Zapata County, Texas Demographics 2026

Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology

Zapata County, Texas has a population of 13,841, the 145th most populous county in Texas. The median household income is $39,239 and the median home value is $97,100. The poverty rate is 38.4%.

Zapata County Quick Facts

Population 13,841

Median Household Income $39,23990% MOE ±$4,265

Median Home Value $97,10090% MOE ±$13,417

Poverty Rate 38.4%90% MOE ±6.0 pts

Unemployment Rate 7.3%90% MOE ±3.9 pts

Median Age 32.3 years90% MOE ±0.6 years

Homeownership Rate 72.0%90% MOE ±4.6 pts

Affordability Ratio 2.5x

Bachelor's Degree+ 15.2%90% MOE ±3.3 pts

Adults 25+ with high school education or higher 65.9%

Cities/Places 8

Population 13,841 145th of 254

Median Income $39,239 50% lower than state

Poverty Rate 38.4%

Unemployment 7.3%

How Zapata 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	14,304	13,841	-3.2%
Median household income	$41,785	$39,239	No clear change (-6.1%)
Median home value¹	$95,749	$97,100	No clear change (+1.4%)
Median gross rent	$640	$617	No clear change (-3.6%)

¹ The Census Bureau changed its home-value inflation adjustment beginning with the 2022 ACS; interpret that comparison with additional caution.

Median Household Income

Zapata

$39,239

$78,476

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Zapata

$97,100

$283,800

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 37.4%

$25K-$50K 23.9%

$50K-$100K 20.3%

$100K+ 18.4%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

14.2%

$10K-$15K

10.6%

$15K-$20K

8.2%

$20K-$25K

4.4%

$25K-$30K

3.7%

$30K-$35K

3.3%

$35K-$40K

6.3%

$40K-$45K

8.2%

$45K-$50K

2.5%

$50K-$60K

5.1%

$60K-$75K

5.2%

$75K-$100K

10.0%

$100K-$125K

4.6%

$125K-$150K

4.6%

$150K-$200K

8.5%

$200K+

0.7%

Employment

7.3% Unemployment Rate State: 5.3%|National: 5.2%

52.8% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 72.0%

Renter 28.0%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.5x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $617/mo 18.9% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

31.6%

18-34

22.8%

35-54

22.9%

55-74

16.3%

75+

6.4%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

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+)

Cities & Places in Zapata County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Zapata	4,897	$45,488	32.5%	$124,900
Medina	4,226	$21,506	53.8%	$65,000
Siesta Shores	1,640	$35,352	48.8%	$66,400
Falcon Lake Estates	1,075	$65,909	33.0%	$142,300
Falcon Mesa	426	$62,589	9.9%	$154,200
San Ygnacio	416	N/A	20.0%	$80,500
Lopeño	89	N/A	16.9%	N/A
Las Palmas	47	N/A	21.3%	N/A

Explore Texas Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Zapata County is located in Texas with a total population of 13,841. It is the 145th most populous county out of 254 in Texas. The county encompasses 8 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Zapata County is 32.3 years. This is 9% lower than the state median of 35.6 years. With 31.6% of the population under 18, Zapata County has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Zapata County is $39,239. This is 50% lower than the state median of $78,476. It is also 51% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 38.4%. This is 178% 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 7.3%. This is 39% higher than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $97,100. Housing costs are 66% lower than the state median of $283,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.5x, Zapata County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 72.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 15% higher than the state average of 62.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Zapata County has a predominantly Hispanic or Latino population, comprising 93.9% of all residents. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 4.8%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (4.8%) is well below the state average of 39.1%. The Black or African American population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 11.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (93.9% vs 39.7%). The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 5.5%.

Education

15.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 55% 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 65.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Zapata County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Texas and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Zapata County, Texas?

Zapata County has a population of 13,841, making it the 145th most populous county in Texas.

What is the median income in Zapata County?

The median household income in Zapata County is $39,239 with a poverty rate of 38.4%.

How many cities are in Zapata County, Texas?

Zapata County contains 8 Census-designated places.