Santa Cruz, Texas Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 285, Santa Cruz'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

Santa Cruz is a small community located in Texas, within Starr County. The total population is 285. It ranks as the 1460th most populous out of 1,795 Census-designated places in Texas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Santa Cruz is 67.5 years. This is 90% higher than the state median of 35.6 years. Only 13.3% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 30.9% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Santa Cruz is $73,269. This is 7% lower than the state median of $78,476. It is also 9% lower than the national median of $80,734. The ACS records no residents below the poverty line in Santa Cruz. In a community this small the estimate rests on very few survey responses, so it should be read as an absence of measurement rather than a measured absence of poverty. The survey records no unemployed residents in Santa Cruz, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. 100.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 60% higher than the state average of 62.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Santa Cruz is White (non-Hispanic), making up 69.8% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 30.2%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (69.8% vs 39.1%).

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 51.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Santa Cruz, 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.