Introduction
This article is the first in a series of economic and social profiles of each county in the Rural Capital Area (RCA), beginning with Bastrop County. These profiles are intended to provide a high-level overview of various aspects of each county in the RCA. Bastrop County is located to the southeast of Austin and is included in the Austin metropolitan statistical area. The county seat is in the City of Bastrop.
Demographic Profile
As of 2022, the population of Bastrop County was 106,188. Like many counties within commutable distance from metropolitan areas, Bastrop County gained population in 2020 and 2021 due to domestic migration. This was likely caused by people leaving large and densely populated areas (in this case, Austin).
Figure 1: Population Growth, 2012-2022, Bastrop County vs. US
Source: Census Population Estimates Program
Figure 2: Population Change Components, 2012-2022, Bastrop County
Source: Census Population Estimates Program
As compared to the rest of Texas, Bastrop County is older and more in-line with the United States average (40.6 years in Bastrop compared to 38.8 years in the USA). The difference is apparent at younger age groups where 9.6% of Texas’ population is composed of people under 18 years, whereas that proportion is just 5.8% in Bastrop County. In most respects, Bastrop County is less racially diverse than Texas; 65.6% of the population identifies as White (compared to 52.9% in Texas). However, the County is considerably higher in Hispanic or Latino populations than the United States (28.5% in Bastrop as compared to 14.3% in the USA).
Employment Trends
While only 2.5% of the labor force in Bastrop County is unemployed, almost 38% of the population (16+) is not in the labor force, more than either the average in Texas or the US as a whole. Given the relative youth of the area (the median age is 40.6 years old), it is likely that Bastrop County contains a substantial number of stay-at-home parents and/or caretakers.
Table 1: Employment Status of Bastrop County
|
Subject |
Estimate |
Percent |
|
Population 16 years and over |
73,281 |
--- |
|
In labor force |
45l,707 |
62.4% |
|
Employed |
43,866 |
59.9% |
|
Unemployed |
1,841 |
2.5% |
|
Not in labor force |
27,574 |
37.6% |
|
Unemployment rate |
--- |
4.0% |
Source: American Community Survey, 2021, 5-Year Estimate Bastrop County
Educational Attainment
Of the population 25 years old and over, 84% have at least a high school degree. With 34% of people (25+) in the US holding at least a bachelor’s degree and 31% in Texas, Bastrop County’s 23% is substantially lower.
Figure 3: Educational Attainment in Bastrop County
Source: American Community Survey, 2021, 5-Year Estimate Bastrop County
Wage Trends
The Median Household (MHI) in Bastrop County in 2021 was $72,809, higher than the US’s $69,717. Furthermore, Bastrop County has exceeded the US in annual per capita income growth every year over the past five years, including a very noteworthy bump of 19.1% in 2021.
Figure 4: Median Household Income, 2011-2021, Bastrop County vs. US
Source: Census Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE)
Figure 5: Per Capita Income Growth, 2011-2021, Bastrop County vs. US
Source: BEA Regional Economic Accounts
Industry and Occupation Snapshots
Total industry employment in Bastrop County is 19,553. Local government employs the most workers of any industry in Bastrop County, closely followed by retail trade. Accommodation and food services, Health care and social assistance, and Construction are also in the top five industrial employers. The largest employment by occupation in Bastrop County is in Hospitality.
Figure 6: Occupation Cluster Employment, 2022, Bastrop County
Source: Headlight Data cluster calculations using data from DTG
Gross Regional Product
Gross regional product (GRP) is the same as gross domestic product (GDP), but for areas smaller than the United States. GRP simply measures the monetary market value of all final goods and services produced in a region, in this case, Bastrop County. In Bastrop County, the industry that generates the most GRP is real estate and rental and leasing, followed by retail trade.
Figure 7: Growth in Gross Regional Product, 2011-2021, Bastrop County vs. US
Source: BEA Regional Economic Accounts
Figure 8: Gross Regional Product by Industry ($000s), 2021, Bastrop County
Source: BEA Regional Economic Accounts