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CITY

Sour Lake

Texas · 1,841 residents (2025 est.) · 2.302 sq mi
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The short version

Sour Lake has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $73,241. Population has grown 28% since 2000. 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $173,800. At a median age of 34.5, residents skew younger than the country as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 34.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 106%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
2,130
+28%since 2000
from 1,667 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
925 / sq mi
+28%since 2000
from 724 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
34.5
−9%since 2000
from 37.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:1,841 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
1K2K2K2K2K1990201020202024Sour Lake
20242K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$73,241
+33%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,300 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$32,944
+113%since 2000
from $15,497 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
47.6%
+27.3 ptssince 2009
from 20.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
12.6%
−0.1 ptssince 2000
from 12.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.434
+2%since 2010
from 0.428 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Wholesale trade13.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade12.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services6.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Information5.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Public administration4.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance4.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing2.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Manufacturing1.6%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$173,800
+106%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $46,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,286
+59%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $445 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
70.6%
−7.4 ptssince 2000
from 78.0% in 2000
29.4% rent
Vacancy rate
14.7%
+9.7 ptssince 2009
from 5.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.4%
+4.7 ptssince 2009
from 12.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
49.8%
+14.4 ptssince 2009
from 35.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.4
+55%since 2000
from 1.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
84
RELATED:See current rent listings in Sour Lake on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic92.6%(1,544)
Black3%(50)
Hispanic / Latino3%(50)
Asian0.4%(7)
Other0%
Diversity Score15.4%(257)
2024
White, non-Hispanic85.4%(1,819)
Black0.3%(6)
Hispanic / Latino8.8%(187)
Asian2.6%(55)
Other3%(63)
Diversity Score32.7%(696)
Diversity Score
33
+112%since 2000
from 15 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
20.9%
+7.0 ptssince 2000
from 13.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
90.1%
+10.3 ptssince 2000
from 79.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
3.6%
−1.3 ptssince 2000
from 5.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
26.0 min
+20%since 2000
from 21.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.1%
−6.8 ptssince 2009
from 85.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
5.5%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 7.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
9.9%
+7.3 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.0%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
3.3%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 4.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.6%
+0.1 ptssince 2011
from 6.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
65.6%
+3.7 ptssince 2011
from 61.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
9.7%
+2.7 ptssince 2009
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
31.2%
−20.5 ptssince 2009
from 51.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.2%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
Female
50.8%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 51.6% in 2009
Foreign born
4.9%
+4.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.2%
−39.0 ptssince 2009
from 45.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
10.4%
−7.9 ptssince 2012
from 18.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
19.0%
−60.6 ptssince 2013
from 79.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
94.5%
+25.4 ptssince 2017
from 69.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
91.2%
−4.8 ptssince 2016
from 96.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
6.1%
+4.0 ptssince 2016
from 2.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Compare Sour Lake to nearby cities

SOUR LAKE VS
Lumberton
Income$107,623+47%
Home value$291,900+68%
Population14,123+667%
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SOUR LAKE VS
Beaumont
Income$56,997−22%
Home value$166,400−4%
Population112,967+6036%
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SOUR LAKE VS
Liberty
Income$53,833−26%
Home value$175,300+1%
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SOUR LAKE VS
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Income$62,192−15%
Home value$131,400−24%
Population9,597+421%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Sour Lake, Texas?

Sour Lake, Texas has about 2,130 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Sour Lake, Texas?

The typical household in Sour Lake, Texas earns about $73,241 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Sour Lake, Texas expensive?

In Sour Lake, Texas, the median home is worth about $173,800, and the typical rent is about $1,286 a month.

How educated are people in Sour Lake, Texas?

About 20.9% of adults age 25 and over in Sour Lake, Texas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Sour Lake, Texas?

About 12.6% of people in Sour Lake, Texas live below the federal poverty line.

Has Sour Lake, Texas grown since 1990?

Yes, Sour Lake, Texas has grown since 1990. The population has added about 548 residents, a change of about 35 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Sour Lake, Texas: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy