City profile · Texas · Census ACS 2023

South Padre Island, TX

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for South Padre Island - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

2,852
Residents
$61,578
Median income
$498,800
Median home
$1,047
Median rent (state)

South Padre Island - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, South Padre Island places in the 38th percentile for household income and the 0th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

38th
percentile, household income
85th
percentile, home value
24th
percentile, median rent
0th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: South Padre Island, TX

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 2,852 residents in South Padre Island, a small town within Texas. South Padre Island households earn a median of $61,578 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 9.8%. Home values in South Padre Island run a median of $498,800, and the median resident age is 59.0 years. Educational attainment runs 52.5% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 54.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 85 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Building Boom), up 305% from five years earlier. South Padre Island's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 13251.3 incidents per 100,000 residents, above the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Texas tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: the state registers 97.1 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Near Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,047 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Texas's average monthly utility costs around $223 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 97.3 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

2,852 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Texas

Median Household Income

$61,578 /yr

Poverty 9.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

97.1 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Texas average

How does South Padre Island compare to other US cities?

Where South Padre Island sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 38% higher than other cities
Home value 85% pricier than other cities
Median rent 24% pricier than other cities
Safety 0% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Texas, South Padre Island ranks #623 of 624 Texas cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares South Padre Island against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Texas only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Texas-relative analysis

Median Home Value is South Padre Island's strongest outlier among Texas cities

Among the 1,505 Texas cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, South Padre Island ranks #79 - the 95th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares South Padre Island only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#807 of 1,520
47th percentile in Texas
Median Gross Rent
#1,124 of 1,663
30th percentile in Texas
Median Home Value
#79 of 1,505
95th percentile in Texas
Poverty Rate
#764 of 1,663
54th percentile in Texas
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#111 of 1,663
93rd percentile in Texas

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Texas only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

38thIncome percentile
0thSafety percentile

38th percentile nationally for median household income · 0th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

South Padre Island's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

South Padre Island's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 28 Avg. percentile National median
South Padre Island's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How South Padre Island's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$498,800 15th percentile more affordable than 15% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. South Padre Island $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - South Padre Island, TX South Padre Island, TX's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not South Padre Island, TX-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution South Padre Island, TX median $61,578/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
South Padre Island, TX's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for South Padre Island, TX. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 52.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 9.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 54.1%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
2,852
Median Income
$61,578
Median Home Value
$498,800
Median Age
59.0
Poverty Rate
9.8%
Labor force participation
54.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
52.5%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
13251.3
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
1428.6
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
11822.7
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
2,040 residents2,050 residents2,060 residents2,070 residents2,080 residents2,090 residents 202020212022202320242025 2,074 residents 2,086 residents ▲ +0.6%
South Padre Island's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
85
housing units authorized
Single-Family
36
detached homes
Multifamily
49
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
29.8
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 21
2020 18
2021 44
2022 37
2023 92
2024 85

Permit volume increased 305% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
61.4%
Carpool
1.0%
Public Transit
1.4%
Walk
13.6%
Work from Home
18.0%
Other
4.6%

Based on 1,388 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Texas - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$130
avg/month
Natural Gas
$45
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$48
avg/month
Total Utilities
$223
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Texas state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Texas state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county South Padre Island sits in

Cost of Living Index
97.1
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,047/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
97.3 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Texas

Taft
2,847 people
Midway South
2,858 people
Brazoria
2,859 people
Shady Shores
2,860 people
Seagraves
2,842 people
Clarksville
2,864 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to South Padre Island's 2,852 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Newton, IL
2,852 people
Lindsay, OK
2,852 people
Weatogue, CT
2,851 people
Savanna, IL
2,851 people
Bedford, PA
2,851 people
Bellows Falls, VT
2,851 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to South Padre Island's $61,578 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Moose Lake, MN
$61,576 median income
Rocky Mount, VA
$61,580 median income
Scott City, MO
$61,581 median income
Atlanta, IN
$61,583 median income
Elmwood Park, WI
$61,573 median income
Silver Hill, MD
$61,566 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - South Padre Island, TX Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition South Padre Island, TX - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 80.0% 6.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 14.8% White 80.0% Black or African American 5.6% Asian 1.8% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 5.7% Two or more races 6.9% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How South Padre Island compares to nearby Texas cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
South Padre Island (this city) 2,852 $61,578
Taft 2,847 $67,431
Midway South 2,858 $76,768
Brazoria 2,859 $51,354
Census ACS 5-year FIPS TX FBI UCR Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about South Padre Island, TX?

What is the population of South Padre Island, TX? +

South Padre Island, TX has a population of 2,852 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in South Padre Island, TX? +

In South Padre Island, the typical household earns $61,578 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in South Padre Island? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for South Padre Island; the closest available measure is the Texas state average, a cost of living index of 97.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Texas vary by metro area.

Is South Padre Island, TX safe? +

South Padre Island has a total crime rate of 13251.3 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in South Padre Island, TX? +

South Padre Island's median home value sits at $498,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.