Ector County, Texas Population 2026

Updated April 2026 · US Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates · 30th-largest in Texas

The population of Ector County, Texas is 163,206 as of the 2023 American Community Survey, making it the 30th-largest county in Texas. The median household income is $71,031, the median home value is $190,500, and the median age is 31.3.

The population of Ector County has grown 24.0% since 2010 (137,060 → 170,022), a +1.55% annualized rate.

Ector County within Texas · Source: US Census TIGER/Line via us-atlas

163,206

Population

+1.55%

Annual growth

182

People / sq mi

$71,031

Median Income

$190,500

Median Home Value

Ector County covers 898 sq mi of land at 181.8 people per square mile.

About Ector County, TX

Age is the most distinctive thing about Ector County: a median age of 31.3, younger than the national median. Ector County is a county in Texas with a population of 163,206. It ranks #30 among counties in Texas by population.

Median household income is $71,031, below the US median of $78,538. Roughly 12.0% of residents fall below the poverty line, close to the national 12.4%. Homes carry a median value of $190,500, with typical rent around $1,284.

College attainment is 16.6%, below the national 35.0%. Remote work is rare here (3.6%, below the national 14.0%), and the average commute runs about 25 minutes each way.

Ector County Population History (2010-2024)

The county of Ector County had a population of 137,060 in 2010 and 170,022 in 2024, a 24.0% growth over 14 years. The peak was 170,022 in 2024. Average annual growth rate: 1.57%.

Ector County population, 2010–2024 · Source: U.S. Census Bureau — decennial census & Population Estimates

170,022

Population (2024)

137,060

Population (2010)

170,022

Peak (2024)

1.57%

Avg Annual Growth

Year	Population	Change	Annual %	Source
2010	137,060	-	-	estimate
2011	139,631	+2,571	+1.88%	estimate
2012	144,472	+4,841	+3.47%	estimate
2013	149,629	+5,157	+3.57%	estimate
2014	154,553	+4,924	+3.29%	estimate
2015	159,859	+5,306	+3.43%	estimate
2016	157,748	-2,111	-1.32%	estimate
2017	156,823	-925	-0.59%	estimate
2018	161,859	+5,036	+3.21%	estimate
2019	166,204	+4,345	+2.68%	estimate
2020	165,511	-693	-0.42%	estimate
2021	160,809	-4,702	-2.84%	estimate
2022	161,480	+671	+0.42%	estimate
2023	165,450	+3,970	+2.46%	estimate
2024	170,022	+4,572	+2.76%	estimate

Race & Ethnicity

White	53.3%
Black or African American	5.1%
Asian	0.1%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	2.0%
Two or More Races	0.0%

Age & Sex

31.3

Median Age

48.6%

Female

51.4%

Male

9.8%

Age 65+

Age Distribution

Under 5

8.6%

5–9

9.2%

10–14

7.9%

15–19

7.2%

20–24

7.0%

25–34

16.1%

35–44

14.0%

45–54

10.6%

55–59

4.9%

60–64

4.6%

65–74

6.1%

75–84

2.8%

85+

0.9%

Children (under 15): 25.7% · Seniors (65+): 9.8%

Income & Poverty

Median household income	$71,031$-5,261 vs state
Mean household income	$92,177
Per-capita income	$34,459
Poverty rate	12.0%+1.5% vs state
Unemployment rate	3.8%
Employment-to-population	63.7%

Top Industries by Employment

Professional & business services

18.2%

Agriculture

13.7%

Retail trade

10.3%

Construction

9.3%

Manufacturing

7.3%

Education & health care

6.9%

Finance & real estate

6.5%

Information

4.5%

The largest employment sector in Ector County is professional & business services, accounting for 18.2% of workers.

How residents commute

0.2%

Drive alone

1.0%

Carpool

82.4%

Public transit

3.6%

Work from home

25.3 min

Avg commute

Housing

$190,500$-69,900 vs state

Median home value

$1,284

Median rent

64.4%

Homeownership rate

67,542

Total housing units

92.4%

Occupied

7.6%

Vacant

35.6%

Renter-occupied

Social & access

78.4%

With health insurance

95.1%

With broadband internet

17.0%

Foreign-born

4.8%

Veterans (18+)

10.4%

With a disability

53.3%

Speak language other than English at home

Education

77.6%

High School+

16.6%

Bachelor's+

Largest cities in Texas

Houston (2,300,419)San Antonio (1,458,954)Dallas (1,299,553)Austin (967,862)Fort Worth (941,311)El Paso (678,147)Arlington (394,769)Corpus Christi (317,383)Plano (287,339)Lubbock (261,078)All Texas cities →

Other counties in Texas

Harris County (4,758,579)Dallas County (2,603,816)Tarrant County (2,135,743)Bexar County (2,037,344)Travis County (1,307,625)Collin County (1,116,601)Denton County (945,644)Hidalgo County (880,921)El Paso County (866,275)Fort Bend County (859,721)All Texas counties →

Part of Texas

Texas demographic profile All Texas data →

Metro areas in Texas

Dallas (7,807,555)Houston (7,274,714)San Antonio (2,612,802)Austin (2,357,497)McAllen (880,921)El Paso (869,606)Killeen (485,850)Corpus Christi (446,797)All US metros →

County rankings

US Counties by Population Richest US Counties by Median Household Income Expensive US Counties by Home Value Educated US Counties Counties With Highest Poverty Rates Youngest US Counties by Median Age Oldest US Counties by Median Age Cheapest US Counties by Median Home Value Racially Diverse US Counties Counties With Largest Hispanic Population All rankings →

Frequently Asked Questions

Ector County, Texas has a population of 163,206 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, making it the 30th-largest county in Texas. Population density is 182 people per square mile.

The population of Ector County has grown 24.0% since 2010 (137,060 → 170,022), a +1.55% annualized rate.

The median household income in Ector County, Texas is $71,031, with mean (average) household income of $92,177 and per-capita income of $34,459. 12.0% of residents live below the federal poverty level.

In Ector County, the largest racial and ethnic groups are White (53.3%), Black or African American (5.1%), Hispanic or Latino (2.0%). Figures are from the US Census Bureau's 2023 ACS 5-year estimates and reflect self-reported responses.

The median age in Ector County, Texas is 31.3 years. Residents are 48.6% female and 51.4% male.

The median home value in Ector County is $190,500 and median monthly rent is $1,284. 64.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. The county has 67,542 total housing units, 7.6% of which are vacant.

The largest employment sector in Ector County, Texas is professional, scientific, and management services, employing 18.2% of workers. The unemployment rate is 3.8%.

Houston is among the largest cities associated with Ector County, Texas, with a population of 2,300,419.