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CITY · 1990 CENSUS

South Padre Island

Texas · 1,677 residents · 2.69 sq mi
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The short version

South Padre Island is a city of 1,677 people in Texas. At a median age of 40.9, this is an older place than the country as a whole. 32% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. 51% of homes are owner-occupied. There are 745 fewer people here than in 2000. Median home value sits at $118,100.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $30,130
Older
median age 40.9
US median: 33.0
More educated
32% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
1,677
−31%vs 2000
vs 2,422 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
40.9
−12%vs 2000
vs 46.7 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Land area
2.69 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
2K2K2K3K3K19902000201020202024South Padre Island
20243K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 55.1%(86)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 94.4%(73)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 141.8%(30)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 193.6%(61)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 245.8%(98)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3417.8%(299)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4417.2%(289)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 5410.7%(179)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 6416.6%(278)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 7413.7%(229)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 842.2%(37)
US avg: 4%
85 and over1.1%(18)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$30,256
−12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $45,417 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$20,823
−34%vs 2000
vs $31,708 in 2000
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
9.8%
−2.2 ptsvs 2000
vs 12.0% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$118,100
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $154,100 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$493
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $702 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
51.4%
−12.1 ptsvs 2000
vs 63.5% in 2000
48.6% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic75%(1,817)
Black0.6%(14)
Hispanic / Latino22.8%(553)
Asian0.2%(5)
Other0%
1990
White, non-Hispanic96.6%(1,620)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino13.7%(229)
Asian0.1%(2)
Other3.3%(55)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican12.7%(367)
Salvadoran0.7%(21)
Asian origin
Asian Indian3.7%(106)
Ancestry
German17.4%(504)
English15.2%(439)
Irish14.1%(408)
Dutch6.7%(193)
Italian5.8%(168)
Norwegian4.5%(130)
French4.3%(124)
Canadian4.1%(119)
Scottish3.3%(96)
Romanian2.2%(65)
Portuguese1.4%(40)
Brazilian1.3%(37)
+ 9 more ancestry groups with data
Danish0.9%(25)
Hungarian0.7%(20)
Scotch-Irish0.6%(18)
Belgian0.6%(17)
Welsh0.4%(12)
Swedish0.2%(5)
American0.1%(4)
Arab0%(1)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
31.9%
−3.6 ptsvs 2000
vs 35.5% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
90.2%
−2.2 ptsvs 2000
vs 92.4% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
11.4%
−5.2 ptsvs 2000
vs 16.7% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.1 min
+46%vs 2000
vs 16.5 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married21.6%(303)
Married67.5%(947)
Widowed2.3%(32)
Divorced8.7%(122)
Women 15+
Never married12.4%(151)
Married62.2%(758)
Widowed10.4%(127)
Divorced14.9%(182)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured
8.6%
−9.6 ptssince 2013
from 18.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
43.6%
+6.5 ptssince 2020
from 37.1% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
20.7%
−7.6 ptssince 2020
from 28.3% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
39.3%
+11.1 ptssince 2020
from 28.2% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
13.0%
+3.6 ptssince 2020
from 9.4% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
3.6%
+2.0 ptssince 2020
from 1.6% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
63.6%
+1.5 ptssince 2020
from 62.1% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
48.6%
+13.3 ptssince 2020
from 35.3% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

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)19.5%(65)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)17.1%(57)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era38%(127)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 334 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
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare South Padre Island to nearby cities

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND VS
Brownsville
Income$52,130+72%
Home value$139,900+18%
Population192,957+9150%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND VS
Los Fresnos
Income$61,938+105%
Home value$152,200+29%
Population8,703+317%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND VS
San Benito
Income$43,639+44%
Home value$85,300−28%
Population24,980+1098%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND VS
Harlingen
Income$53,645+77%
Home value$140,600+19%
Population72,467+3374%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in South Padre Island, Texas?

South Padre Island, Texas has about 1,677 residents according to the 1990 Census.

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

The typical household in South Padre Island, Texas earns about $30,256 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 $118,100, and the typical rent is about $493 a month.

How educated are people in South Padre Island, Texas?

About 31.9% 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 9.8% of people in South Padre Island, Texas live below the federal poverty line.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →