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COUNTY

Zapata County

Texas · 13,753 residents (2025 est.) · 998.412 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#76Most foreign-born residentsof 3,14423.4%#108Youngest by median ageof 3,14432.3
The short version

Zapata County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $39,239. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 15% 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 $97,100. At a median age of 32.3, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 50% less than the Texas median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 32.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
15% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 44%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
13,841
+14%since 2000
from 12,182 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
14 / sq mi
+2%since 2009
from 14 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
32.3
+5%since 2000
from 30.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:13,753 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
9K10K12K13K15K1990201020202024Zapata County
202414K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 57.4%(1,024)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 98.4%(1,157)
US avg: 6%
10 to 1410.2%(1,417)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 198.5%(1,173)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 247.1%(980)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3412.9%(1,782)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.2%(1,690)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5410.7%(1,476)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 648.6%(1,192)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 747.7%(1,062)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844%(553)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.4%(335)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$39,239
−13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $24,635 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$18,613
+78%since 2000
from $10,486 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
28.4%
+16.6 ptssince 2009
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
38.4%
+2.6 ptssince 2000
from 35.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.498
−3%since 2010
from 0.514 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Wholesale trade11.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Information10%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade7.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services6.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing5.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Finance & insurance5.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Manufacturing4.4%
US avg: 0.4%
Public administration4.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical3.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Education & health services2%
US avg: 0.9%
Construction1.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing0.5%
US avg: 2.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$97,100
+44%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$617
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $267 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
72.0%
−10.0 ptssince 2000
from 81.9% in 2000
28.0% rent
Vacancy rate
27.0%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 30.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
19.8%
−5.6 ptssince 2009
from 25.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
27.4%
−28.4 ptssince 2009
from 55.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.5
+28%since 2009
from 1.9 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
68
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Zapata County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic14.5%(1,771)
Black0.2%(22)
Hispanic / Latino84.8%(10,328)
Asian0.1%(17)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic4.8%(662)
Black0.1%(20)
Hispanic / Latino93.9%(12,999)
Asian0.6%(84)
Other0.5%(76)
Diversity Score
14
−45%since 2009
from 26 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
27
+5%since 2020
from 26 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
Mexican86.4%(11,953)
Guatemalan0.6%(80)
Spaniard0.4%(50)
Salvadoran0.1%(8)
Cuban0%(5)
Asian origin
Vietnamese0.6%(84)
Ancestry
American2.4%(335)
German2.2%(300)
English1.1%(155)
Irish0.7%(95)
British0.5%(69)
French0.3%(38)
Scotch-Irish0.2%(34)
Italian0.2%(28)
Austrian0.1%(17)
Czech0.1%(14)
+ 4 more ancestry groups with data
Scottish0.1%(10)
Portuguese0.1%(8)
Norwegian0.1%(7)
Swedish0.1%(7)
RANKED:Largest Mexican population · Largest American population · Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.2%
+6.5 ptssince 2000
from 8.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
65.9%
+12.7 ptssince 2000
from 53.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.1%
+2.1 ptssince 2000
from 3.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.6 min
+37%since 2000
from 17.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
76.0%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 78.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
13.7%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 13.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.8%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 6.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.6%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
8.8%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 7.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.3%
−0.3 ptssince 2011
from 7.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
52.8%
−0.8 ptssince 2011
from 53.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
18.1%
−4.0 ptssince 2009
from 22.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
23.8%
−30.7 ptssince 2009
from 54.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.5%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
Female
50.5%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.9% in 2009
Foreign born
23.4%
−4.1 ptssince 2009
from 27.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
2.8%
−46.6 ptssince 2009
from 49.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.3%
−1.0 ptssince 2012
from 16.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
27.6%
−37.4 ptssince 2013
from 65.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
79.4%
+25.0 ptssince 2017
from 54.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
17.1%
+6.6 ptssince 2016
from 10.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
82.4%
−7.0 ptssince 2016
from 89.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married45.3%(2,260)
Married41.8%(2,084)
Widowed3.4%(171)
Divorced9.4%(469)
Women 15+
Never married30.6%(1,610)
Married46.8%(2,459)
Widowed11.7%(616)
Divorced10.9%(574)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Pop 14,255
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Pop 15,194
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Pop 15,219
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Pop 12,703
Places similar to Zapata County
Head to head

Compare Zapata County to nearby counties

ZAPATA COUNTY VS
Jim Hogg County
Income$42,211+8%
Home value$129,400+33%
Population4,555−67%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ZAPATA COUNTY VS
Starr County
Income$37,639−4%
Home value$95,100−2%
Population66,319+382%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ZAPATA COUNTY VS
Webb County
Income$63,058+61%
Home value$189,900+96%
Population281,224+1945%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ZAPATA COUNTY VS
Brooks County
Income$47,764+22%
Home value$81,000−17%
Population6,579−52%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Zapata County, Texas?

Zapata County, Texas has about 13,841 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Zapata County, Texas earns about $39,239 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Zapata County, Texas expensive?

In Zapata County, Texas, the median home is worth about $97,100, and the typical rent is about $617 a month.

How educated are people in Zapata County, Texas?

About 15.2% of adults age 25 and over in Zapata County, Texas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Zapata County, Texas?

About 38.4% of people in Zapata County, Texas live below the federal poverty line.

Has Zapata County, Texas grown since 1990?

Yes, Zapata County, Texas has grown since 1990. The population has added about 4,562 residents, a change of about 49 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

6 census tracts
Census Tract 9503.04Census Tract 9504.01Census Tract 9504.02Census Tract 9503.06Census Tract 9503.05Census Tract 9503.03
3 ZIP codes
ZIP 78076ZIP 78067ZIP 78564
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →