County · Texas

Jim Wells County, Texas

Jim Wells County, Texas. Jim Wells County had 38,804 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.3% since 2020, while Texas grew 8.8%. It holds 16 places (4 cities, villages and boroughs and 12 census-designated) and 11 census tracts. GEOID 48249.

Jim Wells County is one of the 2 counties of the Alice, TX micropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

38,804

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 38,891 · ACS 2020-2024: 38,850

Median household income

$51,896

±$6,825 (90% margin)
Texas: $78,476

Median home value

$123,600

±$22,797 (90% margin)
Texas: $283,800

Median gross rent

$938

±$94 (90% margin)
Texas: $1,403

How many people live in Jim Wells County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 38,891 residents in Jim Wells County. The Census Bureau estimates 38,804 for July 1, 2025, down 0.3% since 2020, while Texas grew 8.8%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 38,850 over 865 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 +6 (38,894)
2021→2022 −147 (38,747)
2022→2023 +19 (38,766)
2023→2024 +63 (38,829)
2024→2025 −25 (38,804)

Jim Wells County in Texas. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Jim Wells County	Texas	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	38,850	30,188,424	−2,122
Households	13,279±412	10,992,816	no clear change
Average household size	2.90±0.09	2.69	−0.22
Housing units	16,229±71	12,128,515	−136

Jim Wells County's population since 2000

From 39,326 in 2000 to 38,804 in 2025: down 1.3%. 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.

2000 Census 39,326
2005 (estimate) 40,449
2010 Census 40,838
2015 (estimate) 41,540
2020 Census 38,891
2025 (estimate) 38,804

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 Jim Wells County?

Jim Wells County holds 16 places: 4 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 12 census-designated places. The largest is Alice with 17,550 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Jim Wells County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Alice	city	17,891	17,707±28	$48,676	$131,100	31.4%	100%
Premont	city	2,455	2,428±605	$47,728	$89,800	27.9%	100%
Ben Bolt	CDP	1,662	2,152±587	$61,741	$100,000	16.3%	100%
Rancho AlegreGEOID 4860518	CDP	1,415	1,337±618	$49,202	$51,100	23.7%	100%
Orange Grove	city	1,165	1,089±287	$44,779	$123,300	13.8%	100%
San Diego	city	3,748	3,675±436	$53,174	$85,600	34.0%	20%
Coyote AcresGEOID 4817426	CDP	570	977±415	$103,750	not published	2.7%	100%
Alice AcresGEOID 4801858	CDP	465	819±574	not published	not published	56.8%	100%
K-Bar RanchGEOID 4838518	CDP	375	361±251	$42,390	$35,000	8.3%	100%
South La PalomaGEOID 4869072	CDP	347	386±312	$42,361	not published	26.9%	100%
SandiaGEOID 4865168	CDP	326	206±234	$250,000 or more	$328,400	0.0%	100%
WestdaleGEOID 4877422	CDP	325	212±144	not published	$329,500	24.5%	100%
AmargosaGEOID 4802290	CDP	305	60±93	not published	not published	0.0%	100%
Loma Linda East (Jim Wells County)GEOID 4843462	CDP	305	9±16	not published	not published	100.0%	100%
Owl RanchGEOID 4854509	CDP	189	148±213	not published	not published	22.3%	100%
AlfredGEOID 4801816	CDP	82	227±260	not published	not published	0.0%	100%

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 Jim Wells County?

The median resident of Jim Wells County is 35.7 years old; 27.3% are under 18 and 16.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 79.5%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 18.4%. 4.9% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Jim Wells County	Texas	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	35.7±0.5	35.6	+1.1
Under 18 years	27.3%±0.3 pts	25.0%	–
65 years and over	16.3%±0.2 pts	13.4%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	79.5%	39.7%	−0.8 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	18.4%±0.1 pts	39.1%	+0.4 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	0.8%±0.2 pts	11.9%	no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.5%±0.1 pts	5.5%	no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.2%±0.1 pts	0.1%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.2 pts	0.1%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	0.5%±0.2 pts	3.1%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.4%	–
Born outside the United States	4.9%±1.2 pts	17.6%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	48.2%±3.3 pts	35.1%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	6.1%±1.3 pts	6.2%	–
With a disability	16.3%±1.9 pts	12.3%	–
No health insurance coverage	20.9%±2.5 pts	17.1%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	79.6%±2.6 pts	86.0%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	16.3%±2.3 pts	33.8%	+4.1 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	4.7%±1.2 pts	12.3%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	1.3%±1.0 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 Jim Wells County earn?

