City profile · Texas · Census ACS 2023

Early, TX

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

3,159
Residents
$69,375
Median income
$170,700
Median home
$1,080
Median rent (state)

Early - the verdict

Nationally, Early sits in the 49th percentile for household income and the 41st percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

49th
percentile, household income
34th
percentile, home value
27th
percentile, median rent
41st
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: Early, TX

3,159 people live in Early, Texas - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $69,375 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 6.3%. Home values in Early run a median of $170,700, and the median resident age is 36.2 years. Educational attainment runs 28.5% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 63.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 1 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 99% from five years earlier. Early reports a comparatively low crime rate: per-100,000 total crime stands at 1660.0 in FBI UCR data, below 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: the state registers 97.1 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Near Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,080 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Texas's average monthly utility costs around $223 (state average). Natural-hazard exposure scores 64.9 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Moderate).

Population

3,159 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Texas

Median Household Income

$69,375 /yr

Poverty 6.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

97.1 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Texas average

How does Early compare to other US cities?

Where Early sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 49% higher than other cities
Home value 34% pricier than other cities
Median rent 27% pricier than other cities
Safety 41% safer than other cities

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

Zoom in to just Texas and the picture shifts: Early ranks #379 of 624 Texas cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

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

Texas-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher places Early toward the top of Texas's cities

Among the 1,663 Texas cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Early ranks #416 - the 75th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Early only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#618 of 1,520
59th percentile in Texas
Median Gross Rent
#989 of 1,663
40th percentile in Texas
Median Home Value
#690 of 1,505
54th percentile in Texas
Poverty Rate
#1,004 of 1,663
39th percentile in Texas
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#416 of 1,663
75th 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.

49thIncome percentile
41stSafety percentile

49th percentile nationally for median household income · 41st percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Early's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Early'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 53 Avg. percentile National median
Early'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 Early's home value compares nationally

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

$170,700 Among the most affordable more affordable than 66% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Early $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 - Early, TX Early, TX's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Early, 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 Early, TX median $69,375/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%
Early, 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 Early, TX. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 28.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 6.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 63.0%

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

Population
3,159
Median Income
$69,375
Median Home Value
$170,700
Median Age
36.2
Poverty Rate
6.3%
Labor force participation
63.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
28.5%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1660.0
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
399.6
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1260.4
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
5
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
3,050 residents3,100 residents3,150 residents3,200 residents 202020212022202320242025 3,080 residents 3,117 residents ▲ +1.2%
Early's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
1
housing units authorized
Single-Family
1
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.3
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 72
2020 7
2021 33
2022 2
2023 5
2024 1

Permit volume decreased 99% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
79.7%
Carpool
10.6%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.9%
Work from Home
7.6%

Based on 1,416 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 Early sits in

Cost of Living Index
97.1
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,080/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
64.9 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Texas

Combes
3,157 people
Reno city (Parker and Tarrant Counties)
3,156 people
Grand Saline
3,166 people
Annetta
3,172 people
Henrietta
3,143 people
Port Aransas
3,141 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Early's 3,159 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

East Hampton, CT
3,159 people
San Castle, FL
3,159 people
Port Washington North, NY
3,159 people
Fort Edward, NY
3,160 people
Raymond, WA
3,160 people
Culloden, WV
3,158 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Early's $69,375 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Modesto, IL
$69,375 median income
Seaton, IL
$69,375 median income
Hawarden, IA
$69,375 median income
Long Island, KS
$69,375 median income
Moorland, KY
$69,375 median income
Preston, MD
$69,375 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Early, 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 Early, TX - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 75.9% 18.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 18.7% White 75.9% Black or African American 3.5% Asian 1.2% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.6% Two or more races 18.8% 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 Early 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
Early (this city) 3,159 $69,375
Combes 3,157 $42,880
Reno city (Parker and Tarrant Counties) 3,156 $92,857
Grand Saline 3,166 $50,568
Census ACS 5-year FIPS TX FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Early, TX?

What is the population of Early, TX? +

The population of Early, TX stands at 3,159 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Early runs $69,375, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Early? +

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

Early has a total crime rate of 1660.0 per 100,000 residents, which is below 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 Early, TX? +

Early's median home value sits at $170,700, 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.