United States › Texas › Zapata County COUNTY · 2020 ACS
Zapata County Texas · 13,889 residents · 998 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
Zapata County is a county of 13,889 people in Texas. 12% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. 32.2% of people here live below the federal poverty line. That trails the Texas median by roughly 48%. The median age is 32.8, younger than the US median of 38.8. 79% of homes are owner-occupied.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 32.8
US median: 38.8
Less educated
12% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 59%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 30.7 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
9K 10K 12K 13K 15K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Zapata County Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $32,945
−11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $24,635 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $10,486 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 35.8% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 15.7%
Professional, scientific, technical 3.1%
Education & health services 2.5%
Public administration 2.4%
Transportation & warehousing 0%
Arts, entertainment, food 0%
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$88,700
+59%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,100 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$513
+28%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $267 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 81.9% in 2000
21.2% rent
from 2.96 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 1.9 in 2009
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-Hispanic 14.5%(1,771)
Hispanic / Latino 84.8%(10,328)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 5.7%(796)
Hispanic / Latino 93.6%(12,999)
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry from 8.7% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 53.1% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 3.0% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 17.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 78.4% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 7.4% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 7.7% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 53.6% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 27.9% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 27.6% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 35.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 45.3%(2,260)
Women 15+
Never married 30.6%(1,610)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 35.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
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) 0%(0)
Gulf War (1990s) 33.3%(145)
Share of the 436 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.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Zapata County Head to head
Compare Zapata County to nearby counties ZAPATA COUNTY VS
Jim Hogg County
Income $42,211 +28%
Home value $129,400 +46%
Population 4,555 −67%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ZAPATA COUNTY VS
Starr County
Income $37,639 +14%
Home value $95,100 +7%
Population 66,319 +382%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ZAPATA COUNTY VS
Webb County
Income $63,058 +91%
Home value $189,900 +114%
Population 281,224 +1945%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ZAPATA COUNTY VS
Brooks County
Income $47,764 +45%
Home value $81,000 −9%
Population 6,579 −52%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Zapata County, Texas? Zapata County, Texas has about 13,889 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Zapata County, Texas? The typical household in Zapata County, Texas earns about $32,945 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 $88,700, and the typical rent is about $513 a month.
How educated are people in Zapata County, Texas? About 12.2% 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 32.2% 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 4,610 residents, a change of about 50 percent over that period.
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