Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Abilene, TX Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

128,053

Median Agei

32.8

Race & Ethnicityi

White

56.8%72,685

Hispanic/Latino

27.1%34,704

Black

9.8%12,491

Two or More

3.4%4,350

Asian

2.3%2,949

Other

0.5%611

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.1%164

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0.1%99

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

7.7%6,127

High School Diploma

22.6%17,902

Some College (<1 yr)

5.9%4,643

Some College (1+ yr)

15.1%11,939

Associate's Degree

9.1%7,170

Bachelor's Degree

17.7%14,005

Master's Degree

7.4%5,837

Professional Degree

1.3%1,008

Doctorate

1%778

HS or Higher

87.7%

BA or Higher

27.3%

Graduate+

9.6%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$183,700

Median Renti

$1,157

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

56.1%26,320

Renter-Occupied

43.9%20,597

Total Units

53,156

Homeownership

56.1%

Vacancy Rate

11.7%

Rent Distribution

Under $500

879

$500–$750

1,321

$750–$1,000

4,251

$1,000–$1,250

5,215

$1,250–$1,500

3,125

$1,500–$2,000

3,236

$2,000+

1,428

Year Built

2020 or later

2.2%1,171

2010–2019

9.9%5,280

2000–2009

6.8%3,609

1990–1999

9.9%5,251

1980–1989

15.1%8,003

1970–1979

12.4%6,582

1960–1969

8.6%4,589

1950–1959

20.7%11,010

1940–1949

7.2%3,827

1939 or earlier

7.2%3,834

Heating Fuel

Electricity

52.1%24,423

Utility Gas

45.4%21,321

Bottled/LP Gas

1.7%793

No Fuel

0.3%149

Solar

0.3%127

Wood

0.2%75

Fuel Oil

0%19

Other

0%10

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$62,648

Mean Household Incomei

$83,541

Per Capita Incomei

$31,321

Poverty Ratei

14.7%

Unemploymenti

2.8%

Labor Forcei

62,621

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

2,064

Residentsi

3,982

Avg. Tenant Renti

$355/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

22 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing213 homes97% occupied$408/mo rent

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers157 homes85% occupied$352/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 8102 homes89% occupied$241/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

202/PRAC50 homes99% occupied$370/mo rent

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $62,648/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $19K/yr

76.1%

Very low income$19K–$31K/yr

17.8%

Low income$31K–$50K/yr

5.3%

Moderate / aboveOver $50K/yr

0.8%

Who Receives This Housing

75.9% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

63.5% of subsidized households are minority

20.6% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

32.6% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

9,4227.4%

By Region

Top Countries

Mexico

3,526

Philippines

749

United Kingdom

437

Canada

396

China

170

Korea

144

Germany

138

India

137

Workforce

Total Employed

56,499

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Veteransi

7,422(7.9% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

85%Insured

15%Uninsured