City profile · Texas · Census ACS 2023

DeSoto, TX

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

55,896
Residents
$83,256
Median income
$282,600
Median home
$1,931
Median rent (state)

DeSoto - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, DeSoto places in the 65th percentile for household income and the 33rd percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

65th
percentile, household income
62nd
percentile, home value
80th
percentile, median rent
33rd
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: DeSoto, TX

55,896 people live in DeSoto, Texas - a small city by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in DeSoto brings in $83,256 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 5.7%. DeSoto's housing stock carries a median value of $282,600, and the median resident age is 41.9 years. About 29.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 63.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 186 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 26% from five years earlier. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: per-100,000 total crime stands at 1968.5 in FBI UCR data, near the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Texas tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Texas at 97.1 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Near Average). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,931 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Texas run around $223, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 99.7 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

55,896 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Texas

Median Household Income

$83,256 /yr

Poverty 5.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

97.1 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Texas average

How does DeSoto compare to other US cities?

DeSoto measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 65% higher than other cities
Home value 62% pricier than other cities
Median rent 80% pricier than other cities
Safety 33% 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, DeSoto ranks #449 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 DeSoto against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Texas only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Texas-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent is DeSoto's strongest outlier among Texas cities

Among the 1,663 Texas cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, DeSoto ranks #1 - the 92nd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares DeSoto only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#404 of 1,520
73rd percentile in Texas
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 1,663
92nd percentile in Texas
Median Home Value
#305 of 1,505
80th percentile in Texas
Poverty Rate
#1,056 of 1,663
36th percentile in Texas
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#381 of 1,663
77th 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.

65thIncome percentile
33rdSafety percentile

65th percentile nationally for median household income · 33rd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

DeSoto's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

DeSoto'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 42 Avg. percentile National median
DeSoto'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 DeSoto's home value compares nationally

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

$282,600 38th percentile more affordable than 38% 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%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). This entry sits in this band. $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. DeSoto $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 - DeSoto, TX DeSoto, TX's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not DeSoto, 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 DeSoto, TX median $83,256/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%
DeSoto, 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 DeSoto, TX. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 29.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 5.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 63.5%

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

Population
55,896
Median Income
$83,256
Median Home Value
$282,600
Median Age
41.9
Poverty Rate
5.7%
Labor force participation
63.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
29.9%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1968.5
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
325.7
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1642.8
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.

Schools

Total Schools
13
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
55,500 residents56,000 residents56,500 residents57,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 56,030 residents 56,681 residents ▲ +1.2%
DeSoto's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
186
housing units authorized
Single-Family
186
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
3.3
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 251
2020 245
2021 283
2022 143
2023 180
2024 186

Permit volume decreased 26% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
74.3%
Carpool
8.0%
Public Transit
0.5%
Walk
0.6%
Work from Home
15.6%
Other
1.0%

Based on 28,267 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 DeSoto sits in

Cost of Living Index
97.1
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,931/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
99.7 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Texas

Port Arthur
55,779 people
Texas City
54,159 people
Galveston
53,348 people
Wylie
58,991 people
Kyle
52,439 people
Little Elm
51,426 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to DeSoto's 55,896 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Berwyn, IL
55,888 people
National City, CA
55,960 people
Kingsport, TN
55,807 people
New Brunswick, NJ
55,744 people
Apple Valley, MN
55,696 people
Mount Prospect, IL
55,648 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to DeSoto's $83,256 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

The Hammocks, FL
$83,253 median income
Pierrepont Manor, NY
$83,260 median income
Wheeling, IL
$83,251 median income
Anaktuvuk Pass, AK
$83,250 median income
Pretty Bayou, FL
$83,250 median income
Burlington, IL
$83,250 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - DeSoto, 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 DeSoto, TX - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 15.2% 68.2% 10.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 19.2% White 15.2% Black or African American 68.2% Asian 0.6% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 4.9% Two or more races 10.9% 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 DeSoto 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
DeSoto (this city) 55,896 $83,256
Port Arthur 55,779 $45,752
Texas City 54,159 $65,447
Galveston 53,348 $57,216
Census ACS 5-year FIPS TX FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about DeSoto, TX?

What is the population of DeSoto, TX? +

The population of DeSoto, TX stands at 55,896 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in DeSoto, TX? +

The median household income in DeSoto is $83,256 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in DeSoto? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for DeSoto; 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 DeSoto, TX safe? +

DeSoto has a total crime rate of 1968.5 per 100,000 residents, which is near 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 DeSoto, TX? +

Homes in DeSoto carry a median value of $282,600, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, 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.