Rio Grande City, Texas Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Rio Grande City is a small city located in Texas, within Starr County. The total population is 15,396. It ranks as the 205th most populous out of 1,795 Census-designated places in Texas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Rio Grande City is 29.9 years. This is 16% lower than the state median of 35.6 years. With 31.6% of the population under 18, Rio Grande City has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Rio Grande City is $44,577. This is 43% lower than the state median of $78,476. It is also 45% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 30.8%. This is 123% 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 6.8%. This is 30% higher than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $113,200. Housing costs are 60% lower than the state median of $283,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.5x, Rio Grande City is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 69.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% higher than the state average of 62.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Rio Grande City has a predominantly Hispanic or Latino population, comprising 96.0% of all residents. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 3.0%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (3.0%) is well below the state average of 39.1%. The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 11.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (96.0% vs 39.7%). The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 5.5%.

Education

18.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 45% lower than the state rate of 33.8%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 69.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Rio Grande City, 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.