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CITY

South Padre Island

Texas · 2,086 residents (2025 est.) · 2.689 sq mi
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The short version

South Padre Island has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $70,472. Population has grown 19% since 2000. 53% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $516,900. With a median age of 60.8, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. 53% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, well above the US average, yet household income trails the national figure — a profile common to graduate-student tracts and academic hubs.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 60.8
US median: 38.9
More educated
53% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 84%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
2,891
+19%since 2000
from 2,422 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,075 / sq mi
+19%since 2000
from 901 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
60.8
+30%since 2000
from 46.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:2,086 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
2K2K2K3K3K1990201020202024South Padre Island
20243K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$70,472
−15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $45,417 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$77,304
+144%since 2000
from $31,708 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
47.3%
+10.6 ptssince 2009
from 36.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
16.0%
+4.0 ptssince 2000
from 12.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.556
+12%since 2010
from 0.495 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Other services29.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration20.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Information8.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance4.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Education & health services1.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Wholesale trade1.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade0.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$516,900
+84%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $154,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,521
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $702 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
69.8%
+6.3 ptssince 2000
from 63.5% in 2000
30.2% rent
Vacancy rate
71.1%
−6.3 ptssince 2009
from 77.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
34.9%
+5.8 ptssince 2009
from 29.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
49.5%
+15.6 ptssince 2009
from 33.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
7.3
+116%since 2000
from 3.4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
59
RELATED:See current rent listings in South Padre Island on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic75%(1,817)
Black0.6%(14)
Hispanic / Latino22.8%(553)
Asian0.2%(5)
Other0%
Diversity Score46%(1,114)
2024
White, non-Hispanic73.6%(2,127)
Black7.4%(213)
Hispanic / Latino13.6%(392)
Asian3.7%(106)
Other1.8%(53)
Diversity Score54.2%(1,565)
Diversity Score
54
+18%since 2000
from 46 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
52.7%
+17.1 ptssince 2000
from 35.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.7%
+1.3 ptssince 2000
from 92.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
23.0%
+6.4 ptssince 2000
from 16.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
12.7 min
−23%since 2000
from 16.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
32.7%
−35.2 ptssince 2009
from 67.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
1.9%
−10.4 ptssince 2009
from 12.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
2.9%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
31.5%
+24.3 ptssince 2009
from 7.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
25.8%
+18.6 ptssince 2009
from 7.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
3.4%
+3.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
3.6%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 7.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.6%
+5.6 ptssince 2011
from 0.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
47.9%
+5.5 ptssince 2011
from 42.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
8.3%
+6.7 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
62.3%
−9.9 ptssince 2009
from 72.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
55.1%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 52.7% in 2009
Female
44.9%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 47.3% in 2009
Foreign born
14.7%
+3.9 ptssince 2009
from 10.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
12.8%
−36.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
7.1%
−11.6 ptssince 2012
from 18.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
8.6%
−73.2 ptssince 2013
from 81.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.1%
+9.9 ptssince 2017
from 74.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
83.4%
+11.9 ptssince 2016
from 71.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
15.4%
−13.1 ptssince 2016
from 28.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Compare South Padre Island to nearby cities

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND VS
Brownsville
Income$52,130−26%
Home value$139,900−73%
Population192,957+9150%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND VS
Los Fresnos
Income$61,938−12%
Home value$152,200−71%
Population8,703+317%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND VS
San Benito
Income$43,639−38%
Home value$85,300−83%
Population24,980+1098%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND VS
Harlingen
Income$53,645−24%
Home value$140,600−73%
Population72,467+3374%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in South Padre Island, Texas?

South Padre Island, Texas has about 2,891 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in South Padre Island, Texas?

The typical household in South Padre Island, Texas earns about $70,472 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is South Padre Island, Texas expensive?

In South Padre Island, Texas, the median home is worth about $516,900, and the typical rent is about $1,521 a month.

How educated are people in South Padre Island, Texas?

About 52.7% of adults age 25 and over in South Padre Island, Texas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in South Padre Island, Texas?

About 16.0% of people in South Padre Island, Texas live below the federal poverty line.

Has South Padre Island, Texas grown since 1990?

Yes, South Padre Island, Texas has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,214 residents, a change of about 72 percent over that period.

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

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