Half of Jim Wells County's 13,279 households earn less than $51,896 a year (±$6,825), against $78,476 in Texas. In 2015-2019 it was $51,080 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 24.7% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Jim Wells County	Texas	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$51,896±$6,825	$78,476	no clear change
Mean household income	$71,948±$4,270	$109,933	–
Per capita income	$26,585±$1,808	$40,752	no clear change
People below the poverty line	24.7%±3.2 pts	13.8%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	39.1%±6.7 pts	18.7%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	24.0%±3.6 pts	11.4%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	75.5%±3.9 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 Jim Wells County?

Owners occupy 68.5% of Jim Wells County's occupied homes and renters 31.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $123,600 by its owner (±$22,797). The median renter pays $938 a month including utilities, and 56.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Jim Wells County	Texas	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$123,600±$22,797	$283,800	+$29,821
Median gross rent	$938±$94	$1,403	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	56.1%±9.4 pts	42.3%	+12.3 pts
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,736±$139	$2,106	–
Owner-occupied homes	68.5%±3.6 pts	62.6%	no clear change
Housing units	16,229±71	12,128,515	−136
Homeowner vacancy rate	0.8%±0.7 pts	1.1%	–
Rental vacancy rate	6.5%±2.6 pts	7.7%	–
Single-family detached homes	73.1%±3.2 pts	64.4%	–
Mobile homes	15.1%±2.5 pts	6.4%	–
Built 2020 or later	3.3%±1.2 pts	4.0%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	4.4%±1.5 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 Jim Wells County building?

Builders took permits for 3 new housing units across Jim Wells County in 2025 (3 single-family), 0.1 per 1,000 residents.

2019 16 units
2020 17 units
2021 5 units
2022 6 units
2023 6 units
2024 4 units
2025 3 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Jim Wells County get to work?

80.1% of Jim Wells County's workers drive alone and 8.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 24.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.1%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Jim Wells County	Texas	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	55.5%±2.3 pts	65.3%	–
Unemployment rate	6.1%±1.8 pts	5.3%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	80.1%±2.8 pts	71.4%	–
Carpooled	9.3%±2.2 pts	10.0%	–
Public transportation	0.0%±0.3 pts	0.9%	–
Walked	1.6%±0.9 pts	1.5%	–
Worked from home	8.3%±2.3 pts	14.4%	+5.9 pts
Mean travel time to work	24.3 min±1.4	26.7 min	−4.1 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 are Jim Wells County's census tracts?

Jim Wells County is divided into 11 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $32,424 (Tract 9506) to $88,652 (Tract 9503.03).

Census tracts of Jim Wells County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 9501.0148249950101	Orange Grove (3%)	3,719	3,428±509	$72,782	$193,300	not published	11.7%
Tract 9501.0248249950102	Orange Grove (41%)	4,464	4,950±757	$70,158	$171,800	$975	8.9%
Tract 9502.0148249950201	San Diego (19%)	3,917	3,988±629	$40,234	$59,900	$1,042	31.5%
Tract 9502.0248249950202	Ben Bolt (12%)	3,693	4,147±758	$65,590	$164,200	$859	21.6%
Tract 9503.0148249950301	Alice (93%)	2,811	3,795±1,024	$60,833	$165,300	$1,214	49.1%
Tract 9503.0248249950302	Alice	2,061	2,412±558	$49,625	$155,000	$1,016	32.0%
Tract 9503.0348249950303	Alice (93%)	1,946	1,916±298	$88,652	$227,600	not published	7.2%
Tract 950448249950400	Alice (96%)	3,469	2,792±503	$56,618	$109,300	$907	14.5%
Tract 950548249950500	Alice (68%)	5,670	4,619±757	$35,139	$62,000	$813	34.6%
Tract 950648249950600	Alice (99%)	3,759	3,744±692	$32,424	$83,500	$956	28.5%
Tract 950748249950700	Premont (46%)	3,382	3,059±606	$48,058	$92,100	$779	23.6%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Jim Wells County compare with Texas's other counties?

Jim Wells County's rank among Texas's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	81st of 253
Growth 2020-2025	177th of 254
Residents per square mile	86th of 254
Median household income	220th of 253
Median home value	177th of 247
Median gross rent	131st of 245
Poverty rate	14th of 240
Bachelor's degree or higher	185th of 252
Median age	191st of 254

Every county in Texas

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 Jim Wells 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.