Taft Southwest, Texas Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Taft Southwest is a small community located in Texas, within San Patricio County. The total population is 1,635. It ranks as the 822nd most populous out of 1,795 Census-designated places in Texas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Taft Southwest is 39.2 years. This is 10% higher than the state median of 35.6 years. With 33.9% of the population under 18, Taft Southwest has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community. 14.4% 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 Taft Southwest is $55,938. This is 29% lower than the state median of $78,476. It is also 31% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 10.6%. This is 23% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. The unemployment rate is 11.4%. This is 117% higher than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $94,100. Housing costs are 67% lower than the state median of $283,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.7x, Taft Southwest is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 67.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% higher than the state average of 62.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Taft Southwest has a predominantly Hispanic or Latino population, comprising 99.3% of all residents. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 0.7%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 39.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (99.3% vs 39.7%).

Education

1.0% 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. This is 97% 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 55.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Taft Southwest, 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.