Jefferson County, TX

County

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2021 Population

256,755

1.43% 1-year growth

US Senator

John Cornyn

Republican Party

US Senator

Ted Cruz

Republican Party

2021 Median Age

36.4

0.274% 1-year decrease

2021 Poverty Rate

18.2%

1.07% 1-year increase

2021 Median Household Income

$53,613

5.45% 1-year growth

2021 Median Property Value

$129,600

7.73% 1-year growth

2021 Employed Population

105,395

1.59% 1-year growth

About

In 2021, Jefferson County, TX had a population of 257k people with a median age of 36.4 and a median household income of $53,613. Between 2020 and 2021 the population of Jefferson County, TX grew from 253,136 to 256,755, a 1.43% increase and its median household income grew from $50,840 to $53,613, a 5.45% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Jefferson County, TX are White (Non-Hispanic) (39.1%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (33.2%), White (Hispanic) (11.9%), Two+ (Hispanic) (5.88%), and Other (Hispanic) (3.77%).

None of the households in Jefferson County, TX reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

92.2% of the residents in Jefferson County, TX are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Jefferson County, TX are Lamar University (5,520 degrees awarded in 2021), Lamar Institute of Technology (862 degrees), and Lamar State College-Port Arthur (527 degrees).

In 2021, the median property value in Jefferson County, TX was $129,600, and the homeownership rate was 61.7%.

Most people in Jefferson County, TX drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 20.7 minutes. The average car ownership in Jefferson County, TX was 2 cars per household.

Jefferson County, TX borders Cameron Parish, LA, Chambers County, TX, Hardin County, TX, Liberty County, TX, and Orange County, TX.

About the photo: Spindletop Well Replica, Beaumont, TX

Photo by Roy Luck

United States Texas Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX

Population & Diversity

Jefferson County, TX is home to a population of 257k people, from which 92.2% are citizens. As of 2021, 12.1% of Jefferson County, TX residents were born outside of the country (31.1k people).

In 2021, there were 1.18 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (100k people) in Jefferson County, TX than any other race or ethnicity. There were 85.2k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 30.5k White (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

92.2%

2021 Citizenship

92.1%

2020 Citizenship

As of 2021, 92.2% of Jefferson County, TX residents were US citizens, which is lower than the national average of 93.4%. In 2020, the percentage of US citizens in Jefferson County, TX was 92.1%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Jefferson County, TX compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Jefferson County, TX

White (Non-Hispanic)
100k ± 156
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
85.2k ± 757
White (Hispanic)
30.5k ± 1.84k

21.9%

Hispanic Population

56.3k people

21.9% of the people in Jefferson County, TX are hispanic (56.3k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Jefferson County, TX as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Texas.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
2,459,913 ± 36,829 people
India
290,669 ± 13,170 people
El Salvador
220,934 ± 11,496 people

In 2021, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Texas was Mexico, the natal country of 2,459,913 Texas residents, followed by India with 290,669 and El Salvador with 220,934.

Foreign-Born Population

12.1%

2021 Foreign-Born Population

31.1k people

12%

2020 Foreign-Born Population

30.4k people

As of 2021, 12.1% of Jefferson County, TX residents (31.1k people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.6%. In 2020, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Jefferson County, TX was 12%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Jefferson County, TX compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
4,600 ± 465
Gulf War (2001-)
2,526 ± 413
Gulf War (1990s)
2,391 ± 381

Jefferson County, TX has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.82 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Jefferson County, TX employs 105k people. The largest industries in Jefferson County, TX are Construction (14,179 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (13,875 people), and Retail Trade (12,640 people), and the highest paying industries are Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($72,310), Manufacturing ($64,587), and Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($58,701).

Males in Texas have an average income that is 1.39 times higher than the average income of females, which is $53,604. The income inequality in Texas (measured using the Gini index) is 0.476, which is lower than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

105k

2021 Value

± 2,862

1.59%

1 Year growth

± 3.78%

From 2020 to 2021, employment in Jefferson County, TX grew at a rate of 1.59%, from 104k employees to 105k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Jefferson County, TX, are Sales & Related Occupations (12,204 people), Construction & Extraction Occupations (11,372 people), and Office & Administrative Support Occupations (9,972 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Jefferson County, TX.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Texas (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Industries

Employment by Industries

105k

2021 Value

± 2,862

1.59%

1 Year growth

± 3.78%

From 2020 to 2021, employment in Jefferson County, TX grew at a rate of 1.59%, from 104k employees to 105k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Jefferson County, TX, are Construction (14,179 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (13,875 people), and Retail Trade (12,640 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Jefferson County, TX, though some of these residents may live in Jefferson County, TX and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$46,247

Median earning men ± $2,573

$30,332

Median earning women ± $1,310

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2021 are Manufacturing ($67,619), Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($60,625), and Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($58,824).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2021 are Manufacturing ($60,209), Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($51,012), and Public Administration ($45,726).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

Y-Axis

2.75%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 155M people employed in Texas. This represents a 2.75% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Texas.

