Bosque County

Bosque County: The Beautiful Gateway to Texas Hill Country

Bosque County is a beautiful location within the region, with the scenic Bosque River winding throughout a landscape of rolling hills. The natural beauty has resulted in the county being known as an artistic destination, with several communities, working facilities and museums highlighting the area’s renown. Additionally, the county has a growing retirement community, with the city of Clifton having been listed in 2009 as one of only 40 Certified Retirement Communities in Texas. The growing interest, coupled with rising property values and low tax rates, mark Bosque County with huge potential for economic development, specifically in the health care sector.

Like regions across the country, unemployment in Bosque County has increased somewhat in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Texas Workforce Commission reported that Bosque County had a total Civilian Labor Force of 8,247 in November 2020, with an unemployment rate of 6.0%, lower than the Texas total of 8% unemployed. In comparison, Bosque County unemployment was 3.4% in November 2019.

Clifton has a vibrant art scene, highlighted by the Bosque Arts Center, a three-story historic landmark built in 1923 on a hilltop overlooking the town and the scenic Bosque River valley. The Center has been the hub for all artistic endeavors in the county since the 1960’s, from housing nationally-recognized collections to currently working artists and sculptors residing in the area. For more information on economic development in Clifton, visit the Clifton Economic Development Corporation.

Meridian features the natural beauty and artistic offerings found along the Bosque River Valley, billing itself as “Top of the Hill Country.” As the county seat, its historical courthouse, built in 1886 and restored in 2007, is listed as a Texas Historic Landmark. Renowned artists George Hallmark, Lelahd Hensley, Teddi Marks, Dawn Sharp call Meridian home, which also hosts the National Championship Barbeque Cookoff. Learn more at the Meridian Chamber of Commerce or the Meridian Economic Development Corporation.

Click on the cities within Bosque County for more information:

Population

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Population

Population 2000 2010 2026 2031
Bosque County 17,204 18,212 18,883 19,111

Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31

Population by Age

Population 2026
0-4 906
5-9 1,001
10-14 1,082
15-19 1,068
20-24 935
25-29 893
30-34 874
35-39 1,016
40-44 1,068
45-49 1,002
50-54 1,069
55-59 1,244
60-64 1,372
65-69 1,612
70-74 1,338
75-79 1,126
80-84 742
85+ 535
18+ 15,250
Median Age 48

Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31

Population by Race

Bosque County 2026
Total 18,883.00
White Alone 77.84%
Black Alone 1.78%
American Indian Alone 0.85%
Asian Alone 0.5%
Pacific Islander Alone 0.03%
Some Other Race 7.74%
Two or More Races 11.26%
Hispanic Origin 19.55%
Diversity Index 57.20

Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31

Growth Rate

Bosque County 2026 - 2031
Population 0.24%
Households 0.56%
Families 0.40%
Median Household Income 2%
Per Capita Income 2%

Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31

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Housing

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Households

Population 2000 2010 2026 2031
Households 6,726 7,254 7,902 8,127
Housing Units 8,644 9,623 9,760 9,990
Owner Occupied Units 6,114 6,369
Renter Occupied Units 1,788 1,758
Vacant Units 1,858 1,863

Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31

Home Value

Bosque County 2026 2031
Median Home Value $231,883 $253,382
Average Home Value $305,689 $329,346
<$50,000 344 329
$50,000 - $99,999 648 616
$100,000 - $149,999 901 841
$150,000 - $199,999 717 681
$200,000 - $249,999 701 669
$250,000 - $299,999 648 717
$300,000 - $399,999 971 1,075
$400,000 - $499,999 423 514
$500,000 - $749,999 419 511
$1,000,000 + 41 50

Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31

Housing Year Built

Year Range Houses Built
2010 or Later 739
2000-2009 1,033
1990-1999 1,139
1980-1989 1,477
1970-1979 1,269
1960-1969 1,347
1950-1959 898
1940-1949 484
1939 or Before 803

Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31

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Income

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Income

Bosque County 2026 2031
Median Household $66,143 $72,497
Average Household $86,007 $95,753
Per Capita $36,104 $40,833

Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31

Household Income

Bosque County 2026
<$15,000 492
$15,000 - $24,999 604
$25,000 - $34,999 671
$35,000 - $49,999 1,131
$50,000 - $74,999 1,571
$75,000 - $99,999 1,130
$100,000 - $149,999 1,359
$150,000 - $199,999 484
$200,000+ 460

Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31

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Employees

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Commute

Category Commuters
Workers 16+ 7,471
In-County Residents 4,384
Out-of-County Residents 3,026
Drive Alone 5,929
Carpooled 641
Public Transport 0
Work at Home 728
Motorcycle 3
Bicycle 6
Walked 79
Other 85
Less than 5 minutes 612
5-9 minutes 979
10-14 minutes 684
15-19 minutes 684
20-24 minutes 748
25-29 minutes 337
30-34 minutes 545
35-39 minutes 278
40-44 minutes 320
45-59 minutes 676
60-89 minutes 508
90+ minutes 372
Average Travel Time 29

Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31

Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31

Employees by NAICS

Category Number
Total Employees 5,588
Agr/Forestry/Fish/Hunt 63
Mining 11
Utilities 141
Construction 310
Manufacturing 153
Wholesale Trade 277
   
Retail Trade 684
   
Transportation/Warehouse 59
Information 38
   
Finance & Insurance 162
   
Real Estate/Rent/Leasing 81
Prof/Scientific/Tech Srv 126
Legal Services 38
Mgmt of Comp/Enterprises 42
Admin/Support/Waste Mgmt 38
Educational Services 1,186
HealthCare/Social Assist 819
Arts/Entertainment/Rec 35
   
Accommodation/Food Srvcs 355
   
Other Srv excl Pub Admin 413
Auto Repair/Maintenance 25
Public Administration Emp 593

Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31

Educational Attainment (25+)

Bosque County 2026
<9th Grade 550
Some High School 922
GED 706
Graduated High School 3,884
Some College/No Degree 3,271
Associates Degree 1,439
Bachelor's Degree 2,062
Graduate Degree 1,057

Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31

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Businesses

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Businesses by NAICS

Category Number
Total Businesses 665
Agr/Forestry/Fish/Hunt Bus 19
Mining Bus 2
Utilities Bus 7
Construction Bus 40
Manufacturing Bus 11
Wholesale Trade Bus 24
   
Retail Trade Bus 104
   
Transportation/Warehouse Bus 14
Information Bus 13
   
Finance & Insurance Bus 33
   
Real Estate/Rent/Leasing Bus 26
Prof/Scientific/Tech Srv Bus 34
Legal Services Bus 10
Mgmt of Comp/Enterprises Bus 2
Admin/Support/Waste Mgmt Bus 8
Educational Services Bus 31
HealthCare/Social Assist Bus 35
Arts/Entertainment/Rec Bus 11
   
Accommodation/Food Srvcs Bus 54
   
Other Srv excl Pub Admin Bus 89
Auto Repair/Maintenance Bus 9
Public Administration Bus 71

Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31

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