Abilene's Dyess Air Force Base, combined with rapid expansion particularly in the southwest, southeast and northeast sections of the city, has led to continued population growth in Abilene. Recent expansions in the city, as well as initiatives to lure in new businesses, have contributed to Abilene’s population growth. While growth has slowed down since the population boom in the early 20th century, it is still steady, with the most recent estimates showing an increase of 4.4% since the last census in 2010. This indicates that Abilene is continuing to grow at a slower—but still steady—rate.
Abilene, Texas Population 2022
126,806
Abilene is a city located in Taylor County Texas. It is also the county seat of Taylor County. With a 2020 population of 126,806, it is the 28th largest city in Texas and the 233rd largest city in the United States. Abilene is currently growing at a rate of 0.64% annually and its population has increased by 1.30% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 125,182 in 2020. Spanning over 112 miles, Abilene has a population density of 1,189 people per square mile.
The average household income in Abilene is $67,808 with a poverty rate of 15.23%. The median rental costs in recent years comes to $918 per month, and the median house value is $131,300. The median age in Abilene is 31.6 years, 31 years for males, and 32.3 years for females.
Cattle ranching and trade helped to build the city of Abilene. The area was founded officially in 1881 and was marked into lots that were sold quickly to the campers that were looking to make a living in Texas. The first college came just ten years later.
In 1940, the city funded the purchase of enough land to provide a US Army base just outside of town. The station brought thousands of people to the area and helped strengthen the economy and the population during and after the Second World War.
Abilene Demographics
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Abilenewas:
- White: 71.07%
- Black or African American: 10.28%
- Other race: 10.07%
- Two or more races: 5.44%
- Asian: 2.37%
- Native American: 0.77%
- Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.00%
The current population of Abilene, Texas is 126,806 based on our projections of the latest US Census estimates.The last official US Census in 2020 recorded the population at 125,182.
2021 and 2022 population is estimated by projecting the 2019 numbers.
| Year | Population | Growth | Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 165,585 | 0.00% | |
| 2011 | 166,634 | 1,049 | 0.63% |
| 2012 | 167,442 | 808 | 0.48% |
| 2013 | 167,473 | 31 | 0.02% |
| 2014 | 168,342 | 869 | 0.52% |
| 2015 | 169,688 | 1,346 | 0.79% |
| 2016 | 170,017 | 329 | 0.19% |
| 2017 | 170,429 | 412 | 0.24% |
| 2018 | 171,150 | 721 | 0.42% |
| 2019 | 172,060 | 910 | 0.53% |
| 2020 | 172,970 | 910 | 0.53% |
| 2021 | 173,880 | 910 | 0.52% |
Population by Race
| Race | Population | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White | 88,614 | 71.07% |
| Black or African American | 12,819 | 10.28% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 958 | 0.77% |
| Asian | 2,952 | 2.37% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | 4 | 0.00% |
| Some Other Race | 12,558 | 10.07% |
| Two or More Races | 6,786 | 5.44% |
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Abilene Population Pyramid 2022
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| Type | Count | Average Size | Owned |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | 43,607 | 2.55 | 54 |
| Married | 20,124 | 3.16 | 71.6 |
| Male | 2,055 | 3.29 | 41.3 |
| Female | 5,939 | 3.4 | 39.2 |
| Non Family | 15,489 | 1.33 | 38.4 |
3.13
Average Family Size
2.55
Average Household Size
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| Education Attained | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Less Than 9th Grade | 3,543 | 4.60% |
| 9th to 12th Grade | 6,331 | 8.23% |
| High School Graduate | 24,223 | 31.48% |
| Some College | 17,437 | 22.66% |
| Associates Degree | 6,297 | 8.18% |
| Bachelors Degree | 12,198 | 15.85% |
| Graduate Degree | 6,928 | 9.00% |
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Abilene Educational Attainment by Race
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| Race | Total | High School | Bachelors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian | 1,891 | 1,611 | 840 |
| White | 47,510 | 44,477 | 15,100 |
| Native American | 572 | 534 | 105 |
| Black | 7,606 | 6,130 | 950 |
| 2+ Races | 3,307 | 2,696 | 360 |
| Hispanic | 18,423 | 13,446 | 1,845 |
| Other Race | 7,119 | 4,723 | 408 |
| Islander | 2 | 2 |
The highest rate of high school graduation is among islander people with a rate of 100.00%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among asian people with a rate of 44.42%.
