Matagorda County, Texas Demographics 2026
Matagorda County, Texas has a population of 36,274, the 86th most populous county in Texas. The median household income is $55,174 and the median home value is $162,200. The poverty rate is 21.8%.
Matagorda County Quick Facts
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.
State average: 67 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Matagorda County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bay City | 17,816 | $51,898 | 26.7% | $149,800 |
| Palacios | 4,394 | $60,613 | 16.0% | $153,000 |
| Van Vleck | 1,812 | $63,682 | 6.5% | $146,300 |
| Sargent | 1,332 | $53,143 | 19.4% | $169,200 |
| Markham | 1,042 | $60,272 | 7.3% | $144,400 |
| Blessing | 426 | N/A | 43.0% | $144,100 |
| Wadsworth | 343 | N/A | 0.0% | $206,000 |
| Matagorda | 298 | $13,565 | 57.4% | N/A |
| Midfield | 13 | N/A | 0.0% | N/A |
Explore Texas Rankings
Population Overview
Matagorda County is located in Texas with a total population of 36,274. It is the 86th most populous county out of 254 in Texas. The county encompasses 9 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Matagorda County is 37.5 years. This is 6% higher than the state median of 35.5 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Matagorda County is $55,174. This is 28% lower than the state median of $76,292. It is also 30% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 21.8%. This is 58% 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 unemployment rate is 6.9%. This is 35% higher than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $162,200. Housing costs are 38% lower than the state median of $260,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.9x, Matagorda County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 68.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% higher than the state average of 62.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
Matagorda County is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 42.1%. The Asian population (1.7%) is well below the state average of 5.3%.
Education
22.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 31% lower than the state rate of 33.1%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 82.8%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Matagorda County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023), with comparisons drawn against Texas and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Matagorda County, Texas?
Matagorda County has a population of 36,274, making it the 86th most populous county in Texas.
What is the median income in Matagorda County?
The median household income in Matagorda County is $55,174 with a poverty rate of 21.8%.
How many cities are in Matagorda County, Texas?
Matagorda County contains 9 Census-designated places.