Census tract · Harris County
Census Tract 2538, Harris County, Texas
Census Tract 2538, GEOID 48201253800, in Harris County, Texas, mostly within Baytown (85% of its census blocks). 7,805 residents in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±1,178); the 2020 Census counted 8,862.
Residents, 2020-2024
7,805
±1,178 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 8,862
Median household income
$51,898
±$10,610 (90% margin)
Harris County: $74,983
Median home value
$196,900
±$17,928 (90% margin)
Harris County: $276,600
Median gross rent
$1,115
±$316 (90% margin)
Harris County: $1,401
Where is Census Tract 2538?
Census Tract 2538 is one of 1,115 census tracts in Harris County, Texas. It covers 2.91 square miles of land, 3,041 residents per square mile in 2020. Its GEOID, 48201253800, names it uniquely (how tract numbers and GEOIDs work).
| Place | Share of the tract |
|---|---|
| Baytown | 85% |
5 census tracts border Census Tract 2538: Tract 2532.01 ($103,438), Tract 2532.02 ($53,176), Tract 2537 ($58,083), Tract 2539 ($77,132) and Tract 2541 ($67,619). The figure in brackets is each tract's median household income.
Whether a tract counts as low- or moderate-income for bank lending (the Community Reinvestment Act) is set by the FFIEC against its metro area's family income: look it up in the FFIEC census geocoder.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 block assignment files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Census Tract 2538?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Census Tract 2538's population at 7,805 (±1,178) in 2,885 households; the 2020 Census counted 8,862 residents and 3,029 housing units.
| Measure | Tract 2538 | Baytown |
|---|---|---|
| Total population | 7,805 ±1,178 | 85,205 |
| Households | 2,885 ±305 | 30,964 |
| Average household size | 2.71 ±0.20 | 2.73 |
| Housing units | 2,968 ±299 | 34,125 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Census Tract 2538?
The median resident of Census Tract 2538 is 33.6 years old; 29.0% are under 18 and 8.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 63.0%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 18.8%. 26.6% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Tract 2538 | Baytown |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.6 ±3.2 | 34.0 |
| Under 18 years | 29.0% ±3.7 pts | 27.6% |
| 65 years and over | 8.3% ±3.2 pts | 11.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 63.0% ±7.2 pts | 51.7% |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 18.8% ±5.4 pts | 27.5% |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 12.8% ±4.4 pts | 15.0% |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.4% ±3.1 pts | 2.2% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.3 pts | 0.1% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.6 pts | 0.1% |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.7% ±3.3 pts | 3.1% |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.6 pts | 0.4% |
| Born outside the United States | 26.6% ±6.6 pts | 20.7% |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 51.1% ±8.5 pts | 41.8% |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.3% ±3.2 pts | 6.2% |
| With a disability | 13.4% ±4.1 pts | 13.4% |
| No health insurance coverage | 38.6% ±9.9 pts | 27.9% |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 76.7% ±7.0 pts | 78.6% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 12.1% ±4.8 pts | 14.8% |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 4.1% ±2.5 pts | 5.6% |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 79.0% ±11.5 pts | 83.7% |
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 Census Tract 2538 earn?
Half of the 2,885 households in Census Tract 2538 earn less than $51,898 a year (±$10,610), against $74,983 across Harris County: 777th highest of the county's 1,072 tracts with a reliable estimate. 26.9% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Tract 2538 | Baytown |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $51,898 ±$10,610 | $59,910 |
| Mean household income | $64,574 ±$9,879 | $81,210 |
| Per capita income | $24,107 ±$4,471 | $29,957 |
| People below the poverty line | 26.9% ±12.5 pts | 18.2% |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 43.1% ±20.1 pts | 26.8% |
| Households receiving SNAP | 17.6% ±6.0 pts | 17.0% |
| Households with a computer | 96.5% ±3.0 pts | 96.8% |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 93.5% ±4.1 pts | 91.6% |
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 Census Tract 2538?
Owners occupy 63.8% of Census Tract 2538's occupied homes and renters 36.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $196,900 by its owner (±$17,928). The median renter pays $1,115 a month including utilities, and 52.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Tract 2538 | Baytown |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $196,900 ±$17,928 | $197,300 |
| Median gross rent | $1,115 ±$316 | $1,307 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 52.8% ±22.0 pts | 42.4% |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,760 ±$202 | $1,761 |
| Owner-occupied homes | 63.8% ±9.3 pts | 52.3% |
| Renter-occupied homes | 36.2% ±9.3 pts | 47.7% |
| Housing units | 2,968 ±299 | 34,125 |
| Single-family detached homes | 62.5% ±9.4 pts | 58.7% |
| Mobile homes | 16.4% ±6.2 pts | 5.6% |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±1.7 pts | 1.9% |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 16.0% ±6.4 pts | 13.6% |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 0.0% ±1.7 pts | 2.9% |
| Households with no vehicle | 9.0% ±5.4 pts | 8.7% |
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 do people in Census Tract 2538 get to work?
87.6% of Census Tract 2538's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 22.5 minutes.
| Measure | Tract 2538 | Baytown |
|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 63.6% ±6.6 pts | 65.0% |
| Unemployment rate | 6.2% ±4.3 pts | 10.2% |
| Drove alone to work | 87.6% ±5.7 pts | 79.9% |
| Carpooled | 6.0% ±3.8 pts | 10.9% |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±1.5 pts | 0.6% |
| Walked | 2.1% ±2.5 pts | 0.7% |
| Worked from home | 3.7% ±3.8 pts | 5.8% |
| Mean travel time to work | 22.5 min ±4.1 | 25.4 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
How does Census Tract 2538 compare with the other tracts in Harris County?
Among Harris County's tracts with a reliable estimate, Census Tract 2538 ranks as shown below (1 = highest).
| Measure | In Harris County | In Baytown |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 69th of 1,110 | 5th of 23 |
| Residents per square mile | 863rd of 1,115 | 10th of 23 |
| Median household income | 777th of 1,072 | 18th of 23 |
| Per capita income | 773rd of 1,106 | 17th of 23 |
| Median home value | 732nd of 976 | 12th of 23 |
| Median gross rent | 883rd of 1,065 | 20th of 23 |
| Poverty rate | 248th of 653 | 3rd of 14 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 847th of 962 | 15th of 21 |
| Median age | 662nd of 1,108 | 14th of 23 |
| Owner-occupied share | 430th of 984 | 7th of 23 |
The tracts next to it on Harris County's income ladder
| Tract | Rank | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 3110.02 | 774th | $52,092±$32,909 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 3206.02 | 775th | $52,061±$10,946 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 5526.03 | 776th | $51,952±$8,490 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 2538 | 777th | $51,898±$10,610 |
| Tract 3106 | 778th | $51,837±$30,254 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 4510.04 | 779th | $51,826±$26,420 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 4515.02 | 780th | $51,818±$7,059 · within the margin of this tract |
"Within the margin": the two incomes differ by less than their combined 90% margins, so the survey cannot say which is higher and the ranks between them are not firm.
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Census Tract 2538?
2 of the 18 figures for Census Tract 2538 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.
A census tract's figures rest on a few hundred sampled households over five years, so its margins are wider than a city's. Two tracts differ only when the gap between them is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins). 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 · Check it at data.census.gov
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections