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COUNTY

Jim Wells County

Texas · 38,804 residents (2025 est.) · 865.176 sq mi
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The short version

Jim Wells County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $51,896. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $123,600. The poverty rate of 24.7% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 34% less than the Texas median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 35.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 68%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
38,850
−1%since 2000
from 39,326 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
45 / sq mi
−5%since 2009
from 47 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
35.7
+9%since 2000
from 32.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:38,804 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
37K38K40K41K42K1990201020202024Jim Wells County
202439K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56.6%(2,576)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97.2%(2,781)
US avg: 6%
10 to 148.5%(3,309)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 197.5%(2,917)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246.4%(2,487)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3412.4%(4,825)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4413.2%(5,143)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5410.7%(4,160)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6411.2%(4,333)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 749.4%(3,655)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844.7%(1,820)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.2%(844)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$51,896
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,843 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$26,585
+117%since 2000
from $12,252 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
35.7%
+16.5 ptssince 2009
from 19.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
24.7%
+0.5 ptssince 2000
from 24.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.469
+4%since 2010
from 0.452 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing12.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Information10.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade9.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Manufacturing9.6%
US avg: 0.4%
Finance & insurance5.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services4%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical3.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Retail trade3.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Construction3.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing2.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Public administration1.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services1.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.5%
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$123,600
+68%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $40,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$938
+23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $420 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
68.5%
−8.1 ptssince 2000
from 76.5% in 2000
31.5% rent
Vacancy rate
18.2%
+4.9 ptssince 2009
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
21.4%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 20.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
54.4%
+8.0 ptssince 2009
from 46.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.4
+23%since 2009
from 1.9 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
45
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Jim Wells County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic22.9%(9,001)
Black0.4%(166)
Hispanic / Latino75.7%(29,772)
Asian0.4%(167)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic18.4%(7,135)
Black0.8%(301)
Hispanic / Latino79.5%(30,899)
Asian0.5%(197)
Other0.8%(318)
Diversity Score
42
−8%since 2009
from 45 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
35
+2%since 2020
from 35 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican71.3%(27,704)
Salvadoran0.4%(160)
Panamanian0.2%(74)
Colombian0.2%(74)
Spaniard0.1%(55)
Honduran0.1%(53)
Puerto Rican0.1%(22)
Cuban0%(9)
Asian origin
Pakistani0.3%(131)
Filipino0.2%(66)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0.1%(35)
Ancestry
German5.3%(2,047)
Irish3.8%(1,495)
English2.4%(915)
American1.4%(531)
Italian1.3%(511)
French0.7%(286)
Polish0.6%(232)
Nigerian0.5%(187)
Swedish0.4%(144)
Armenian0.3%(111)
Scottish0.3%(100)
+ 18 more ancestry groups with data
Arab0.2%(91)
Iraqi0.2%(87)
Dutch0.2%(75)
Greek0.1%(51)
Czech0.1%(42)
Scotch-Irish0.1%(39)
West Indian0.1%(37)
Norwegian0.1%(36)
Welsh0.1%(31)
British0.1%(26)
Jamaican0.1%(23)
Swiss0%(18)
Danish0%(16)
Canadian0%(14)
Serbian0%(14)
RANKED:Largest Mexican population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest American population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
16.3%
+5.4 ptssince 2000
from 10.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
79.6%
+14.8 ptssince 2000
from 64.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.7%
+1.0 ptssince 2000
from 3.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.3 min
+31%since 2000
from 18.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
80.1%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 82.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.3%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 10.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.3%
+5.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.6%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% 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
6.9%
−2.8 ptssince 2009
from 9.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.1%
−1.5 ptssince 2011
from 7.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
55.5%
−5.5 ptssince 2011
from 61.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.8%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 14.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
30.8%
−25.9 ptssince 2009
from 56.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.9%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
Female
50.1%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
Foreign born
4.9%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.1%
−41.8 ptssince 2009
from 47.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.3%
−4.2 ptssince 2012
from 20.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
20.9%
−56.1 ptssince 2013
from 77.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
75.5%
+22.4 ptssince 2017
from 53.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
51.8%
−0.7 ptssince 2016
from 52.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
46.4%
−0.4 ptssince 2016
from 46.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married36.9%(5,495)
Married51.8%(7,723)
Widowed2.3%(336)
Divorced9%(1,346)
Women 15+
Never married30.8%(4,711)
Married48.1%(7,349)
Widowed9.3%(1,426)
Divorced11.8%(1,798)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Head to head

Compare Jim Wells County to nearby counties

JIM WELLS COUNTY VS
Duval County
Income$49,038−6%
Home value$89,400−28%
Population9,402−76%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
JIM WELLS COUNTY VS
Kleberg County
Income$61,292+18%
Home value$161,300+31%
Population30,315−22%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
JIM WELLS COUNTY VS
Nueces County
Income$66,897+29%
Home value$208,800+69%
Population352,992+810%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
JIM WELLS COUNTY VS
San Patricio County
Income$69,704+34%
Home value$192,400+56%
Population72,053+86%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Jim Wells County, Texas?

Jim Wells County, Texas has about 38,850 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Jim Wells County, Texas?

The typical household in Jim Wells County, Texas earns about $51,896 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Jim Wells County, Texas expensive?

In Jim Wells County, Texas, the median home is worth about $123,600, and the typical rent is about $938 a month.

How educated are people in Jim Wells County, Texas?

About 16.3% of adults age 25 and over in Jim Wells County, Texas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Jim Wells County, Texas?

About 24.7% of people in Jim Wells County, Texas live below the federal poverty line.

Has Jim Wells County, Texas grown since 1990?

Yes, Jim Wells County, Texas has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,171 residents, a change of about 3 percent over that period.

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11 census tracts
Census Tract 9501.02Census Tract 9505Census Tract 9502.02Census Tract 9502.01Census Tract 9503.01Census Tract 9506Census Tract 9501.01Census Tract 9507Census Tract 9504Census Tract 9503.02Census Tract 9503.03
4 ZIP codes
ZIP 78332ZIP 78372ZIP 78375ZIP 78342
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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