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COUNTY

Zavala County

Texas · 9,037 residents (2025 est.) · 1,297.407 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#60Youngest by median ageof 3,14430.8#115Fastest shrinkingof 3,135-6.5%
The short version

Zavala County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $36,749. Population has fallen 19% since 2000, a loss of 2,188 residents. 11% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $98,800. At a median age of 30.8, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 53% less than the Texas median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 30.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
11% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 125%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
9,412
−19%since 2000
from 11,600 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
7 / sq mi
−19%since 2009
from 9 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
30.8
+6%since 2000
from 29.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:9,037 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
9K10K11K12K12K1990201020202024Zavala County
20249K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 57.1%(671)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.4%(605)
US avg: 6%
10 to 149.9%(931)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 1910%(937)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.1%(478)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3419.4%(1,828)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 447%(658)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5410.3%(973)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 649.1%(854)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7410%(938)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 843.1%(291)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.6%(248)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$36,749
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $16,844 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$20,265
+102%since 2000
from $10,034 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
26.5%
+16.0 ptssince 2009
from 10.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
33.9%
−7.8 ptssince 2000
from 41.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.439
−9%since 2010
from 0.482 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information12.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade12.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing8.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Other services6.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration6.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance5.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Construction5.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Professional, scientific, technical4.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Manufacturing3.7%
US avg: 0.4%
Transportation & warehousing2.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Retail trade2.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$98,800
+125%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $24,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$548
+39%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $217 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
69.0%
−4.1 ptssince 2000
from 73.1% in 2000
31.0% rent
Vacancy rate
17.1%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 17.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
29.7%
+2.9 ptssince 2009
from 26.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
33.0%
−15.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.7
+80%since 2009
from 1.5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
69
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Zavala County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic8%(924)
Black0.4%(43)
Hispanic / Latino91.2%(10,582)
Asian0.1%(8)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic6%(569)
Black0.8%(79)
Hispanic / Latino92.6%(8,717)
Asian0.5%(47)
Other0%(0)
Diversity Score
17
−24%since 2009
from 23 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
15
−77%since 2020
from 64 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
Mexican88.6%(8,335)
Chilean0.8%(73)
Colombian0.1%(8)
Cuban0%(1)
Asian origin
Asian Indian0.4%(35)
Pakistani0.1%(12)
Ancestry
American1.4%(133)
Irish1%(90)
German0.4%(41)
English0.2%(21)
British0.2%(16)
Scottish0.2%(16)
Swiss0.1%(8)
Swedish0.1%(7)
Dutch0%(4)
French0%(4)
RANKED:Largest Mexican population · Largest American population · Largest Irish population · Largest South American population · Largest Chilean population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
11.1%
+3.5 ptssince 2000
from 7.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
70.3%
+26.9 ptssince 2000
from 43.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
0.9%
−2.7 ptssince 2000
from 3.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.4 min
+49%since 2000
from 13.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
80.5%
+4.8 ptssince 2009
from 75.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
5.5%
−9.1 ptssince 2009
from 14.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.4%
+5.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% 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
8.0%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 12.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.0%
−5.9 ptssince 2011
from 9.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
55.3%
+3.7 ptssince 2011
from 51.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
16.8%
−3.8 ptssince 2009
from 20.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
24.7%
−30.2 ptssince 2009
from 54.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
52.6%
+4.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
Female
47.4%
−4.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.6% in 2009
Foreign born
7.7%
−7.0 ptssince 2009
from 14.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
2.0%
−46.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
19.0%
−1.0 ptssince 2012
from 20.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
14.9%
−58.6 ptssince 2013
from 73.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
83.3%
+39.6 ptssince 2017
from 43.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
32.3%
+9.8 ptssince 2016
from 22.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
67.5%
−9.8 ptssince 2016
from 77.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married49.5%(1,864)
Married44.3%(1,669)
Widowed1.9%(72)
Divorced4.2%(159)
Women 15+
Never married37.9%(1,303)
Married42.1%(1,449)
Widowed6.1%(211)
Divorced13.9%(478)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Zavala County to nearby counties

ZAVALA COUNTY VS
Dimmit County
Income$38,808+6%
Home value$85,500−13%
Population8,024−11%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ZAVALA COUNTY VS
Uvalde County
Income$53,801+46%
Home value$150,800+53%
Population24,963+176%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ZAVALA COUNTY VS
Maverick County
Income$49,568+35%
Home value$158,700+61%
Population58,823+551%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ZAVALA COUNTY VS
Frio County
Income$66,010+80%
Home value$107,700+9%
Population18,823+108%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Zavala County, Texas?

Zavala County, Texas has about 9,412 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Zavala County, Texas earns about $36,749 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Zavala County, Texas expensive?

In Zavala County, Texas, the median home is worth about $98,800, and the typical rent is about $548 a month.

How educated are people in Zavala County, Texas?

About 11.1% of adults age 25 and over in Zavala County, Texas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Zavala County, Texas?

About 33.9% of people in Zavala County, Texas live below the federal poverty line.

Has Zavala County, Texas grown since 1990?

Yes, Zavala County, Texas has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 2,750 residents, a change of about -23 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

4 census tracts
Census Tract 9503.02Census Tract 9503.01Census Tract 9502Census Tract 9501
3 ZIP codes
ZIP 78839ZIP 78872ZIP 78829
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Zavala County, Texas: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy