Santa Rosa (Cameron County), Texas Demographics & Population 2026
Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Santa Rosa (Cameron County), Texas had a total population of 3,215, the 551st largest town in Texas, with a median household income of $36,780, which is 53% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 39.4%.
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 53% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (39.4%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.8x.
- Unemployment rate of 15.0% is notably above the national average.
Santa Rosa (Cameron County) Quick Facts
How Santa Rosa (Cameron County) 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 | 2,784 | 3,215 | No clear change (+15.5%) |
| Median household income | $33,164 | $36,780 | No clear change (+10.9%) |
| Median home value¹ | $48,859 | $67,400 | No clear change (+37.9%) |
| Median gross rent | $781 | $919 | No clear change (+17.6%) |
How Santa Rosa (Cameron County) 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: 2.2%
- Black: 0.0%
- Hispanic: 97.8%
- 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: 31.1%
- HS Diploma: 36.5%
- Some College: 17.0%
- Associate's: 3.4%
- Bachelor's: 7.4%
- Graduate+: 4.7%
Santa Rosa (Cameron County) Rankings in Texas
Explore Texas Rankings
Other Cities in Cameron County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brownsville | 189,177 | $52,130 | 23.7% | $139,900 |
| Harlingen | 72,087 | $53,645 | 25.1% | $140,600 |
| San Benito | 24,709 | $43,639 | 29.7% | $85,300 |
| Los Fresnos (Cameron County) | 8,291 | $61,938 | 34.7% | $152,200 |
| La Feria | 6,891 | $45,081 | 25.0% | $106,900 |
| Cameron Park | 5,955 | $36,089 | 44.6% | $74,800 |
| Primera | 5,344 | $80,116 | 13.1% | $160,900 |
| Port Isabel | 5,111 | $32,222 | 34.2% | $182,600 |
| Laureles | 4,224 | $34,771 | 35.4% | $152,400 |
| Laguna Vista | 3,673 | $63,632 | 21.8% | $255,900 |
Cities Similar to Santa Rosa (Cameron County)
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Presidio | 3,163 | $40,800 | $78,800 | 19.9% | 38.9% |
| South Alamo | 3,309 | $33,875 | $69,600 | 1.1% | 33.3% |
| Olney | 3,015 | $36,250 | $95,100 | 13.8% | 26.4% |
| Waller | 3,108 | $39,969 | $156,900 | 14.6% | 25.5% |
| Oak Trail Shores | 3,040 | $34,344 | $121,400 | 13.3% | 16.8% |
Population Overview
Santa Rosa (Cameron County) is a small community located in Texas, within Cameron County. The total population is 3,215. It ranks as the 551st most populous out of 1,795 Census-designated places in Texas.
Age Demographics
The median age in Santa Rosa (Cameron County) is 24.6 years. This is 31% lower than the state median of 35.6 years. With 32.9% of the population under 18, Santa Rosa (Cameron County) has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Santa Rosa (Cameron County) is $36,780. This is 53% lower than the state median of $78,476. It is also 54% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 39.4%. This is 186% 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 15.0%. This is 186% higher than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $67,400. Housing costs are 76% lower than the state median of $283,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.8x, Santa Rosa (Cameron County) is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 50.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 19% lower than the state average of 62.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
Santa Rosa (Cameron County) has a predominantly Hispanic or Latino population, comprising 97.8% of all residents. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 2.2%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (2.2%) is well below the state average of 39.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (97.8% vs 39.7%).
Education
12.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 64% 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 68.9%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Santa Rosa (Cameron County), 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 Santa Rosa (Cameron County), Texas?
Santa Rosa (Cameron County), Texas has a population of 3,215 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Santa Rosa (Cameron County), TX?
The median household income in Santa Rosa (Cameron County) is $36,780, which is 54% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Santa Rosa (Cameron County), TX?
The poverty rate in Santa Rosa (Cameron County) is 39.4%. This means approximately 1,268 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Santa Rosa (Cameron County), Texas?
Santa Rosa (Cameron County)'s population is 2.2% White, 0.0% Black, 97.8% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Santa Rosa (Cameron County), TX?
The median home value in Santa Rosa (Cameron County) is $67,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.8x.
How educated is Santa Rosa (Cameron County), Texas?
12.1% of adults (25+) in Santa Rosa (Cameron County) hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 4.7% hold a graduate or professional degree.