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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Jim Wells County

Texas · 38,891 residents · 865 sq mi
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The short version

Jim Wells County is a county of 38,891 people in Texas. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $76,900. Households here earn about 28% less than in Texas as a whole. The poverty rate is 21.6%, above the 12.8% national rate. 4% of residents were born outside the United States.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 37.9
US median: 38.8
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 27%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

38,891
−1%since 2000
from 39,326 in 2000
1990 – 2025
37.9
+16%since 2000
from 32.8 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
865 sq mi
Population, 19902024
37K38K40K41K42K19902000201020202024Jim Wells County
202439K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 56.4%(2,489)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97.2%(2,813)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 148.2%(3,172)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 197.3%(2,823)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.9%(2,290)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3411.6%(4,499)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4411.6%(4,528)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5411.7%(4,550)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6413%(5,045)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7410.3%(3,988)
US avg: 10%
75 to 845.2%(2,023)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over1.7%(671)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$45,857
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,843 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
$21,749
+78%since 2000
from $12,252 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
32.0%
+12.7 ptssince 2009
from 19.3% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
21.6%
−2.5 ptssince 2000
from 24.1% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information12.9%
US avg: 11.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing12%
US avg: 1.7%
Wholesale trade10.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Manufacturing8.9%
US avg: 0.5%
Retail trade5.9%
US avg: 10%
Other services4.4%
US avg: 6.6%
Finance & insurance4.4%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical4%
US avg: 4.7%
Construction3.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Public administration2.7%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing0.6%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food0.5%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.3%
US avg: 0.8%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$76,900
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $40,400 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
$779
+23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $420 in 2000
US average: $1,124
71.8%
−4.7 ptssince 2000
from 76.5% in 2000
28.2% rent
3.13 people
+8%since 2009
from 2.90 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
1.7
−14%since 2009
from 1.9 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic22.9%(9,001)
Black0.4%(166)
Hispanic / Latino75.7%(29,772)
Asian0.4%(167)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic17.9%(6,963)
Black0.5%(180)
Hispanic / Latino79.3%(30,835)
Asian0.4%(140)
Other0.6%(234)
35
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
Mexican74.7%(30,469)
Honduran0.3%(121)
Spaniard0.3%(107)
Guatemalan0.1%(61)
Salvadoran0.1%(32)
Cuban0.1%(25)
Asian origin
Pakistani0.3%(126)
Filipino0.1%(38)
Asian Indian0.1%(35)
Japanese0%(15)
Ancestry
German5.4%(2,193)
Irish3.2%(1,289)
English2.3%(932)
American1.7%(703)
French0.5%(222)
Swedish0.5%(208)
Polish0.5%(203)
Czech0.4%(145)
Scottish0.3%(118)
Dutch0.2%(76)
Italian0.1%(50)
Scotch-Irish0.1%(50)
+ 9 more ancestry groups with data
British0.1%(43)
Russian0.1%(25)
Greek0%(20)
Romanian0%(19)
Welsh0%(17)
Norwegian0%(12)
Section 05

Education

16.2%
+5.3 ptssince 2000
from 10.9% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
78.2%
+13.4 ptssince 2000
from 64.8% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
3.6%
−0.1 ptssince 2000
from 3.7% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

26.8 min
+45%since 2000
from 18.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
83.0%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 82.8% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
7.2%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 9.7% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

3.7%
−3.9 ptssince 2011
from 7.6% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
55.4%
−5.6 ptssince 2011
from 61.0% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
63.7%
US average: 73.3%
29.3%
+3.3 ptssince 2009
from 26.0% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

49.6%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
50.4%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
4.2%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
16.6%
−6.4 ptssince 2013
from 23.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
75.6%
US average: 91.9%
90.7%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
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
Section 09

Health coverage

16.6%
−6.4 ptssince 2013
from 23.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
45.7%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
8.4%
US average: 13.7%
18.2%
US average: 17.6%
23.1%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
2.4%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
53.7%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
37.9%
US average: 35.2%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)25%(444)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)17.8%(315)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era39.7%(704)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War3.7%(66)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II4.3%(77)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 1,774 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Jim Wells County, Texas?

Jim Wells County, Texas has about 38,891 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Jim Wells County, Texas earns about $45,857 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 $76,900, and the typical rent is about $779 a month.

How educated are people in Jim Wells County, Texas?

About 16.2% 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 21.6% 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 1,212 residents, a change of about 3 percent over that period.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →