City profile · Texas · Census ACS 2023

Big Spring, TX

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Big Spring - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

24,769
Residents
$70,532
Median income
$138,800
Median home
$1,173
Median rent (state)

Big Spring - the verdict

Nationally, Big Spring sits in the 50th percentile for household income and the 10th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

50th
percentile, household income
23rd
percentile, home value
34th
percentile, median rent
10th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Big Spring, TX

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 24,769 residents in Big Spring, a small city within Texas. The typical household in Big Spring brings in $70,532 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 12.8%. Home values in Big Spring run a median of $138,800, and the median resident age is 36.5 years. Educational attainment runs 14.0% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 48.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 65 residential building permits were authorized in Big Spring (Building Boom), up 59% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Big Spring's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 3548.4 incidents per 100,000 residents, above the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 64.8°F with 19.6 inches of precipitation per year and 2.0 inches of snowfall.

Texas tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Texas scores 97.1 (Near Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,173 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Texas's average monthly utility costs around $223 (state average). Workers in Big Spring report an average commute of 18.1 minutes, with 76.2% driving alone and 3.9% working from home. Natural-hazard exposure scores 54.8 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Low).

Population

24,769 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Texas

Median Household Income

$70,532 /yr

Poverty 12.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

97.1 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Texas average

How does Big Spring compare to other US cities?

Here's how Big Spring stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 50% higher than other cities
Home value 23% pricier than other cities
Median rent 34% pricier than other cities
Safety 10% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Texas, Big Spring ranks #586 of 624 Texas cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Big Spring against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Texas only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Texas-relative analysis

Poverty Rate sits close to the middle of Texas's city distribution

Among the 1,663 Texas cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Big Spring ranks #602 - the 64th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Big Spring only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#598 of 1,520
61st percentile in Texas
Median Gross Rent
#780 of 1,663
52nd percentile in Texas
Median Home Value
#872 of 1,505
42nd percentile in Texas
Poverty Rate
#602 of 1,663
64th percentile in Texas
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#1,016 of 1,663
38th percentile in Texas

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Texas only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

50thIncome percentile
10thSafety percentile

50th percentile nationally for median household income · 10th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Big Spring's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Big Spring's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 44 Avg. percentile National median
Big Spring's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Big Spring's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$138,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 77% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Big Spring $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Big Spring, TX Big Spring, TX's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Big Spring, TX-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Big Spring, TX median $70,532/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Big Spring, TX's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Big Spring, TX. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 14.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 12.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 48.9%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
24,769
Median Income
$70,532
Median Home Value
$138,800
Median Age
36.5
Poverty Rate
12.8%
Labor force participation
48.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
14.0%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
3548.4
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
762.4
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2786.0
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
64.8°F
Annual Precipitation
19.6"
Annual Snowfall
2.0"

Schools

Total Schools
9
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
20,000 residents22,000 residents24,000 residents26,000 residents28,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 26,289 residents 22,290 residents ▼ -15.2%
Big Spring's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
65
housing units authorized
Single-Family
58
detached homes
Multifamily
7
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2.6
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 41
2020 42
2021 2
2022 13
2023 10
2024 65

Permit volume increased 59% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
18.1 minutes
Drive Alone
76.2%
Carpool
18.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.0%
Work from Home
3.9%
Other
0.6%

Based on 9,867 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Texas - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$130
avg/month
Natural Gas
$45
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$48
avg/month
Total Utilities
$223
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Texas state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Texas state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Big Spring sits in

Cost of Living Index
97.1
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,173/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
54.8 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Texas

Pecan Grove
24,798 people
Paris
24,678 people
San Benito
24,677 people
Cloverleaf
24,630 people
Kerrville
24,532 people
Sienna
25,025 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Big Spring's 24,769 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Ardmore, OK
24,757 people
Fort Dodge, IA
24,788 people
Sandusky, OH
24,748 people
Yukon, OK
24,802 people
Zanesville, OH
24,726 people
Centerville, OH
24,815 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Big Spring's $70,532 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Kingston, TN
$70,532 median income
Anchor, IL
$70,536 median income
Belton, MO
$70,525 median income
Lakewood, WA
$70,524 median income
Valencia CDP (Valencia County), NM
$70,521 median income
Hammondsport, NY
$70,521 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Big Spring, TX Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Big Spring, TX - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 64.1% 6.9% 8.7% 18.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 50.8% White 64.1% Black or African American 6.9% Asian 1.4% American Indian 0.5% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 8.7% Two or more races 18.3% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Big Spring compares to nearby Texas cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Big Spring (this city) 24,769 $70,532
Pecan Grove 24,798 $137,275
Paris 24,678 $45,439
San Benito 24,677 $41,445
Census ACS 5-year FIPS TX FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Big Spring, TX?

What is the population of Big Spring, TX? +

The population of Big Spring, TX stands at 24,769 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Big Spring, TX? +

The median household income in Big Spring is $70,532 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Big Spring? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Big Spring; the closest available measure is the Texas state average, a cost of living index of 97.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Texas vary by metro area.

Is Big Spring, TX safe? +

Big Spring has a total crime rate of 3548.4 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Big Spring, TX? +

Homes in Big Spring carry a median value of $138,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Big Spring? +

The average annual temperature in Big Spring runs 64.8°F, 19.6 inches of precipitation, and 2.0 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.