City · Texas
Stafford, Texas
Stafford, city, mostly in Fort Bend County (98.5% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Harris County, Texas. Stafford had 18,043 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 3.6% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 17,666 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 17,401 (±101). GEOID 4869908.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
18,043
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 17,666 · ACS 2020-2024: 17,401 ±101
Median household income
$87,432
±$11,614 (90% margin)
Texas: $78,476
Median home value
$257,700
±$21,460 (90% margin)
Texas: $283,800
Median gross rent
$1,519
±$112 (90% margin)
Texas: $1,403
Where is Stafford and what county is it in?
Stafford is a city mostly in Fort Bend County (98.5% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Harris County, Texas. It covers 7.0 square miles of land, 2,520 residents per square mile in 2020.
Stafford is in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 10 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
| County | 2020 residents | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Bend County | 17,395 | 98.5% |
| Harris County | 271 | 1.5% |
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Stafford, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 18,043 people lived in Stafford on July 1, 2025, up 3.6% since 2020, slower than Texas (+8.8%). The 2020 Census counted 17,666 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 17,401 (±101).
| Measure | Stafford | Fort Bend County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 17,401 ±101 | 893,767 | +195 |
| Households | 6,643 ±421 | 292,713 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.62 ±0.16 | 3.03 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 7,099 ±459 | 305,633 | no clear change |
Stafford's population since 2000
From 15,681 in 2000 to 18,043 in 2025: up 15.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Stafford as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Stafford?
The median resident of Stafford is 32.3 years old; 22.5% are under 18 and 10.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic Black residents at 29.0%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 27.2%. 32.8% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Stafford | Fort Bend County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.3 ±2.5 | 37.3 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 22.5% ±3.6 pts | 26.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 10.7% ±2.0 pts | 12.6% | – |
| Male | 50.1% ±3.8 pts | 49.2% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 27.2% ±4.6 pts | 24.7% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 13.9% ±3.3 pts | 28.7% | −5.7 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 29.0% ±5.7 pts | 20.6% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 24.2% ±4.6 pts | 21.9% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.3 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.3% ±4.1 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.4 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 32.8% ±5.4 pts | 30.5% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 44.2% ±5.2 pts | 41.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.5% ±1.3 pts | 4.2% | – |
| With a disability | 10.0% ±2.5 pts | 8.2% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 19.7% ±4.1 pts | 11.7% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 86.2% ±2.6 pts | 91.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 41.4% ±5.5 pts | 50.2% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 13.3% ±3.3 pts | 20.4% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 81.6% ±4.5 pts | 89.6% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.5% ±1.2 pts | 1.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Stafford earn?
Half of Stafford's 6,643 households earn less than $87,432 a year (±$11,614), against $114,041 in Fort Bend County and $78,476 in Texas. In 2015-2019 it was $76,628 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 8.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Stafford | Fort Bend County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $87,432 ±$11,614 | $114,041 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $99,388 ±$8,719 | $145,123 | – |
| Per capita income | $38,516 ±$3,490 | $47,992 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 8.0% ±3.4 pts | 7.6% | −5.2 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 7.4% ±6.5 pts | 9.0% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 10.6% ±3.6 pts | 6.8% | – |
| Households with a computer | 99.1% ±0.5 pts | 98.0% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 94.7% ±3.1 pts | 95.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Stafford?
Owners occupy 38.7% of Stafford's occupied homes and renters 61.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $257,700 by its owner (±$21,460). The median renter pays $1,519 a month including utilities, and 26.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Stafford | Fort Bend County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $257,700 ±$21,460 | $374,500 | +$35,683 |
| Median gross rent | $1,519 ±$112 | $1,807 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 26.4% ±9.0 pts | 43.8% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,914 ±$164 | $2,665 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 38.7% ±4.6 pts | 77.0% | −9.7 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 61.3% ±4.6 pts | 23.0% | – |
| Housing units | 7,099 ±459 | 305,633 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±1.9 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.5% ±3.7 pts | 6.7% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 44.3% ±4.4 pts | 82.9% | – |
| Mobile homes | 4.1% ±2.1 pts | 2.8% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 3.5% ±1.9 pts | 6.2% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 13.2% ±3.7 pts | 30.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 0.0% ±0.7 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 5.2% ±2.8 pts | 3.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Stafford building?
Builders took permits for 432 new housing units in Stafford in 2025 (21 in single-family houses), 23.9 per 1,000 residents against 6.6 across Texas.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Stafford work and get to work?
76.3% of Stafford's workers drive alone and 10.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 26.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.8%.
| Measure | Stafford | Fort Bend County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 74.3% ±3.1 pts | 66.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.8% ±2.1 pts | 5.1% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 76.3% ±5.2 pts | 70.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 4.8% ±2.0 pts | 9.2% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.4% ±0.4 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Walked | 4.1% ±3.6 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 10.1% ±2.8 pts | 17.7% | +7.7 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 26.2 min ±2.1 | 32.7 min | +3.2 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Stafford?
3 census tracts lie mostly in Stafford, and 8 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $67,468 (Tract 6720.02) to $82,284 (Tract 6714.01).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 6720.02Fort Bend County | 6,563 | $67,468 |
| Tract 6718Fort Bend County | 4,374 | $77,713 |
| Tract 6714.02Fort Bend County | 6,469 | $83,507 |
| Tract 6712Fort Bend County | 5,837 | $91,149 |
| Tract 6713Fort Bend County | 4,162 | $63,936 |
| Tract 6714.01Fort Bend County | 1,767 | $82,284 |
| Tract 4401.02Harris County | 4,477 | $66,344 |
| Tract 6717Fort Bend County | 4,480 | $143,472 |
| Tract 6711.02Fort Bend County | 6,165 | $58,861 |
| Tract 6720.03Fort Bend County | 1,499 | $109,135 |
| Tract 6719Fort Bend County | 4,100 | $103,640 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Stafford) · Census block assignment files
How does Stafford compare with other places in Texas?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Stafford is the 2,101st-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 169th-most populous of 1,224 in Texas.
Stafford ranks 270th of 933 places in Texas with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 169th | 1,224 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 406th | 784 |
| Residents per square mile | 141st | 979 |
| Median household income | 270th | 933 |
| Per capita income | 306th | 978 |
| Median home value | 331st | 950 |
| Median gross rent | 194th | 852 |
| Poverty rate | 583rd | 716 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 170th | 877 |
| Median age | 788th | 973 |
| Owner-occupied share | 959th | 973 |
| Work from home | 345th | 557 |
| Travel time to work | 466th | 976 |
Stafford's figures with every place in Texas (CSV)
Every place in Texas, sortable · Compare Stafford with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Stafford?
11 of the 57 figures for Stafford on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Stafford are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Stafford.