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Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

3,109
Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance
1,517
Finance & Insurance, and Real Estate, Rental & Leasing
1,195
Retail Trade

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$6.84M
Manufacturing
$1.78M
Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance
$893k
Professional, Scientific & Management, and Administrative & Waste Management Services

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from Texas to other states, or from other states to Texas.

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

Electronics
$255B
Gasoline
$212B
Fuel oils
$180B

In 2020, the top outbound Texas product (by dollars) was Electronics with $255B, followed by Gasoline ($212B) and Fuel oils ($180B).

The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound Texas products.

Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for Texas.

$2.26T

2020 Value in Texas

$4.54T

Projected 2050 Value in Texas

101% growth

In 2020, total outbound Texas trade was $2.26T. This is expected to increase 101% to $4.54T by 2050.

The following chart shows how the domestic outbound Texas trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.

Interstate Trade

Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from Texas to other states, or from other states to Texas.

Most Common Trade Partners

Louisiana
$77.7B
California
$68.4B
Michigan
$58.4B

In 2020, the top outbound Texas domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was Louisiana with $77.7B, followed by California with $68.4B and Michigan and $58.4B.

The following map shows the amount of trade that Texas shares with each state (excluding itself).

Civics

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in Jefferson County, TX went to Donald J. Trump with 50.2% of the vote. The runner-up was Joseph R Biden Jr. (48.6%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (0.947%).

John Cornyn and Ted Cruz are the senators currently representing the state of Texas. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Texas is currently represented by 38 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

2020 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (50.2%)
Republican Party
Joseph R Biden Jr. (48.6%)
Democratic Party
Jo Jorgensen (0.947%)
Libertarian Party

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Jefferson County, TX for each registered party from 1976 to 2020.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Texas

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Texas.

John Cornyn

Senator from Texas

Assumed office on December 2, 2002
Phil Gramm resigned (effective November 30, 2002) a few weeks before the expiration of his term in hopes that his successor, fellow Republican John Cornyn, could gain seniority over other newly elected senators. However, Cornyn did not gain additional seniority due to a 1980 Rules Committee policy.

Ted Cruz

Senator from Texas

Assumed office on January 3, 2013

John Cornyn and Ted Cruz are the senators currently representing Texas.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Texas over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representative Elections

US Representatives from Texas

Texas is currently represented by 38 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for Texas have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

In 2021, universities in Jefferson County, TX awarded 7,017 degrees. The student population of Jefferson County, TX in 2021 is skewed towards women, with 8,270 male students and 14,998 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Jefferson County, TX are White (3,319 and 48.3%), followed by Black or African American (1,619 and 23.6%), Hispanic or Latino (1,535 and 22.4%), and Asian (236 and 3.44%).

The largest universities in Jefferson County, TX by number of degrees awarded are Lamar University (5,520 and 78.7%), Lamar Institute of Technology (862 and 12.3%), and Lamar State College-Port Arthur (527 and 7.51%).

The most popular majors in Jefferson County, TX are General Educational Leadership & Administration (1,871 and 26.7%), General Special Education & Teaching (531 and 7.57%), and General Business Administration & Management (293 and 4.18%).

The median tuition cost in Jefferson County, TX for a public four year colleges is $6,228 for in-state students and $16,020 for out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2021 in Jefferson County, TX, the percentage of applicants admitted was 88.1%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 29.1%. The number of students enrolled in 2021 was 23,268 (35.5% men and 64.5% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2021 there were 23,268 students enrolled in Jefferson County, TX, 35.5% men and 64.5% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 9,009 records, of which 62.4% were women and 37.6% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Counseling Psychology
279 degree-majors awarded
General Educational Leadership & Administration
1,148 degree-majors awarded
General Special Education & Teaching
320 degree-majors awarded

In 2021, the most common concentation for Masters Degree recipients in Jefferson County, TX was Counseling Psychology with 279 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Masters Degree from schools in Jefferson County, TX according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Lamar University
5,520 degrees awarded
Lamar Institute of Technology
862 degrees awarded
Lamar State College-Port Arthur
527 degrees awarded

In 2021, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Lamar University with 5,520 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2021, 2,218 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Jefferson County, TX, which is 0.462 times less than the 4,799 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2021 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 3,319 degrees mean that there were 2.05 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 1,619 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Public, 4-year or above ($6,228) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2021.

