City · Texas

La Joya, Texas

La Joya, city, in Hidalgo County, Texas. La Joya had 5,257 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 18.2% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 4,457 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 4,763 (±28). GEOID 4840384.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

5,257

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 4,457 · ACS 2020-2024: 4,763 ±28

Median household income

$53,526

±$30,180 (90% margin)
Texas: $78,476

Median home value

$108,000

±$24,478 (90% margin)
Texas: $283,800

Median gross rent

$884

±$178 (90% margin)
Texas: $1,403

Where is La Joya and what county is it in?

La Joya is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas. It covers 4.2 square miles of land, 1,060 residents per square mile in 2020.

La Joya is in the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX metropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).

La Joya (marked with a dot) in Hidalgo County, Texas. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in La Joya, and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 5,257 people lived in La Joya on July 1, 2025, up 18.2% since 2020, faster than Texas (+8.8%). The 2020 Census counted 4,457 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 4,763 (±28).

  • July 2020→2021 +77 (4,574)
  • 2021→2022 +94 (4,668)
  • 2022→2023 +213 (4,881)
  • 2023→2024 +232 (5,113)
  • 2024→2025 +144 (5,257)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
Measure La JoyaHidalgo CountyTexas Change since 2015-2019
Total population 4,763 ±28 891,977 30,188,424 +510
Households 1,458 ±190 270,210 10,992,816 no clear change
Average household size 3.27 ±0.42 3.27 2.69 no clear change
Housing units 1,817 ±226 308,556 12,128,515 +467

La Joya's population since 2000

From 3,303 in 2000 to 5,257 in 2025: up 59.2%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for La Joya as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

  • 2000 Census 3,303
  • 2005 (estimate) 3,703
  • 2010 Census 3,985
  • 2015 (estimate) 4,284
  • 2020 Census 4,457
  • 2025 (estimate) 5,257

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in La Joya?

The median resident of La Joya is 32.2 years old; 26.3% are under 18 and 10.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 95.9%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 4.1%. 25.2% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure La JoyaHidalgo CountyTexas Change since 2015-2019
Median age 32.2 ±3.9 30.5 35.6 no clear change
Under 18 years 26.3% ±6.3 pts 31.0% 25.0% –
65 years and over 10.6% ±5.1 pts 11.7% 13.4% –
Male 43.7% ±3.7 pts 49.4% 49.9% –
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 95.9% ±3.7 pts 91.9% 39.7% no clear change
White alone, not Hispanic 4.1% ±3.7 pts 6.0% 39.1% –
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±1.0 pts 0.6% 11.9% –
Asian alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±1.0 pts 1.0% 5.5% –
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±1.0 pts 0.1% 0.1% –
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±1.0 pts 0.0% 0.1% –
Two or more races, not Hispanic 0.0% ±1.0 pts 0.3% 3.1% –
Some other race alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±1.0 pts 0.1% 0.4% –
Born outside the United States 25.2% ±9.6 pts 26.1% 17.6% no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) 92.4% ±5.3 pts 80.1% 35.1% –
Civilian veterans (age 18+) 1.7% ±1.7 pts 3.2% 6.2% –
With a disability 17.3% ±5.5 pts 13.2% 12.3% –
No health insurance coverage 36.6% ±8.8 pts 28.2% 17.1% no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+) 67.3% ±10.1 pts 70.2% 86.0% –
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) 17.3% ±7.9 pts 20.6% 33.8% no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) 7.4% ±4.4 pts 6.6% 12.3% –
Lived in the same house a year earlier 95.7% ±5.4 pts 90.3% 86.0% –
Moved from another state in the past year 0.0% ±1.1 pts 0.8% 2.0% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in La Joya earn?

Half of La Joya's 1,458 households earn less than $53,526 a year (±$30,180), against $54,338 in Hidalgo County and $78,476 in Texas. 21.7% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS
Measure La JoyaHidalgo CountyTexas Change since 2015-2019
Median household income $53,526 ±$30,180 $54,338 $78,476 –
Mean household income $70,547 ±$11,716 $74,303 $109,933 –
Per capita income $22,244 ±$4,319 $23,117 $40,752 no clear change
People below the poverty line 21.7% ±14.1 pts 26.7% 13.8% no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line 28.2% ±24.6 pts 36.4% 18.7% –
Households receiving SNAP 41.2% ±15.4 pts 27.8% 11.4% –
Households with a computer 96.9% ±3.9 pts 93.7% 96.3% –
Households with a broadband subscription 80.4% ±11.5 pts 88.0% 91.4% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in La Joya?

