Population 22,232 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Gaines County
Household size in Gaines County
| Period | Gaines County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.30 | 2.87 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.45 | 2.93 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.55 | 2.95 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.42 | 2.83 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.12 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Gaines County is a place of big households: 3.42 people per home on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. Numbers like that usually point to plenty of families with kids. Household size has climbed from 3.30 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Of Texas' 254 counties, only nine have larger households.
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 Gaines County
| Period | Gaines County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.0 | 34.7 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 29.4 | 35.4 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 27.6 | 36.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 28.8 | 36.7 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.7 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Gaines County is young: half of its residents are under 28.8, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young families with children. Since 2006–10, the median age has crept up from 28.0, a smaller shift than nationally. Only one other Texas county is younger.
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 Gaines County
| Period | Gaines County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.2% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.6% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.5% | 13.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.4% | 12.9% | 11.6% |
| Change | +4.2 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in eight households in Gaines County (11.4%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Single parents are less common here than in Texas as a whole (12.9%). Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has risen 4.2 points, even as the national share fell.
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 Gaines County
Renters in Gaines County
| Period | Gaines County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.0% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 21.6% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.7% | 38.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 25.4% | 37.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Gaines County own their homes; 25.4% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 66.9% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the northeast and least common in the center. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 1.7 points, 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 Gaines County
| Period | Gaines County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.9% | 11.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.2% | 10.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.5% | 10.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.3% | 9.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.6 pts | −2.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs a little high in Gaines County: 11.3% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Vacancy has fallen 3.6 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Gaines County
| Period | Gaines County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1978 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1982 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1985 | 1987 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1990 | 1992 | 1980 |
| Change | +12 | +8 | +6 |
Gaines County has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1990, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1978 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the west, the oldest in the northeast.
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 Gaines County
| Period | Gaines County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $478 | $921 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $698 | $1,005 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $812 | $1,178 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $811 | $1,560 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$333 | +$639 | +$606 |
Rent in Gaines County runs $811 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $333 a month from 2006–10, a 70% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 27.0% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the south; the most affordable are in the northeast.
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 Gaines County
Bachelor's degrees in Gaines County
| Period | Gaines County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.4% | 27.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.3% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 11.0% | 30.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.2% | 34.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | −0.1 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Gaines County: 12.2% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Of Texas' 254 counties, only 15 have a lower share of college graduates.
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 Gaines County
| Period | Gaines County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 54.2% | 80.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 58.3% | 82.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 58.8% | 83.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 55.0% | 85.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | +5.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
More than four in ten adults in Gaines County never finished high school, well above the national share: only 55.0% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma has edged up 0.8 points since 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Only one other Texas county has 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 Gaines County
| Period | Gaines County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.3% | 7.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 3.2% | 7.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.2% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.3% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Gaines County has been strong: just 2.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has edged down 1.0 points, mirroring the country. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's 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).
Gaines 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaines County | 3.42 | 28.8 | 11.4% | 25.4% | 11.3% | 1990 | $811 | 12.2% | 55.0% | 2.3% |
| Lea County | 3.03 | 32.8 | 16.0% | 28.8% | 13.7% | 1981 | $1,160 | 16.7% | 75.1% | 7.0% |
| 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% |
| Scurry County | 2.69 | 37.0 | 14.3% | 23.2% | 14.9% | 1970 | $1,018 | 15.5% | 82.3% | 3.1% |
| 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% |
| Otero County | 2.97 | 39.1 | 15.8% | 33.0% | 21.0% | 1986 | $972 | 23.2% | 86.6% | 8.3% |
| 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% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Panola County, TX · Marion County, MS · Marion County, SC · Marion County, TN · Mariposa County, CA · Marlboro County, SC · Marshall County, OK · Overton County, TN · Owen County, IN · Owyhee County, ID
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 Gaines 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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