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CITY

Center

Texas · 5,246 residents (2025 est.) · 7.987 sq mi
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The short version

Center has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $48,293. Population has declined 7% since 2000. 12% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $83,300. At a median age of 33.3, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 38% less than the Texas median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 33.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
12% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
5,271
−7%since 2000
from 5,678 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
660 / sq mi
−7%since 2000
from 711 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
33.3
−6%since 2000
from 35.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:5,246 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
5K5K5K6K6K1990201020202024Center
20245K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$48,293
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,061 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$21,106
+48%since 2000
from $14,233 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
17.7%
+7.1 ptssince 2009
from 10.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
26.1%
+2.4 ptssince 2000
from 23.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.502
−1%since 2010
from 0.507 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information24%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade10.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance7.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical7.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade7.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services4.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$83,300
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $44,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$823
+39%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $324 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
56.5%
−4.2 ptssince 2000
from 60.7% in 2000
43.5% rent
Vacancy rate
13.6%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
31.6%
−4.3 ptssince 2009
from 35.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
27.1%
−31.4 ptssince 2009
from 58.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.7
+2%since 2000
from 1.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
56
RELATED:See current rent listings in Center on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic46.7%(2,649)
Black34.1%(1,935)
Hispanic / Latino18.1%(1,025)
Asian0.5%(26)
Other0%
Diversity Score78.5%(4,457)
2024
White, non-Hispanic37.7%(1,988)
Black29.8%(1,573)
Hispanic / Latino25.1%(1,325)
Asian0.2%(9)
Other7.1%(376)
Diversity Score87.6%(4,615)
Diversity Score
88
+12%since 2000
from 78 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
12.3%
+1.6 ptssince 2000
from 10.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
86.8%
+26.2 ptssince 2000
from 60.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.2%
+0.7 ptssince 2000
from 3.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
16.2 min
+29%since 2000
from 12.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
77.4%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 74.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
14.6%
+3.3 ptssince 2009
from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
−4.8 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
1.9%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.6%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 5.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.1%
−12.3 ptssince 2009
from 17.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
10.3%
+0.4 ptssince 2011
from 10.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
58.0%
+4.6 ptssince 2011
from 53.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
9.9%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 10.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
29.8%
−15.6 ptssince 2009
from 45.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.2%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
Female
51.8%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 49.9% in 2009
Foreign born
8.7%
−9.9 ptssince 2009
from 18.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.8%
−42.5 ptssince 2009
from 47.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.1%
−8.4 ptssince 2012
from 23.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
26.0%
−45.9 ptssince 2013
from 71.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
83.4%
+38.1 ptssince 2017
from 45.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
81.3%
+9.8 ptssince 2016
from 71.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
18.5%
−5.0 ptssince 2016
from 23.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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CENTER VS
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Home value$186,000+123%
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CENTER VS
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CENTER VS
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CENTER VS
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Home value$178,900+115%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Center, Texas?

Center, Texas has about 5,271 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Center, Texas?

The typical household in Center, Texas earns about $48,293 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Center, Texas expensive?

In Center, Texas, the median home is worth about $83,300, and the typical rent is about $823 a month.

How educated are people in Center, Texas?

About 12.3% of adults age 25 and over in Center, Texas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Center, Texas?

About 26.1% of people in Center, Texas live below the federal poverty line.

Has Center, Texas grown since 1990?

Yes, Center, Texas has grown since 1990. The population has added about 321 residents, a change of about 6 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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