Rio Grande City is a city of 15,396 people in Texas. The median age is 29.9, younger than the US median of 38.9. 30.8% of locals live below the federal poverty line. 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. Households here earn about 43% less than in Texas as a whole. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $113,200.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $44,577, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 29.9
US median: 38.9
Less educated
19% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 51%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Rio Grande City
What changed most since 1990
Poverty rate51.0% → 30.8%(−20.2 pts)US over the same years: −0.8 pts
Median household income (2024 dollars)$27,373 → $44,577(+63%)US over the same years: +14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree9.0% → 18.8%(+9.8 pts)US over the same years: +15.3 pts
Rio Grande City's population equals 23% of Starr County's. Its number of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher equals 33% of the county's. Its number of households without a car equals 17% of the county's.
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans
Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)28.1%(57)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)24.6%(50)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era36%(73)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 203 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
Rio Grande City, decade by decade
Rio Grande City population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
9,891
$27,373
$68,882
9.0%
7.0
2000
11,923
$36,165
$75,052
10.8%
10.0
2010
13,834
$36,059
$92,932
11.7%
13.6
2020
15,317
$46,714
$110,902
13.6%
8.9
2024
15,396
$44,577
$113,200
18.8%
9.7
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
