County · Texas
Deaf Smith County, Texas
Deaf Smith County, Texas. Deaf Smith County had 18,626 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 0.2% since 2020, slower than Texas (+8.8%). It holds 1 place (1 city, village or borough) and 4 census tracts. GEOID 48117.
Deaf Smith County is the county of the Hereford, TX micropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
18,626
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 18,583 · ACS 2020-2024: 18,460
Median household income
$60,799
±$5,480 (90% margin)
Texas: $78,476
Median home value
$121,300
±$13,014 (90% margin)
Texas: $283,800
Median gross rent
$926
±$70 (90% margin)
Texas: $1,403
How many people live in Deaf Smith County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 18,583 residents in Deaf Smith County. The Census Bureau estimates 18,626 for July 1, 2025, up 0.2% since 2020, slower than Texas (+8.8%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 18,460 over 1,497 square miles of land.
| Measure | Deaf Smith County | Texas | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 18,460 | 30,188,424 | −276 |
| Households | 6,051±187 | 10,992,816 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 3.02±0.09 | 2.69 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 6,984±25 | 12,128,515 | −85 |
Deaf Smith County's population since 2000
From 18,561 in 2000 to 18,626 in 2025: up 0.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Deaf Smith County?
Deaf Smith County holds 1 place: 1 city, village or borough (an incorporated place). The largest is Hereford with 14,976 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Hereford | 14,972 | $56,868 |
|---|
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Deaf Smith County?
The median resident of Deaf Smith County is 31.3 years old; 31.4% are under 18 and 13.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 76.4%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 21.0%. 17.2% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Deaf Smith County | Texas | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.3±0.8 | 35.6 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 31.4%±0.5 pts | 25.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 13.2%±0.2 pts | 13.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 76.4% | 39.7% | +3.6 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 21.0%±0.3 pts | 39.1% | −3.7 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.8%±0.6 pts | 11.9% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.3 pts | 5.5% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.4%±0.2 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 | 1.3%±0.6 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.3 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 17.2%±3.4 pts | 17.6% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 54.9%±4.7 pts | 35.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 3.7%±1.2 pts | 6.2% | – |
| With a disability | 8.3%±1.4 pts | 12.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 21.0%±3.6 pts | 17.1% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 70.2%±3.5 pts | 86.0% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 11.4%±2.8 pts | 33.8% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 3.2%±1.4 pts | 12.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.5%±0.4 pts | 2.0% | – |
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 Deaf Smith County earn?
Half of Deaf Smith County's 6,051 households earn less than $60,799 a year (±$5,480), against $78,476 in Texas. In 2015-2019 it was $61,167 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 17.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Deaf Smith County | Texas | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $60,799±$5,480 | $78,476 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $75,276±$5,757 | $109,933 | – |
| Per capita income | $25,625±$1,827 | $40,752 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 17.7%±4.9 pts | 13.8% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 23.1%±10.0 pts | 18.7% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 13.4%±3.7 pts | 11.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 79.9%±4.2 pts | 91.4% | – |
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 Deaf Smith County?
Owners occupy 66.8% of Deaf Smith County's occupied homes and renters 33.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $121,300 by its owner (±$13,014). The median renter pays $926 a month including utilities, and 25.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Deaf Smith County | Texas | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $121,300±$13,014 | $283,800 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $926±$70 | $1,403 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 25.1%±8.6 pts | 42.3% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,527±$199 | $2,106 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 66.8%±5.3 pts | 62.6% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 6,984±25 | 12,128,515 | −85 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.7%±2.0 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 8.8%±5.4 pts | 7.7% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 79.2%±3.6 pts | 64.4% | – |
| Mobile homes | 6.5%±2.5 pts | 6.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.0%±0.9 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 5.0%±2.0 pts | 3.1% | – |
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 Deaf Smith County building?
Builders took permits for 33 new housing units across Deaf Smith County in 2025 (15 single-family), 1.8 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Deaf Smith County get to work?
76.2% of Deaf Smith County's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 16.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.5%.
| Measure | Deaf Smith County | Texas | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 65.8%±2.9 pts | 65.3% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.5%±2.0 pts | 5.3% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 76.2%±6.0 pts | 71.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 16.2%±5.2 pts | 10.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±0.6 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Walked | 0.8%±1.0 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Worked from home | 2.5%±1.8 pts | 14.4% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 16.6 min±1.6 | 26.7 min | no clear change |
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 are Deaf Smith County's census tracts?
Deaf Smith County is divided into 4 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $51,677 (Tract 9503) to $86,131 (Tract 9506).
| Tract 950348117950300 | 5,966±661 | $51,677 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 950448117950400 | 4,742±565 | $59,777 |
| Tract 950548117950500 | 3,990±656 | $60,065 |
| Tract 950648117950600 | 3,762±446 | $86,131 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Deaf Smith County compare with Texas's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 130th of 253 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 168th of 254 |
| Residents per square mile | 160th of 254 |
| Median household income | 157th of 253 |
| Median home value | 181st of 247 |
| Median gross rent | 140th of 245 |
| Poverty rate | 60th of 240 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 240th of 252 |
| Median age | 241st of 254 |
Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 Deaf Smith County 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' school search.