Zapata County, Texas Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Zapata County is located in Texas with a total population of 13,855. It is the 143rd most populous county out of 254 in Texas. The county encompasses 8 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Zapata County is 31.5 years. This is 11% lower than the state median of 35.5 years. With 32.2% 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 $36,527. This is 52% lower than the state median of $76,292. It is also 53% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 37.4%. This is 171% 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 8.0%. This is 56% higher than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $88,800. Housing costs are 66% lower than the state median of $260,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Zapata County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 74.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 19% 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 4.6%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (4.6%) is well below the state average of 39.9%. The Black or African American population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 11.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (93.9% vs 39.5%). The Asian population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 5.3%.

Education

13.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 60% lower than the state rate of 33.1%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 64.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Zapata County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023), 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.