Town · Texas
Refugio, Texas
Refugio, town, in Refugio County, Texas. Refugio had 2,752 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.3% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 2,712 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 2,766 (±21). GEOID 4861436.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
2,752
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 2,712 · ACS 2020-2024: 2,766 ±21
Median household income
$48,750
±$26,566 (90% margin)
Texas: $78,476
Median home value
$94,800
±$7,041 (90% margin)
Texas: $283,800
Median gross rent
$747
±$60 (90% margin)
Texas: $1,403
Where is Refugio and what county is it in?
Refugio is a town in Refugio County, Texas. It covers 1.6 square miles of land, 1,724 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Refugio, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 2,752 people lived in Refugio on July 1, 2025, up 1.3% since 2020, slower than Texas (+8.8%). The 2020 Census counted 2,712 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 2,766 (±21).
| Measure | Refugio | Refugio County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 2,766 ±21 | 6,707 | −40 |
| Households | 957 ±126 | 2,495 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.79 ±0.36 | 2.63 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 1,176 ±129 | 3,359 | no clear change |
Refugio's population since 2000
From 2,941 in 2000 to 2,752 in 2025: down 6.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Refugio 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.
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 Refugio?
The median resident of Refugio is 39.6 years old; 25.6% are under 18 and 20.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 61.3%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 23.0%. 4.2% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Refugio | Refugio County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.6 ±4.6 | 42.4 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 25.6% ±4.5 pts | 21.7% | – |
| 65 years and over | 20.2% ±3.4 pts | 22.5% | – |
| Male | 46.6% ±5.1 pts | 49.1% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 61.3% ±6.1 pts | 50.4% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 23.0% ±6.1 pts | 40.6% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 12.1% ±3.9 pts | 6.2% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.8 pts | 0.0% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.8 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.4% ±3.5 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.8 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 4.2% ±2.7 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 28.9% ±6.9 pts | 24.9% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.4% ±2.9 pts | 7.6% | – |
| With a disability | 20.7% ±4.9 pts | 20.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 16.7% ±6.1 pts | 16.1% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 81.3% ±5.3 pts | 83.8% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 13.2% ±5.2 pts | 14.0% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 3.5% ±2.0 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 84.9% ±7.7 pts | 84.0% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
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 Refugio earn?
Half of Refugio's 957 households earn less than $48,750 a year (±$26,566), against $60,181 in Refugio County and $78,476 in Texas. In 2015-2019 it was $65,139 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 25.3% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Refugio | Refugio County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $48,750 ±$26,566 | $60,181 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $59,628 ±$9,140 | $68,904 | – |
| Per capita income | $21,899 ±$3,493 | $28,082 | −$8,494 |
| People below the poverty line | 25.3% ±10.0 pts | 14.6% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 32.6% ±19.4 pts | 15.8% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 23.1% ±10.6 pts | 14.1% | – |
| Households with a computer | 92.1% ±5.8 pts | 92.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 83.3% ±5.7 pts | 84.9% | – |
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 Refugio?
Owners occupy 58.9% of Refugio's occupied homes and renters 41.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $94,800 by its owner (±$7,041). The median renter pays $747 a month including utilities, and 55.7% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Refugio | Refugio County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $94,800 ±$7,041 | $99,000 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $747 ±$60 | $795 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 55.7% ±17.6 pts | 45.3% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,271 ±$233 | $1,268 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 58.9% ±10.0 pts | 77.0% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 41.1% ±10.0 pts | 23.0% | – |
| Housing units | 1,176 ±129 | 3,359 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±8.5 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±11.9 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 71.9% ±10.1 pts | 81.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 9.7% ±5.8 pts | 12.0% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.0% ±2.0 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 8.3% ±4.4 pts | 10.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 1.6% ±1.8 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 21.8% ±8.7 pts | 10.4% | – |
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 Refugio building?
Builders took permits for 1 new housing units in Refugio in 2025 (1 in single-family houses), 0.4 per 1,000 residents against 6.6 across Texas.
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 Refugio work and get to work?
84.3% of Refugio's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 21.5 minutes.
| Measure | Refugio | Refugio County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 52.5% ±5.5 pts | 52.6% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 1.0% ±1.1 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 84.3% ±7.3 pts | 88.0% | – |
| Carpooled | 7.3% ±4.0 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±4.5 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Walked | 6.3% ±5.8 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Worked from home | 2.1% ±2.5 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 21.5 min ±8.0 | 24.4 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 Refugio?
1 census tract lies mostly in Refugio (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9502Refugio County | 3,421 | $49,974 |
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 Refugio) · Census block assignment files
How does Refugio compare with other places in Texas?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Refugio is the 6,614th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 519th-most populous of 1,224 in Texas.
Refugio ranks 775th of 933 places in Texas with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 519th | 1,224 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 499th | 784 |
| Residents per square mile | 252nd | 979 |
| Median household income | 775th | 933 |
| Per capita income | 851st | 978 |
| Median home value | 831st | 950 |
| Median gross rent | 767th | 852 |
| Poverty rate | 128th | 716 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 705th | 877 |
| Median age | 314th | 973 |
| Owner-occupied share | 786th | 973 |
| Travel time to work | 711th | 976 |
Refugio's figures with every place in Texas (CSV)
Every place in Texas, sortable · Compare Refugio 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 Refugio?
14 of the 57 figures for Refugio 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 Refugio 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 Refugio.