Owners occupy 53.4% of La Joya's occupied homes and renters 46.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $108,000 by its owner (±$24,478). The median renter pays $884 a month including utilities.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
Measure La JoyaHidalgo CountyTexas Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied) $108,000 ±$24,478 $140,900 $283,800 no clear change
Median gross rent $884 ±$178 $957 $1,403 no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent 19.9% ±15.9 pts 40.7% 42.3% –
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage $1,279 ±$182 $1,486 $2,106 –
Owner-occupied homes 53.4% ±12.3 pts 67.5% 62.6% no clear change
Renter-occupied homes 46.6% ±12.3 pts 32.5% 37.4% –
Housing units 1,817 ±226 308,556 12,128,515 +467
Homeowner vacancy rate 8.2% ±7.2 pts 1.3% 1.1% –
Rental vacancy rate 10.3% ±10.0 pts 6.7% 7.7% –
Single-family detached homes 67.4% ±11.0 pts 64.9% 64.4% –
Mobile homes 8.8% ±7.5 pts 13.9% 6.4% –
Built 2020 or later 2.9% ±3.5 pts 3.0% 4.0% –
Built 2010 to 2019 17.9% ±9.6 pts 19.4% 17.4% –
Built 1939 or earlier 1.8% ±2.9 pts 1.0% 3.1% –
Households with no vehicle 10.1% ±8.4 pts 5.6% 5.4% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is La Joya building?

Builders took permits for 15 new housing units in La Joya in 2025 (15 in single-family houses), 2.9 per 1,000 residents against 6.6 across Texas.

  • 2019 87 units
  • 2020 (10 months) 40 units
  • 2021 50 units
  • 2022 85 units
  • 2023 (7 months) 98 units
  • 2024 (5 months) 79 units
  • 2025 15 units

Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in La Joya work and get to work?

76.2% of La Joya's workers drive alone and 11.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 19.7 minutes.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
Measure La JoyaHidalgo CountyTexas Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+) 55.9% ±6.7 pts 59.1% 65.3% –
Unemployment rate 4.9% ±5.9 pts 7.6% 5.3% –
Drove alone to work 76.2% ±10.7 pts 74.7% 71.4% –
Carpooled 12.7% ±9.7 pts 10.9% 10.0% –
Public transportation 0.0% ±2.7 pts 0.2% 0.9% –
Walked 0.0% ±2.7 pts 1.2% 1.5% –
Worked from home 11.1% ±7.2 pts 9.2% 14.4% –
Mean travel time to work 19.7 min ±3.4 22.5 min 26.7 min no clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What census tracts are in La Joya?

1 census tract lies mostly in La Joya, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks).

Census tracts in La Joya, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in La Joya
Tract 242.10Hidalgo County5,019 $49,593 $116,80074%
Tract 242.08Hidalgo County4,540 $61,974 $189,70026%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in La Joya) · Census block assignment files

How does La Joya compare with other places in Texas?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, La Joya is the 4,754th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 380th-most populous of 1,224 in Texas.

La Joya ranks 697th of 933 places in Texas with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.

La Joya's rank in Texas (1 = highest): by population among the state's incorporated places with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population, July 2025 estimate380th1,224
Growth 2020-2025 (PEP)146th784
Residents per square mile497th979
Median household income697th933
Per capita income839th978
Median home value783rd950
Median gross rent659th852
Poverty rate191st716
Bachelor's degree or higher564th877
Median age793rd973
Owner-occupied share884th973
Work from home303rd557
Travel time to work800th976

La Joya's figures with every place in Texas (CSV)

Every place in Texas, sortable · Compare La Joya with other places

Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How reliable are the figures for La Joya?

21 of the 57 figures for La Joya on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.

The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for La Joya are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in La Joya.