Hico: Demographics & People
Hico is home to 1,771 people, in 628 households. Population shrank 1.9% from 1,806 (2022) to 1,771 (2024). Median age 35.6 years. (7.9y younger than Hamilton County; 1.1y older than Texas). Children under 18 are 33% of the population. Population is 84% White (non-Hispanic) and 12% Hispanic or Latino. 56% of households are family-led. County is gaining 290 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 40% adult obesity, 18% smoke.
- 2.8 people per household (vs Texas avg 2.7).
- 44% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Texas 35%).
- 109 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Texas 62).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 1.9% from 1,806 (2022) to 1,771 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~1,736 (extrapolated at -1.0%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 1,691.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 42,545 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -1.9% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 1,806 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 1,771 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | declining |
| Population | 1,771 people (vs Texas 143,570) |
| Population Estimate | 1,691 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 35.6y is 3.3 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 33% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 35.6 years (vs Texas 34.5y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 33.0% |
| Age Summary · Character | family-oriented |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 1,771 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 585 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 286.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 561.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 339 |
| Population under 18 | 585 |
| Median age | 35.6 years (vs Texas 34.5y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 1,771 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups).
| White residents | 1,564 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 101 |
| Asian residents | 5 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 164 |
| Diversity Index · Simpson Index | 20.8% |
| Diversity Index · Interpretation | less diverse |
| Asian population | 0.2% (vs Texas 3.7%) |
| Black population | 3.3% (vs Texas 9.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 12.3% (vs Texas 36.6%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 83.5% (vs Texas 36.1%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 0.2% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 5% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 1,159 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 521 |
| Share born in this state | 65.4% |
| Share born in another state | 34.6% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 29.4% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.2% |
| Naturalized citizens | 4.9% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 54 |
| From Africa | 3 |
Households & Family Composition
628 households. Averaging 2.8 people each — larger than the U.S. average of 2.5. 56% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 297 families, 36% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 621 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 297 |
| Married couples with children | 108 |
| Single-parent households | 12 |
| Average household size | 2.79 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 19.7% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 835 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 110 |
| Family households | 352 households (vs Texas 35,060) |
| Households that are families | 56.1% (vs Texas 65.3%) |
| Total households | 628 households (vs Texas 51,915) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 3.8% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 290 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 3.8% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 35,849 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 35,559 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 290 |
| Migration · Population growing | Yes |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 132 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 8.4% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 59 residents live in group quarters (3.3% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 59 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 25 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 48143 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 48 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 143 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Erath |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 11.2% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 9.40 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 13.30 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 48143 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Erath County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Micropolitan |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 1,077 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 48143 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Erath County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 43.4% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 38.3% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 37.7% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 42,698 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 2.80 |
| Family Score · Schools | 2 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 1 |
| Family Score · Youth Sports Orgs | 1 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 33.0% |
| Family Score · Rating | limited |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 1,771, declining, family-oriented, middle-class, white collar |
| Town Summary · Population | 1,771 people (vs Texas 143,570) |
| Town Summary · County | Erath County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade