City profile · Texas · Census ACS 2023

Hale Center, TX

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

1,705
Residents
$49,083
Median income
$85,300
Median home
$973
Median rent (state)

Hale Center - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Hale Center places in the 18th percentile for household income and the 81st percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

18th
percentile, household income
5th
percentile, home value
12th
percentile, median rent
81st
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: Hale Center, TX

Hale Center is a small town in Texas, home to 1,705 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Hale Center brings in $49,083 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 5.7%. Home values in Hale Center run a median of $85,300, and the median resident age is 53.3 years. Educational attainment runs 6.7% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 50.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 0 residential units authorized here in 2024 (No Permits). Hale Center reports a comparatively low crime rate: per-100,000 total crime stands at 606.7 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. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $973 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $223 across Texas, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Workers in Hale Center report an average commute of 13.3 minutes, with 96.8% driving alone and 0.9% working from home. Natural-hazard exposure scores 78.4 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (High).

Population

1,705 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Texas

Median Household Income

$49,083 /yr

Poverty 5.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

97.1 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Texas average

How does Hale Center compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 18% higher than other cities
Home value 5% pricier than other cities
Median rent 12% pricier than other cities
Safety 81% 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, Hale Center ranks #126 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 Hale Center 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 places Hale Center near the bottom of Texas's cities

Among the 1,663 Texas cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Hale Center ranks #1,343 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Hale Center only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#1,158 of 1,520
24th percentile in Texas
Median Gross Rent
#1,343 of 1,663
0th percentile in Texas
Median Home Value
#1,249 of 1,505
17th percentile in Texas
Poverty Rate
#1,056 of 1,663
36th percentile in Texas
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#1,437 of 1,663
13th 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.

18thIncome percentile
81stSafety percentile

18th percentile nationally for median household income · 81st percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Hale Center's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Hale Center'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 64 Avg. percentile National median
Hale Center'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 Hale Center's home value compares nationally

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

$85,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 95% 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. Hale Center $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 - Hale Center, TX Hale Center, TX's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Hale Center, 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 Hale Center, TX median $49,083/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%
Hale Center, 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 Hale Center, TX. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 6.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 5.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 50.2%

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

Population
1,705
Median Income
$49,083
Median Home Value
$85,300
Median Age
53.3
Poverty Rate
5.7%
Labor force participation
50.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
6.7%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
606.7
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
50.6
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
556.1
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
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,950 residents2,000 residents2,050 residents2,100 residents 202020212022202320242025 2,056 residents 1,979 residents ▼ -3.7%
Hale Center's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 3
2021 0
2022 0
2023 0
2024 0

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
13.3 minutes
Drive Alone
96.8%
Carpool
2.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
0.9%

Based on 654 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 Hale Center sits in

Cost of Living Index
97.1
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$973/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
78.4 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Texas

Cienegas Terrace
1,703 people
De Kalb
1,702 people
Fannett
1,698 people
Rockwell Place
1,694 people
Crosbyton
1,718 people
Grapeland
1,720 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Hale Center's 1,705 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Arcade, GA
1,705 people
Romancoke, MD
1,705 people
Atlantic Beach, NC
1,705 people
Wynnewood, OK
1,705 people
Napavine, WA
1,705 people
Mazomanie, WI
1,705 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Hale Center's $49,083 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Lansing, NC
$49,083 median income
Fall Branch, TN
$49,083 median income
Trotwood, OH
$49,082 median income
Belwood, NC
$49,078 median income
Eaton, IN
$49,076 median income
Boswell, IN
$49,091 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Hale Center, 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 Hale Center, TX - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 53.5% 9.4% 9.9% 24.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 69.1% White 53.5% Black or African American 9.4% Asian 0.0% American Indian 2.9% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 9.9% Two or more races 24.2% 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 Hale Center 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
Hale Center (this city) 1,705 $49,083
Cienegas Terrace 1,703 $42,382
De Kalb 1,702 $45,577
Fannett 1,698 $92,731
Census ACS 5-year FIPS TX FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Hale Center, TX?

What is the population of Hale Center, TX? +

Hale Center, TX has a population of 1,705 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Hale Center, TX? +

Median annual household income in Hale Center runs $49,083, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Hale Center? +

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

Hale Center has a total crime rate of 606.7 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 Hale Center, TX? +

Homes in Hale Center carry a median value of $85,300, 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.