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COUNTY

Refugio County

Texas · 6,657 residents (2025 est.) · 770.484 sq mi
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The short version

Refugio County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $60,181. Population has declined 14% since 2000. 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $99,000.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 42.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
14% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 36%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
6,707
−14%since 2000
from 7,828 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
9 / sq mi
−9%since 2009
from 10 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
42.4
+10%since 2000
from 38.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:6,657 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
7K7K7K8K8K1990201020202024Refugio County
20247K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.7%(317)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.6%(445)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.6%(440)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.3%(353)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.6%(307)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3416.7%(1,120)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 448%(535)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.4%(764)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.6%(915)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7413%(869)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 847.2%(484)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.4%(158)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$60,181
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,986 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$28,082
+81%since 2000
from $15,481 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
42.3%
+22.3 ptssince 2009
from 20.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
14.6%
−3.2 ptssince 2000
from 17.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.427
+1%since 2010
from 0.421 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing14.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Manufacturing11.5%
US avg: 0.4%
Wholesale trade11.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Information10.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade8.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance6.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Construction2.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing1.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.3%
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$99,000
+36%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $39,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$795
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $366 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
77.0%
+2.1 ptssince 2000
from 74.9% in 2000
23.0% rent
Vacancy rate
25.7%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 25.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.7%
+3.7 ptssince 2009
from 15.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
53.7%
+24.2 ptssince 2009
from 29.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.6
Unchangedsince 2009
from 1.6 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
17
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Refugio County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic47.3%(3,703)
Black6.7%(521)
Hispanic / Latino44.6%(3,490)
Asian0.3%(20)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic40.6%(2,724)
Black6.2%(415)
Hispanic / Latino50.4%(3,382)
Asian0%(0)
Other2.8%(186)
Diversity Score
72
+1%since 2009
from 72 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
21
−12%since 2020
from 23 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican47.8%(3,203)
Costa Rican0.3%(23)
Panamanian0.2%(16)
Spaniard0.2%(12)
Ancestry
German12.1%(814)
Irish6.5%(437)
English5.9%(393)
American1.5%(100)
French1.2%(78)
Scotch-Irish0.8%(54)
Czech0.7%(45)
Swedish0.6%(42)
Italian0.5%(36)
Scottish0.4%(25)
Welsh0.4%(24)
+ 8 more ancestry groups with data
Dutch0.3%(18)
Polish0.1%(9)
Swiss0.1%(8)
Norwegian0.1%(7)
Russian0.1%(4)
British0%(2)
RANKED:Largest Mexican population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest American population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
14.0%
+2.4 ptssince 2000
from 11.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
83.8%
+15.7 ptssince 2000
from 68.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
2.9%
−1.1 ptssince 2000
from 4.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.4 min
+39%since 2000
from 17.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
88.0%
+6.1 ptssince 2009
from 81.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
5.4%
−6.7 ptssince 2009
from 12.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
2.4%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.7%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
10.4%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 10.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.5%
−4.0 ptssince 2011
from 8.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
52.6%
Unchangedsince 2011
from 52.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
19.3%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 19.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
27.7%
−33.2 ptssince 2009
from 60.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.1%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.4% in 2009
Female
50.9%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.6% in 2009
Foreign born
3.0%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.6%
−41.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
20.5%
−1.9 ptssince 2012
from 22.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
16.1%
−63.4 ptssince 2013
from 79.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.9%
+20.1 ptssince 2017
from 64.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
75.1%
+3.0 ptssince 2016
from 72.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
24.5%
−2.8 ptssince 2016
from 27.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married37.9%(1,041)
Married43.7%(1,199)
Widowed5.2%(143)
Divorced13.2%(361)
Women 15+
Never married25.1%(692)
Married46.3%(1,277)
Widowed13%(358)
Divorced15.7%(434)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Pop 5,898
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Pop 5,777
Henderson County
Pop 5,984
Decatur County
Pop 7,655
Places similar to Refugio County
Head to head

Compare Refugio County to nearby counties

REFUGIO COUNTY VS
Aransas County
Income$69,466+15%
Home value$265,400+168%
Population26,146+293%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
REFUGIO COUNTY VS
Goliad County
Income$59,359−1%
Home value$192,500+94%
Population7,208+8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
REFUGIO COUNTY VS
San Patricio County
Income$69,704+16%
Home value$192,400+94%
Population72,053+982%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
REFUGIO COUNTY VS
Victoria County
Income$70,896+18%
Home value$209,900+112%
Population92,656+1292%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Refugio County, Texas?

Refugio County, Texas has about 6,707 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Refugio County, Texas?

The typical household in Refugio County, Texas earns about $60,181 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Refugio County, Texas expensive?

In Refugio County, Texas, the median home is worth about $99,000, and the typical rent is about $795 a month.

How educated are people in Refugio County, Texas?

About 14.0% of adults age 25 and over in Refugio County, Texas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Refugio County, Texas?

About 14.6% of people in Refugio County, Texas live below the federal poverty line.

Has Refugio County, Texas grown since 1990?

Yes, Refugio County, Texas has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,269 residents, a change of about -16 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

2 census tracts
Census Tract 9502Census Tract 9504
4 ZIP codes
ZIP 78377ZIP 78393ZIP 77990ZIP 78340
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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