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$34,355
Average Earnings
$40,924
Average Male
$28,714
Average Female
Abilene Language by Age
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Abilene Language
80.47% of Abilene residents speak only English, while 19.53% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 15.33% of the population.
Abilene Poverty by Race
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| Name | Total | In Poverty | Poverty Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native | 831 | 280 | 33.69% |
| Black | 9,323 | 2,502 | 26.84% |
| Hispanic | 30,417 | 5,722 | 18.81% |
| Asian | 2,799 | 480 | 17.15% |
| White | 66,763 | 7,965 | 11.93% |
| Other | 2,265 | NaN% | |
| Multiple | 5,298 | 625 | 11.80% |
15.23%
Overall Poverty Rate
13.33%
Male Poverty Rate
16.99%
Female Poverty Rate
Poverty in Abilene
The race most likely to be in poverty in Abilene is Native, with 33.69% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Abilene is Multiple, with 11.80% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 4.05%. Among those working part-time, it was 24.86%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 22.98%.
Abilene Marital Status
Marriage Rates
43.6%
Overall Marriage Rate
43.9%
Male Marriage Rate
43.2%
Female Marriage Rate
Abilene Married by Age and Sex
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Abilene Marriage
The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 35-44.
Abilene Marital Status by Race
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| Name | Veterans | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| White | 7,078 | 10.54% |
| Black | 935 | 10.15% |
| Native American | 93 | 13.84% |
| Asian | 77 | 3.57% |
| Other Race | 435 | 4.97% |
| 2+ Races | 300 | 7.56% |
| Hispanic | 1,225 | 5.41% |
Abilene Veterans by Education
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6.35%
Veteran Poverty Rate
32.24%
Veteran Disability Rate
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62%
Labor Force Participation
56.1%
Employment Rate
3.4%
Unemployment Rate
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Origin of Non-Citizens
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Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Origin of Naturalized Citizens
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66.23%
Born in Abilene
92.88%
Native Born
7.12%
Foreign Born
4.35%
Non Citizen
2.77%
Naturalized
Place of Birth
92.88% of Abilene residents were born in the United States, with 66.23% having been born in Texas. 4.35% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.
Note: 2021 and 2022 data is projected
| Year | Population | Growth | Annual Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | 3,194 | 0.00% | |
| 1900 | 3,411 | 217 | 0.66% |
| 1910 | 9,204 | 5,793 | 10.44% |
| 1920 | 10,274 | 1,070 | 1.11% |
| 1930 | 23,175 | 12,901 | 8.47% |
| 1940 | 26,612 | 3,437 | 1.39% |
| 1950 | 45,570 | 18,958 | 5.53% |
| 1960 | 90,368 | 44,798 | 7.09% |
| 1970 | 89,653 | -715 | -0.08% |
| 1980 | 98,315 | 8,662 | 0.93% |
| 1990 | 106,654 | 8,339 | 0.82% |
| 2000 | 115,930 | 9,276 | 0.84% |
| 2010 | 117,063 | 1,133 | 0.10% |
| 2011 | 117,875 | 812 | 0.69% |
| 2012 | 118,687 | 812 | 0.69% |
| 2013 | 119,499 | 812 | 0.68% |
| 2014 | 120,311 | 812 | 0.68% |
| 2015 | 121,123 | 812 | 0.67% |
| 2016 | 121,935 | 812 | 0.67% |
| 2017 | 122,747 | 812 | 0.67% |
| 2018 | 123,559 | 812 | 0.66% |
| 2019 | 124,371 | 812 | 0.66% |
| 2020 | 125,182 | 811 | 0.65% |
| 2021 | 125,994 | 812 | 0.65% |
| 2022 | 126,806 | 812 | 0.64% |