South Padre Island, Texas Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

South Padre Island is a small community located in Texas, within Cameron County. The total population is 2,891. It ranks as the 597th most populous out of 1,795 Census-designated places in Texas.

Age Demographics

The median age in South Padre Island is 60.8 years. This is 71% higher than the state median of 35.6 years. Only 9.6% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 10.3% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in South Padre Island is $70,472. This is 10% lower than the state median of $78,476. It is also 13% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 16.0%. This is 16% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. The unemployment rate is 5.6%. This is 6% higher than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $516,900. Housing costs are 82% higher than the state median of $283,800. The home-value-to-income ratio of 7.3x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 69.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% higher than the state average of 62.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in South Padre Island is White (non-Hispanic), making up 73.6% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 13.6%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (73.6% vs 39.1%). The Hispanic or Latino population (13.6%) is well below the state average of 39.7%.

Education

52.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places South Padre Island in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 56% higher 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 93.7%. Notably, 23.0% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for South Padre Island, 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.