Public, 4-year or above ($2,462) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2021.

Public, 4-year or above ($1,200) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Texas.

Measure

In 2021, 1.46% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 1.43% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Texas.

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2021 were High School or Equivalent (5.58M), Some college (4.95M), and Bachelors Degree (4.04M).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Jefferson County, TX was $129,600 in 2021, which is 0.529 times smaller than the national average of $244,900. Between 2020 and 2021 the median property value increased from $120,300 to $129,600, a 7.73% increase. The homeownership rate in Jefferson County, TX is 61.7%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 64.6%.

People in Jefferson County, TX have an average commute time of 20.7 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Jefferson County, TX is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Median household income in Jefferson County, TX is $53,613. In 2021, the tract with the highest Median Household Income in Jefferson County, TX was Census Tract 109.02 with a value of $107,670, followed by Census Tract 113.03 and Census Tract 116, with respective values of $104,728 and $91,726.

In 2022, 14.1% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Jefferson County, TX. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator declined 1.68%.

Housing

Property

$129,600

Median Property Value 2021

±$3,549

$57,183

Median Property Taxes

±$1,942

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Jefferson County, TX the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Jefferson County, TX compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

61.7%

Homeownership

2021

65.7%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2021

In 2021, 61.7% of the housing units in Jefferson County, TX were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 61.5%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Jefferson County, TX compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 109.02
Census Tract 113.03
Census Tract 116

In 2021, the tract with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Jefferson County, TX was Census Tract 109.02 with a value of $107,670, followed by Census Tract 113.03 and Census Tract 116, with respective values of $104,728 and $91,726.

The following map shows all of the tracts in Jefferson County, TX colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$53,613

Median Household Income

± $1,343

92.8k

Number of Households

± 2,529

In 2021, the median household income of the 92.8k households in Jefferson County, TX grew to $53,613 from the previous year's value of $50,840.

The following chart displays the households in Jefferson County, TX distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Jefferson County, TX is from Texas.

0.476

2021 Wage GINI in Texas

0.478

2020 Wage GINI in Texas

In 2021, the income inequality in Texas was 0.476 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.474% decline from 2020 to 2021, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Texas was lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Texas in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Texas across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2021

Drove Alone (88%)
Carpooled (6.93%)
Worked At Home (2.44%)

In 2021, 88% of workers in Jefferson County, TX drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (6.93%) and those who worked at home (2.44%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

20.7 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Jefferson County, TX have a shorter commute time (20.7 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.8 minutes). Additionally, 1.27% of the workforce in Jefferson County, TX have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Jefferson County, TX compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Jefferson County, TX distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Jefferson County, TX have 2 cars.

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2022, 14.1% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Jefferson County, TX. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator declined 1.68%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the population living with severe housing problems.

Poverty & Diversity

18.2% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Jefferson County, TX (43.7k out of 241k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.6%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Males 6 - 11 and then Females 35 - 44.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Jefferson County, TX is Black, followed by White and Hispanic.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Children in Poverty

In 2022, 25.9% of the children was living in poverty in Jefferson County, TX. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator declined 5.8%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the children living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Security

Crimes & Accidents

Indicator

In 2022, the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population was 707 in Jefferson County, TX. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator grew 69.9 per 100,000 population.

The graph shows the trend in the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population.

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Health

79% of the population of Jefferson County, TX has health coverage, with 40.4% on employee plans, 16.7% on Medicaid, 11.9% on Medicare, 8.81% on non-group plans, and 1.15% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Jefferson County, TX see 1877 patients per year on average, which represents a 1.37% decrease from the previous year (1903 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1583 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 875 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.3% were men and 51.7% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

1,877 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Jefferson County, TX

Primary care physicians in Jefferson County, TX see an average of 1,877 patients per year. This represents a 1.37% decrease from the previous year (1,903 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Jefferson County, TX in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2021, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 27% under 18 years, 21.7% between 18 and 34 years, 36.6% between 35 and 64 years, and 14.6% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.3% were men and 51.7% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

21%

Uninsured

40.4%

Employer Coverage

16.7%

Medicaid

11.9%

Medicare

8.81%

Non-Group

1.15%

Military or VA

Between 2020 and 2021, the percent of uninsured citizens in Jefferson County, TX grew by 6.08% from 19.8% to 21%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Jefferson County, TX changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Health Indicators

Health Outcomes

Indicator

In 2022, the number of deaths among residents under age 18 per 100,000 population was 70.1 in Jefferson County, TX.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Jefferson County, TX.

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Health Behaviors

Indicator

In 2022, the percentage of the adult population (age 18 and older) that reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted) was 40.7% in Jefferson County, TX.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Jefferson County, TX.

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