Population 32,290 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Howard County
Household size in Howard County
| Period | Howard County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.63 | 2.87 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.74 | 2.93 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.88 | 2.95 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.46 | 2.83 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.18 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Households in Howard County run small, averaging 2.46 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Household size has dropped from 2.63 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than 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 Howard County
| Period | Howard County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.7 | 34.7 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.2 | 35.4 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 36.0 | 36.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.9 | 36.7 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.8 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Howard County is a little younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 37.9, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has edged down from 38.7, even as the national median rose. The youngest areas are in the east, the oldest in the south.
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 Howard County
| Period | Howard County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.6% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.9% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 15.0% | 13.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 14.9% | 12.9% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.3 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Howard County: 14.9% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged up 1.3 points, even as the national share fell. Howard 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 Howard County
Renters in Howard County
| Period | Howard County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.1% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 31.7% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 34.6% | 38.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 30.5% | 37.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
About three in ten households in Howard County rent their homes (30.5%), a little below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Among homeowners, 54.5% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the south and least common in the northeast. The renter share has edged down 0.6 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 Howard County
| Period | Howard County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.1% | 11.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.0% | 10.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 17.0% | 10.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 15.0% | 9.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.1 pts | −2.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Howard County: 15.0% of homes are empty, 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 down 3.1 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Howard County
| Period | Howard County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1963 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1963 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1964 | 1987 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1968 | 1992 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +8 | +6 |
Howard County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1968, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1963 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the center has the oldest housing.
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 Howard County
| Period | Howard County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $663 | $921 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $716 | $1,005 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $884 | $1,178 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,056 | $1,560 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$393 | +$639 | +$606 |
Rent in Howard County runs $1,056 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $393 a month since 2006–10, up 59%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 30.2% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 Howard County
Bachelor's degrees in Howard County
| Period | Howard County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.3% | 27.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.5% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 13.0% | 30.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.0% | 34.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.7 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Howard County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 16.0%, against 35.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 4.7 points, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the northeast and least in the southwest.
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 Howard County
| Period | Howard County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 73.7% | 80.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 77.3% | 82.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 80.4% | 83.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 81.9% | 85.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +8.2 pts | +5.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over one in six adults in Howard County never finished high school, well above the national share: only 81.9% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma is up 8.2 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Howard County
| Period | Howard County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.3% | 7.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.1% | 7.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.6% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.6% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.8 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Howard County is close to the national rate: 5.6% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 2.8 points from 2006–10, 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).
Howard 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howard County | 2.46 | 37.9 | 14.9% | 30.5% | 15.0% | 1968 | $1,056 | 16.0% | 81.9% | 5.6% |
| Martin County | 2.65 | 37.2 | 23.9% | 21.9% | 7.5% | 1975 | $993 | 16.4% | 78.9% | 8.1% |
| Mitchell County | 2.82 | 38.3 | 8.5% | 21.3% | 25.2% | 1961 | $597 | 14.0% | 84.9% | 4.0% |
| Andrews County | 2.75 | 32.4 | 13.3% | 21.5% | 6.1% | 1982 | $1,246 | 18.0% | 76.4% | 2.9% |
| Callahan County | 2.74 | 43.6 | 8.0% | 19.1% | 19.6% | 1978 | $791 | 25.1% | 92.8% | 4.8% |
| Eastland County | 2.45 | 40.0 | 11.2% | 28.4% | 24.1% | 1966 | $866 | 23.2% | 83.0% | 4.3% |
| Erath County | 2.42 | 33.2 | 8.7% | 36.9% | 10.1% | 1990 | $1,243 | 28.9% | 88.6% | 6.1% |
| Somervell County | 2.54 | 44.3 | 12.3% | 20.0% | 7.7% | 1993 | $770 | 28.8% | 92.0% | 3.9% |
| Dona Ana County | 2.70 | 35.8 | 15.7% | 34.5% | 10.6% | 1991 | $1,087 | 31.6% | 83.6% | 6.7% |
| Henderson County | 2.55 | 44.1 | 11.1% | 22.2% | 17.4% | 1989 | $1,067 | 20.3% | 88.0% | 4.9% |
| Smith County | 2.94 | 38.7 | 13.1% | 31.2% | 17.3% | 1986 | $1,291 | 28.5% | 88.4% | 4.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Jefferson County, ID · Prince George County, VA · Prentiss County, MS · Pottawatomie County, KS · Posey County, IN · Lee County, IL · Lee County, IA · Juneau County, WI · Johnson County, AR · Jefferson County, WA
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 Howard 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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