Zavala County, Texas Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Zavala County is located in Texas with a total population of 9,532. It is the 168th most populous county out of 254 in Texas. The county encompasses 5 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Zavala County is 32.5 years. This is 8% lower than the state median of 35.5 years. With 29.5% of the population under 18, Zavala County has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Zavala County is $41,887. This is 45% lower than the state median of $76,292. It is also 47% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 36.3%. This is 163% 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 7.4%. This is 44% higher than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $88,100. Housing costs are 66% lower than the state median of $260,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Zavala County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 71.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% higher than the state average of 62.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Zavala County has a predominantly Hispanic or Latino population, comprising 92.7% of all residents. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 6.1%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (6.1%) is well below the state average of 39.9%. The Black or African American population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 11.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (92.7% vs 39.5%). The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 5.3%.

Education

9.6% 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 71% 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 73.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Zavala 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.