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CITY · 2020 ACS

Sour Lake

Texas · 1,773 residents · 2.30 sq mi
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The short version

Sour Lake is home to 1,773 people in Texas. 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $96,100. The foreign-born share is 2%. 72% of homes are owner-occupied. 93% were living in the same home a year earlier.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 38.9
US median: 38.8
Less educated
17% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 38%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
1,773
+6%since 2000
from 1,667 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
38.9
+3%since 2000
from 37.8 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
2.30 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
1K2K2K2K2K19902000201020202024Sour Lake
20242K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 55.4%(96)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97.6%(134)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 146.3%(112)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 196.4%(113)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.4%(95)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3412.7%(225)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4413.6%(241)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5411.8%(209)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6412.6%(224)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7411.6%(205)
US avg: 10%
75 to 844.9%(87)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over1.8%(32)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$55,714
+22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,300 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$23,976
+55%since 2000
from $15,497 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
38.7%
+18.4 ptssince 2009
from 20.3% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
12.8%
+0.2 ptssince 2000
from 12.7% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Wholesale trade15.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Information12.3%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade11.7%
US avg: 10%
Other services5.2%
US avg: 6.6%
Finance & insurance4.4%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical3.5%
US avg: 4.7%
Public administration3.5%
US avg: 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.5%
US avg: 1.7%
Manufacturing1.5%
US avg: 0.5%
Transportation & warehousing1.1%
US avg: 2.5%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.8%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$96,100
+38%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $46,400 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,049
+57%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $445 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
72.4%
−5.6 ptssince 2000
from 78.0% in 2000
27.6% rent
Persons per household
2.99 people
+15%since 2009
from 2.60 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
Afford Score
1.7
−4%since 2009
from 1.8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic92.6%(1,544)
Black3%(50)
Hispanic / Latino3%(50)
Asian0.4%(7)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic83.3%(1,477)
Black2.4%(42)
Hispanic / Latino7.1%(125)
Asian1.5%(27)
Other0.4%(8)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican2.7%(67)
Costa Rican1.3%(31)
Asian origin
Cambodian1.3%(31)
Vietnamese0.4%(11)
Filipino0.2%(5)
Ancestry
German16.3%(399)
Irish12.5%(307)
French11.1%(272)
American9.5%(233)
English8%(197)
Italian2.6%(63)
Scottish2.5%(62)
Greek2.5%(61)
Scotch-Irish0.9%(23)
Dutch0.3%(8)
Polish0.3%(7)
+ 3 more ancestry groups with data
Hungarian0.2%(5)
Norwegian0.2%(5)
Canadian0.1%(3)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
17.5%
+3.7 ptssince 2000
from 13.8% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
94.5%
+14.7 ptssince 2000
from 79.7% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
5.4%
+0.5 ptssince 2000
from 5.0% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
28.0 min
+30%since 2000
from 21.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
86.5%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 85.9% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
3.9%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.1% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.6%
−2.9 ptssince 2011
from 6.4% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
62.1%
+0.3 ptssince 2011
from 61.8% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
60.6%
US average: 73.3%
Management & professional
33.8%
+19.8 ptssince 2009
from 14.0% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.0%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
Female
52.0%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 51.6% in 2009
Foreign born
1.5%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
20.0%
−0.4 ptssince 2013
from 20.4% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
92.8%
US average: 91.9%
Same house as last year
92.7%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married26.7%(201)
Married53.9%(405)
Widowed3.1%(23)
Divorced16.4%(123)
Women 15+
Never married19.9%(159)
Married49.8%(398)
Widowed11.9%(95)
Divorced18.4%(147)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
20.0%
−0.4 ptssince 2013
from 20.4% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Employer-based
51.0%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
20.0%
US average: 13.7%
Medicare
12.1%
US average: 17.6%
Medicaid
17.4%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
3.7%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
59.8%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
29.6%
US average: 35.2%

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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)15.1%(23)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)11.2%(17)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era60.5%(92)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War2%(3)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 152 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
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Compare Sour Lake to nearby cities

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SOUR LAKE VS
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SOUR LAKE VS
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SOUR LAKE VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Sour Lake, Texas?

Sour Lake, Texas has about 1,773 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Sour Lake, Texas earns about $55,714 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 $96,100, and the typical rent is about $1,049 a month.

How educated are people in Sour Lake, Texas?

About 17.5% 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 12.8% 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 191 residents, a change of about 12 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 →