Southwest Sandhill: Demographics & People
Southwest Sandhill is home to 1,143 people, in 524 households. Population shrank 2.6% from 1,174 (2022) to 1,143 (2024). Median age 44.3 years. (9.8y older than Ward County; 9.8y older than Texas). Children under 18 are 26% of the population. Population is 50% Hispanic or Latino and 44% White (non-Hispanic). 72% of households are family-led. County is losing 381 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 42% adult obesity, 17% smoke.
- 2.2 people per household (vs Texas avg 2.7).
- 28% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Texas 35%).
- 78 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Texas 62).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 2.6% from 1,174 (2022) to 1,143 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~1,113 (extrapolated at -1.3%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 1,073.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 34,860 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -2.6% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 1,174 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 1,143 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | declining |
| Population | 1,143 people (vs Texas 143,570) |
| Population Estimate | 1,073 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 44.3y is 5.4 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 26% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 44.3 years (vs Texas 34.5y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 26.0% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 1,143 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 297 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 193.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 448.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 205 |
| Population under 18 | 297 |
| Median age | 44.3 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 1,143 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups).
| White residents | 875 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 2 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 671 |
| Diversity Index · Simpson Index | 6.9% |
| Diversity Index · Interpretation | less diverse |
| Black population | 0.2% (vs Texas 9.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 49.7% (vs Texas 36.6%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 44.3% (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 (7)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS).
| Residents born in this state | 906 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 135 |
| Share born in this state | 79.3% |
| Share born in another state | 20.7% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 11.8% |
| Naturalized citizens | 8.9% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 37 |
Households & Family Composition
524 households. Averaging 2.4 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 72% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 360 families, 18% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 272 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 360 |
| Married couples with children | 65 |
| Average household size | 2.39 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 17.8% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 47 |
| Family households | 376 households (vs Texas 35,060) |
| Households that are families | 71.8% (vs Texas 65.3%) |
| Total households | 524 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. 0.2% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 381 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 0.2% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 25,885 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 26,266 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -381 |
| 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 | 35 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 3.1% |
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. 3 residents live in group quarters (0.3% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 3 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 23 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Formatted | TX-23 |
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 48227 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 48 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 227 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Howard |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 50.9% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 44.40 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 57.90 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 48227 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Howard County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Micropolitan |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 1,313 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 48227 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Howard County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 45.1% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 38.7% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 27.8% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 36,664 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 10 |
| Family Score · Schools | 20 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 26.0% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 1,143, declining, established, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 1,143 people (vs Texas 143,570) |
| Town Summary · County | Howard County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade