City profile · Texas · Census ACS 2023

Elsa, TX

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

5,688
Residents
$55,519
Median income
$90,600
Median home
$1,060
Median rent (state)

Elsa - the verdict

Elsa ranks in the 28th percentile for household income and the 13th percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

28th
percentile, household income
7th
percentile, home value
25th
percentile, median rent
13th
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: Elsa, TX

Elsa is a small town in Texas, home to 5,688 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Elsa brings in $55,519 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 11.7%. Elsa's housing stock carries a median value of $90,600, and the median resident age is 31.2 years. About 12.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 60.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 44 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Building Boom), up 214% from five years earlier. Elsa's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 3314.6 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, above the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures 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). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,060 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $223 across Texas, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Natural-hazard exposure scores 99.0 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

5,688 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Texas

Median Household Income

$55,519 /yr

Poverty 11.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

97.1 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Texas average

How does Elsa compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 28% higher than other cities
Home value 7% pricier than other cities
Median rent 25% pricier than other cities
Safety 13% 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: Elsa ranks #574 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 Elsa against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Texas only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Texas-relative analysis

Median Home Value places Elsa toward the bottom of Texas's cities

Among the 1,505 Texas cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Elsa ranks #1,208 - the 20th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Elsa only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#985 of 1,520
35th percentile in Texas
Median Gross Rent
#1,027 of 1,663
35th percentile in Texas
Median Home Value
#1,208 of 1,505
20th percentile in Texas
Poverty Rate
#661 of 1,663
60th percentile in Texas
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#1,133 of 1,663
32nd 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.

28thIncome percentile
13thSafety percentile

28th percentile nationally for median household income · 13th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Elsa's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Elsa'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
Elsa'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 Elsa's home value compares nationally

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

$90,600 Among the most affordable more affordable than 93% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $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. Elsa $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 - Elsa, TX Elsa, TX's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Elsa, 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 Elsa, TX median $55,519/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%
Elsa, 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 Elsa, TX. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 12.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 11.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 60.0%

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

Population
5,688
Median Income
$55,519
Median Home Value
$90,600
Median Age
31.2
Poverty Rate
11.7%
Labor force participation
60.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
12.2%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
3314.6
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
298.1
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
3016.5
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
7
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
5,650 residents5,700 residents5,750 residents5,800 residents5,850 residents 202020212022202320242025 5,676 residents 5,820 residents ▲ +2.5%
Elsa's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
44
housing units authorized
Single-Family
44
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
7.7
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 14
2020 17
2021 22
2022 28
2023 28
2024 44

Permit volume increased 214% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
83.2%
Carpool
5.1%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
6.4%
Other
5.3%

Based on 2,530 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 Elsa sits in

Cost of Living Index
97.1
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,060/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
99.0 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Texas

Kermit
5,681 people
Hutchins
5,713 people
Yoakum
5,649 people
Livingston
5,728 people
Lavon
5,624 people
Bowie
5,617 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Elsa's 5,688 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Punxsutawney, PA
5,689 people
Siesta Key, FL
5,690 people
Genoa, IL
5,685 people
Hartford City, IN
5,685 people
Zeeland, MI
5,691 people
Milton, WI
5,685 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Elsa's $55,519 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Happy Valley, AK
$55,521 median income
Wasco, CA
$55,521 median income
Bladenboro, NC
$55,517 median income
Mount Jackson, VA
$55,521 median income
Fort Laramie, WY
$55,521 median income
Chewelah, WA
$55,516 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Elsa, 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 Elsa, TX - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 35.7% 7.7% 56.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 100.0% White 35.7% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 7.7% Two or more races 56.6% 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 Elsa 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
Elsa (this city) 5,688 $55,519
Kermit 5,681 $90,181
Hutchins 5,713 $45,250
Yoakum 5,649 $49,950
Census ACS 5-year FIPS TX FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Elsa, TX?

What is the population of Elsa, TX? +

Elsa, TX counts 5,688 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

The median household income in Elsa is $55,519 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Elsa? +

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

Elsa has a total crime rate of 3314.6 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 Elsa, TX? +

Elsa's median home value sits at $90,600, 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

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

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.