Census-designated place · Texas
Zapata, Texas
Zapata, census-designated place, in Zapata County, Texas. Zapata had 4,897 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±768). GEOID 4880716.
Residents, 2020-2024
4,897
±768 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 5,383
Median household income
$45,488
±$13,404 (90% margin)
Texas: $78,476
Median home value
$124,900
±$31,971 (90% margin)
Texas: $283,800
Median gross rent
$395
±$210 (90% margin)
Texas: $1,403
Where is Zapata and what county is it in?
Zapata is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Zapata County, Texas. It covers 7.6 square miles of land, 704 residents per square mile in 2020.
Zapata is in the Zapata, TX micropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Zapata, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Zapata's population at 4,897 (±768). The 2020 Census counted 5,383 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Zapata is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Zapata | Zapata County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 4,897 ±768 | 13,841 | no clear change |
| Households | 1,853 ±260 | 4,565 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.62 ±0.30 | 2.98 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 2,449 ±251 | 6,255 | no clear change |
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 Zapata?
The median resident of Zapata is 38.5 years old; 30.1% are under 18 and 20.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 89.2%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 7.5%. 21.0% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Zapata | Zapata County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.5 ±4.6 | 32.3 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 30.1% ±4.4 pts | 31.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 20.2% ±4.2 pts | 14.1% | – |
| Male | 47.4% ±4.5 pts | 49.5% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 89.2% ±2.9 pts | 93.9% | −5.4 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 7.5% ±3.0 pts | 4.8% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.7% ±1.5 pts | 0.6% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.0 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.0 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 1.4% ±1.4 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.0 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 21.0% ±5.5 pts | 23.4% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 78.5% ±6.0 pts | 82.9% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 2.3% ±1.5 pts | 2.8% | – |
| With a disability | 14.4% ±4.1 pts | 15.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 15.9% ±5.0 pts | 27.6% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 79.5% ±6.0 pts | 65.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 24.2% ±7.1 pts | 15.2% | +12.5 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 8.0% ±3.7 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 94.7% ±3.1 pts | 92.1% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.6% ±0.8 pts | 0.2% | – |
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 Zapata earn?
Half of Zapata's 1,853 households earn less than $45,488 a year (±$13,404), against $39,239 in Zapata County and $78,476 in Texas. In 2015-2019 it was $39,215 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 32.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Zapata | Zapata County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $45,488 ±$13,404 | $39,239 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $64,921 ±$9,950 | $55,372 | – |
| Per capita income | $24,285 ±$3,683 | $18,613 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 32.5% ±10.2 pts | 38.4% | +15.4 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 45.3% ±19.2 pts | 51.2% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 23.0% ±7.6 pts | 31.3% | – |
| Households with a computer | 85.8% ±7.3 pts | 89.5% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 79.1% ±7.5 pts | 79.4% | – |
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 Zapata?
Owners occupy 68.0% of Zapata's occupied homes and renters 32.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $124,900 by its owner (±$31,971). The median renter pays $395 a month including utilities.
| Measure | Zapata | Zapata County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $124,900 ±$31,971 | $97,100 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $395 ±$210 | $617 | −$268 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 5.7% ±7.2 pts | 30.7% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,537 ±$556 | $1,157 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 68.0% ±8.2 pts | 72.0% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 32.0% ±8.2 pts | 28.0% | – |
| Housing units | 2,449 ±251 | 6,255 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 3.7% ±4.9 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.0% ±4.9 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 64.0% ±6.6 pts | 60.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 18.3% ±6.0 pts | 29.9% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.0% ±1.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 11.4% ±4.3 pts | 9.5% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 0.0% ±2.0 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 14.1% ±5.7 pts | 8.8% | – |
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 do people in Zapata work and get to work?
74.3% of Zapata's workers drive alone and 9.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 23.2 minutes.
| Measure | Zapata | Zapata County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 47.8% ±6.3 pts | 52.8% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.1% ±2.4 pts | 7.3% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 74.3% ±7.8 pts | 76.0% | – |
| Carpooled | 15.0% ±7.2 pts | 13.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±2.9 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Walked | 1.7% ±2.5 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 9.0% ±4.9 pts | 8.8% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 23.2 min ±8.1 | 23.6 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 Zapata?
3 census tracts lie mostly in Zapata, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $40,395 (Tract 9503.05) to $79,570 (Tract 9503.06).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9503.06Zapata County | 2,346 | $79,570 |
| Tract 9503.05Zapata County | 2,229 | $40,395 |
| Tract 9503.03Zapata County | 769 | $64,286 |
| Tract 9504.02Zapata County | 2,411 | $33,375 |
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 Zapata) · Census block assignment files
How does Zapata compare with other places in Texas?
Zapata ranks 822nd of 933 places in Texas with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 432nd | 979 |
| Residents per square mile | 712th | 979 |
| Median household income | 822nd | 933 |
| Per capita income | 781st | 978 |
| Median home value | 721st | 950 |
| Median gross rent | 849th | 852 |
| Poverty rate | 45th | 716 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 380th | 877 |
| Median age | 373rd | 973 |
| Owner-occupied share | 573rd | 973 |
| Work from home | 384th | 557 |
| Travel time to work | 624th | 976 |
Zapata's figures with every place in Texas (CSV)
Every place in Texas, sortable · Compare Zapata 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 Zapata?
15 of the 57 figures for Zapata 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 Zapata 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' school search.