South La Paloma, Texas Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 386, South La Paloma'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

South La Paloma is a small community located in Texas, within Jim Wells County. The total population is 386. It ranks as the 1355th most populous out of 1,795 Census-designated places in Texas.

Age Demographics

The median age in South La Paloma is 32.5 years. This is 9% lower than the state median of 35.6 years. With 35.8% of the population under 18, South La Paloma has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community. 14.5% 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 South La Paloma is $42,361. This is 46% lower than the state median of $78,476. It is also 48% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 26.9%. This is 95% 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 South La Paloma, 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

South La Paloma has a predominantly Hispanic or Latino population, comprising 91.5% of all residents. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 6.0%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (6.0%) is well below the state average of 39.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (91.5% vs 39.7%).

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 78.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for South La Paloma, 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.