldwell County
Renters in Caldwell County
| Period | Caldwell County | Austin area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.9% | 40.7% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 33.6% | 42.1% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.6% | 41.8% | 38.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 24.7% | 41.7% | 37.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −6.2 pts | +1.0 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 24.7% of households in Caldwell County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Just over half of owners (51.7%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has fallen 6.2 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Caldwell County
| Period | Caldwell County | Austin area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.0% | 8.8% | 11.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.3% | 8.5% | 10.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.6% | 8.3% | 10.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.2% | 5.9% | 9.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −9.8 pts | −2.9 pts | −2.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Caldwell County than nationally: 6.2%, against 9.6% for the U.S. Vacancy has fallen 9.8 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of Texas' 254 counties, only eight have a lower vacancy rate.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Caldwell County
| Period | Caldwell County | Austin area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1983 | 1990 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1985 | 1992 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1986 | 1995 | 1987 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1992 | 2000 | 1992 | 1980 |
| Change | +9 | +10 | +8 | +6 |
Caldwell County has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1992, versus 1980 nationally. Even so, homes here are older than in the wider Austin area, where the median home dates to 2000. The median year built has moved up from 1983 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the south.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Caldwell County
| Period | Caldwell County | Austin area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $743 | $1,064 | $921 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $820 | $1,155 | $1,005 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $929 | $1,428 | $1,178 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,299 | $1,911 | $1,560 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$557 | +$847 | +$639 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Caldwell County costs $1,299 a month with utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $557 a month from 2006–10, a 75% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 28.3% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. The priciest rents are in the west; the most affordable are in the south.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Caldwell County
Bachelor's degrees in Caldwell County
| Period | Caldwell County | Austin area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.3% | 38.3% | 27.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.8% | 40.3% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 14.4% | 44.2% | 30.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.8% | 50.4% | 34.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.5 pts | +12.1 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Caldwell County: 18.8% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 3.5 points, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the west and least in the northeast.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Caldwell County
| Period | Caldwell County | Austin area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 77.8% | 87.6% | 80.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 78.0% | 88.3% | 82.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 77.6% | 89.9% | 83.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 81.1% | 91.6% | 85.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.3 pts | +4.0 pts | +5.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
Nearly one in five adults in Caldwell County never finished high school, well above the national share: only 81.1% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 3.3 points, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Caldwell County
| Period | Caldwell County | Austin area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.6% | 6.4% | 7.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.4% | 6.9% | 7.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.8% | 4.3% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.2% | 4.3% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −8.4 pts | −2.2 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Caldwell County has been low: just 3.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 8.4 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Caldwell County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caldwell County | 2.92 | 37.7 | 16.1% | 24.7% | 6.2% | 1992 | $1,299 | 18.8% | 81.1% | 3.2% |
| Hays County | 2.69 | 35.7 | 10.6% | 35.9% | 5.7% | 2005 | $1,737 | 43.6% | 91.8% | 4.4% |
| Bastrop County | 2.98 | 37.5 | 9.6% | 23.5% | 7.8% | 1997 | $1,439 | 24.2% | 79.6% | 4.0% |
| Gonzales County | 2.51 | 41.8 | 16.4% | 33.8% | 12.1% | 1983 | $854 | 12.0% | 75.0% | 4.2% |
| Travis County | 2.36 | 37.2 | 9.4% | 47.9% | 6.3% | 1997 | $1,961 | 56.0% | 91.5% | 4.5% |
| Guadalupe County | 2.83 | 38.9 | 12.0% | 22.2% | 6.5% | 2001 | $1,757 | 32.2% | 90.1% | 4.6% |
| Comal County | 2.61 | 42.6 | 7.8% | 23.4% | 8.6% | 2004 | $1,649 | 43.4% | 94.7% | 3.7% |
| Fayette County | 2.38 | 47.7 | 11.1% | 20.6% | 20.9% | 1985 | $1,037 | 27.1% | 91.1% | 2.2% |
| Blanco County | 2.38 | 52.2 | 4.8% | 23.8% | 16.0% | 1998 | $1,139 | 36.3% | 92.0% | 5.7% |
| Lavaca County | 2.39 | 44.3 | 8.4% | 21.7% | 18.4% | 1977 | $1,131 | 22.0% | 88.4% | 3.1% |
| Lee County | 2.56 | 45.3 | 13.6% | 22.2% | 14.5% | 1991 | $1,034 | 22.6% | 85.2% | 6.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Hillsdale County, MI · Bingham County, ID · Windham County, VT · Williams County, ND · Whitman County, WA · Madison County, OH · Logan County, OH · Whiteside County, IL · Warren County, PA · Independence County, AR
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Caldwell County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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