Population 12,134 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Dawson County
Household size in Dawson County
| Period | Dawson County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.60 | 2.87 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.70 | 2.93 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.62 | 2.95 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.68 | 2.83 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.07 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
At 2.68 people per household, Dawson County sits close to the national average of 2.65. The typical household here is smaller than in Texas overall, where it has 2.83 people. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.60, even as the national average fell.
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 Dawson County
| Period | Dawson County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.6 | 34.7 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.8 | 35.4 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 36.6 | 36.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 34.8 | 36.7 | 40.1 |
| Change | −3.8 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Dawson County is young: half of its residents are under 34.8, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young adults and children. Since 2006–10, the median age has dropped from 38.6, even as the national median rose.
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 Dawson County
| Period | Dawson County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.8% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.2% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 14.3% | 13.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 15.4% | 12.9% | 11.6% |
| Change | +7.5 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Dawson County: 15.4% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has risen 7.5 points, even as the national share fell. Dawson County has a higher share of single-parent households than the great majority of 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 Dawson County
Renters in Dawson County
| Period | Dawson County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.3% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 28.7% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 30.7% | 38.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 29.4% | 37.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +5.1 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Dawson County own their homes; 29.4% rent, a little below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 66.2% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the west. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 5.1 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Dawson County
| Period | Dawson County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.3% | 11.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 19.8% | 10.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 21.0% | 10.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.9% | 9.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.5 pts | −2.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 21.9% of the housing in Dawson County, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy is up 1.5 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
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 Dawson County
| Period | Dawson County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1964 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1964 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1965 | 1987 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1967 | 1992 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +8 | +6 |
The housing in Dawson County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1967, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. Newer construction is concentrated in the east, while the center has the oldest housing. Dawson County has older homes than at least four in five Texas counties.
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 Dawson County
| Period | Dawson County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $522 | $921 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $523 | $1,005 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $610 | $1,178 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $976 | $1,560 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$455 | +$639 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Dawson County costs $976 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $455 a month since 2006–10, up 87%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 29.8% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Rents run highest in the west and lowest in the north.
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 Dawson County
Bachelor's degrees in Dawson County
| Period | Dawson County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.8% | 27.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.1% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 14.3% | 30.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.4% | 34.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.6 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Dawson County: 13.4% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 2.6 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Few Texas counties have a lower share of college graduates: only 23 of 254.
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 Dawson County
| Period | Dawson County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 68.3% | 80.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 70.1% | 82.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 70.2% | 83.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 72.8% | 85.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.4 pts | +5.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
More than a quarter of adults in Dawson County never finished high school, well above the national share: only 72.8% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 4.4 points, in line with the national trend. Only 21 of Texas' 254 counties have a lower share of high school graduates.
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 Dawson County
| Period | Dawson County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.5% | 7.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.3% | 7.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.2% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.7% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | +2.2 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Dawson County: 7.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is up 2.2 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell. 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).
Dawson 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dawson County | 2.68 | 34.8 | 15.4% | 29.4% | 21.9% | 1967 | $976 | 13.4% | 72.8% | 7.7% |
| Borden County | 2.93 | 32.2 | 4.9% | 33.7% | 34.0% | 1973 | $1,246 | 36.9% | 94.4% | 0.3% |
| Gaines County | 3.42 | 28.8 | 11.4% | 25.4% | 11.3% | 1990 | $811 | 12.2% | 55.0% | 2.3% |
| Scurry County | 2.69 | 37.0 | 14.3% | 23.2% | 14.9% | 1970 | $1,018 | 15.5% | 82.3% | 3.1% |
| Lea County | 3.03 | 32.8 | 16.0% | 28.8% | 13.7% | 1981 | $1,160 | 16.7% | 75.1% | 7.0% |
| Fisher County | 2.33 | 39.6 | 14.1% | 19.6% | 22.9% | 1964 | $567 | 17.2% | 91.0% | 4.7% |
| Jones County | 2.48 | 40.9 | 9.5% | 19.6% | 15.3% | 1973 | $996 | 13.2% | 84.3% | 5.2% |
| Shackelford County | 2.46 | 42.6 | 6.1% | 21.3% | 16.2% | 1966 | $698 | 33.8% | 93.3% | 8.2% |
| Stephens County | 2.53 | 41.6 | 14.5% | 20.8% | 21.4% | 1972 | $799 | 16.9% | 82.4% | 3.9% |
| Palo Pinto County | 2.66 | 41.9 | 13.2% | 29.0% | 17.8% | 1979 | $1,226 | 17.1% | 86.9% | 6.8% |
| Otero County | 2.97 | 39.1 | 15.8% | 33.0% | 21.0% | 1986 | $972 | 23.2% | 86.6% | 8.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Monroe County, AL · Mountrail County, ND · Moultrie County, IL · Morton County, KS · Morrow County, OR · Morris County, TX · Morgan County, TN · Morgan County, MO · Moore County, TX · Musselshell County, MT
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 Dawson 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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