Tatum: Demographics & People
1,435 people call Tatum home, in 523 households. Population shrank 6.1% from 1,528 (2022) to 1,435 (2024). Median age 31.5 years. (7.6y younger than Rusk County; 3.0y younger than Texas). Children under 18 are 30% of the population. Population is 46% White (non-Hispanic) and 31% Hispanic or Latino. 73% of households are family-led. County is gaining 666 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 38% adult obesity, 19% smoke.
- 2.7 people per household (vs Texas avg 2.7).
- 27% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Texas 35%).
- 69 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Texas 62).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 6.1% from 1,528 (2022) to 1,435 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~1,348 (extrapolated at -3.0%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 1,239.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 22,491 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -6.1% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 1,528 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 1,435 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | shrinking |
| Population | 1,435 people (vs Texas 143,570) |
| Population Estimate | 1,239 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 31.5y is 7.4 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 30% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 31.5 years (vs Texas 34.5y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 30.0% |
| Age Summary · Character | young professional |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 1,435 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 431 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 361.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 489.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 154 |
| Population under 18 | 431 |
| Median age | 31.5 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 1,435 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups).
| White residents | 769 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 273 |
| Asian residents | 2 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 359 |
| Diversity Index · Simpson Index | 61.4% |
| Diversity Index · Interpretation | highly diverse |
| Black population | 12.0% (vs Texas 9.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 31.1% (vs Texas 36.6%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 45.7% (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). 0.7% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 8% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 999 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 310 |
| Share born in this state | 69.6% |
| Share born in another state | 30.4% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 21.6% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.7% |
| Naturalized citizens | 8.1% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 39 |
Households & Family Composition
523 households. Averaging 2.6 people each — larger than the U.S. average of 2.5. 73% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 424 families, 19% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 484 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 424 |
| Married couples with children | 81 |
| Single-parent households | 11 |
| Average household size | 2.62 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 21.1% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 71 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 16 |
| Family households | 384 households (vs Texas 35,060) |
| Households that are families | 73.4% (vs Texas 65.3%) |
| Total households | 523 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. 6.5% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 666 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 6.5% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 21,629 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 20,963 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 666 |
| 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 | 146 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 11.1% |
Other
| Congressional District · District | 1 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 48365 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 48 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 365 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Panola |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 31.5% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 26.10 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 37.60 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 48365 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Panola County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Noncore |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 887 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 48365 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Panola County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 43.8% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 38.2% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 37.4% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 23,194 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 3.00 |
| Family Score · Schools | 4 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 30.0% |
| Family Score · Rating | limited |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 1,435, shrinking, young professional, upper-middle, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 1,435 people (vs Texas 143,570) |
| Town Summary · County | Panola County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade