Santa Maria, Texas Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 669, Santa Maria'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 Maria is a small community located in Texas, within Cameron County. The total population is 669. It ranks as the 1162nd most populous out of 1,795 Census-designated places in Texas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Santa Maria is 50.6 years. This is 42% higher than the state median of 35.6 years. Only 8.5% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 22.3% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The poverty rate stands at 37.2%. This is 170% 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 Santa Maria, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $76,800. Housing costs are 73% lower than the state median of $283,800. 100.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 60% higher than the state average of 62.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Every resident counted in Santa Maria 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

2.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 92% 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 36.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Santa Maria, 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.