El Chaparral, Texas Demographics & Population 2026
Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, El Chaparral, Texas had a total population of 282, the 1466th largest community in Texas, with a median household income of $35,078, which is 55% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 53.5%.
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 55% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (53.5%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
- Only 0.0% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
El Chaparral Quick Facts
How El Chaparral Changed
Change from the non-overlapping 2015–2019 ACS period to 2020–2024. Earlier dollar figures are adjusted to 2024 dollars; changes marked “no clear change” are within the combined 90% margins of error.
| Metric | 2015–2019 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 416 | 282 | No clear change (-32.2%) |
| Median home value¹ | $102,887 | $212,500 | No clear change (+106.5%) |
How El Chaparral Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
- White: 0.0%
- Black: 0.0%
- Hispanic: 100.0%
- Asian: 0.0%
- Other: 0.0%
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 67 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
- < High School: 56.4%
- HS Diploma: 19.8%
- Some College: 14.5%
- Associate's: 9.3%
- Bachelor's: 0.0%
- Graduate+: 0.0%
El Chaparral Rankings in Texas
Explore Texas Rankings
Other Cities in Starr County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rio Grande City | 15,396 | $44,577 | 30.8% | $113,200 |
| Roma | 11,545 | $24,579 | 37.1% | $94,400 |
| Escobares | 2,573 | $29,844 | 44.3% | $72,800 |
| Las Lomas | 2,154 | $24,583 | 37.0% | $87,200 |
| Mikes | 1,688 | $49,375 | 19.9% | $95,000 |
| La Grulla | 1,341 | $37,308 | 19.2% | $54,400 |
| Alto Bonito Heights | 1,121 | $35,625 | 81.0% | N/A |
| Mi Ranchito Estate | 1,091 | N/A | 9.2% | $217,200 |
| Nina | 965 | $43,553 | 12.4% | N/A |
| West Alto Bonito | 822 | $40,896 | 44.9% | $82,300 |
Cities Similar to El Chaparral
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranchitos East | 282 | N/A | N/A | 0.0% | 8.2% |
| Los Ebanos (Starr County) | 281 | N/A | N/A | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Bruni | 278 | N/A | $137,500 | 21.8% | 11.2% |
| Washburn | 278 | N/A | $139,300 | 20.0% | 10.4% |
| Marietta | 277 | N/A | $155,400 | 7.3% | 71.1% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 282, El Chaparral's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
El Chaparral is a small community located in Texas, within Starr County. The total population is 282. It ranks as the 1466th most populous out of 1,795 Census-designated places in Texas.
Age Demographics
The median age in El Chaparral is 29.9 years. This is 16% lower than the state median of 35.6 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in El Chaparral is $35,078. This is 55% lower than the state median of $78,476. It is also 57% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 53.5%. This is 288% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The survey records no unemployed residents in El Chaparral, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $212,500. Housing costs are 25% lower than the state median of $283,800. The home-value-to-income ratio of 6.1x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 33.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 47% lower than the state average of 62.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
Every resident counted in El Chaparral was recorded as Hispanic or Latino. A figure of exactly 100.0% reflects a survey sample too small to capture the community's full composition rather than a precise measurement.
Education
0.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 43.6%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for El Chaparral, Texas is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Texas state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,795 Census-designated places in Texas. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of El Chaparral, Texas?
El Chaparral, Texas has a population of 282 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in El Chaparral, TX?
The median household income in El Chaparral is $35,078, which is 57% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in El Chaparral, TX?
The poverty rate in El Chaparral is 53.5%. This means approximately 151 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of El Chaparral, Texas?
El Chaparral's population is 0.0% White, 0.0% Black, 100.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in El Chaparral, TX?
The median home value in El Chaparral is $212,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 6.1x.
How educated is El Chaparral, Texas?
0.0% of adults (25+) in El Chaparral hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 0.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.