Population 10,403 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in La Joya
Household size in La Joya
| Period | La Joya | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.97 | 3.67 | 2.87 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.76 | 3.72 | 2.93 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.96 | 3.66 | 2.95 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 4.08 | 3.42 | 2.83 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.12 | −0.25 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
La Joya is a place of big households: 4.08 people per home on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. Numbers like that usually point to plenty of families with kids. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 3.97, even as the national average fell. Only one other Texas city with 5,000+ people has larger households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in La Joya
| Period | La Joya | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.2 | 28.7 | 34.7 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 28.0 | 29.5 | 35.4 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 24.7 | 30.0 | 36.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 27.7 | 31.9 | 36.7 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.4 | +3.2 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 27.7, La Joya is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward families with many children. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 26.2, mirroring the country. Of the 545 Texas cities with 5,000+ people, only ten are younger.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in La Joya
| Period | La Joya | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.4% | 18.3% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.9% | 18.3% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 33.9% | 19.5% | 13.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 22.5% | 18.6% | 12.9% | 11.6% |
| Change | +7.1 pts | +0.3 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in La Joya: 22.5% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has risen 7.1 points, even as the national share fell. Of the 545 Texas cities with 5,000+ people, only 21 have a higher share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in La Joya
Renters in La Joya
| Period | La Joya | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.4% | 29.2% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.3% | 32.1% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.3% | 32.0% | 38.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 29.2% | 32.5% | 37.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +6.8 pts | +3.4 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
About three in ten households in La Joya rent their homes (29.2%), a little below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Among homeowners, 53.3% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the southwest and least common in the northeast. The renter share is up 6.8 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in La Joya
| Period | La Joya | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.8% | 14.6% | 11.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.8% | 12.1% | 10.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.5% | 13.1% | 10.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.9% | 12.4% | 9.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | +4.1 pts | −2.2 pts | −2.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in La Joya: 14.9% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy is up 4.1 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in La Joya
| Period | La Joya | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1992 | 1991 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1997 | 1993 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1998 | 1995 | 1987 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1999 | 1998 | 1992 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +7 | +8 | +6 |
La Joya has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1999, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1992 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the southwest.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in La Joya
| Period | La Joya | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $451 | $597 | $921 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $535 | $652 | $1,005 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $646 | $737 | $1,178 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $880 | $987 | $1,560 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$428 | +$390 | +$639 | +$606 |
Rent in La Joya runs $880 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $428 a month since 2006–10, up 95%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 22.6% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Only 49 of the 545 Texas cities with 5,000+ people have lower rents.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in La Joya
Bachelor's degrees in La Joya
| Period | La Joya | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.3% | 15.1% | 27.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.7% | 16.4% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 8.2% | 18.4% | 30.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.3% | 20.3% | 34.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.0 pts | +5.2 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in La Joya: 14.3% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 7.0 points, as it has nationally. La Joya has a lower share of college graduates than the great majority of Texas cities.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in La Joya
| Period | La Joya | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.1% | 59.4% | 80.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 42.7% | 61.5% | 82.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 53.3% | 64.9% | 83.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 60.1% | 69.8% | 85.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +18.0 pts | +10.4 pts | +5.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
About four in ten adults in La Joya never finished high school, well above the national share: only 60.1% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma is up 18.0 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of the 545 Texas cities with 5,000+ people, only 13 have a lower share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in La Joya
| Period | La Joya | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.5% | 10.2% | 7.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 12.4% | 10.5% | 7.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.7% | 6.7% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.0% | 7.6% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −6.5 pts | −2.6 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.0%, unemployment in La Joya is close to the national rate of 5.4%. The rate is lower than in the McAllen area as a whole (7.6%). Unemployment has fallen 6.5 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
La Joya compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Joya | 4.08 | 27.7 | 22.5% | 29.2% | 14.9% | 1999 | $880 | 14.3% | 60.1% | 5.0% |
| Penitas | 4.04 | 28.9 | 26.0% | 21.4% | 11.5% | 2003 | $856 | 9.7% | 54.4% | 6.8% |
| Abram | 3.47 | 30.4 | 25.0% | 13.0% | 8.7% | 1995 | $848 | 19.3% | 71.2% | 6.3% |
| Palmview | 3.54 | 32.0 | 21.3% | 25.6% | 7.7% | 2001 | $781 | 12.6% | 61.8% | 7.8% |
| Sullivan City | 3.53 | 33.6 | 11.8% | 16.9% | 11.2% | 1998 | $772 | 10.9% | 56.8% | 9.4% |
| Palmview South | 3.29 | 44.3 | 21.2% | 23.8% | 19.3% | 1995 | $725 | 10.0% | 68.1% | 5.9% |
| Mission | 3.36 | 33.2 | 18.8% | 25.6% | 13.1% | 1999 | $1,025 | 21.8% | 67.4% | 7.7% |
| Madero | 2.79 | 35.6 | 12.2% | 26.0% | 13.5% | 2002 | $1,060 | 22.5% | 61.1% | 4.0% |
| Alton | 3.80 | 26.3 | 18.9% | 41.4% | 11.4% | 2004 | $1,048 | 14.3% | 66.5% | 8.5% |
| East Alto Bonito | 4.62 | 29.7 | 3.5% | 10.0% | 7.7% | 1992 | $797 | 6.9% | 67.0% | 4.3% |
| Palmhurst | 3.32 | 32.0 | 10.7% | 26.6% | 16.9% | 1999 | $1,033 | 42.9% | 85.7% | 5.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Pollock Pines, CA · Odessa, MO · Old Forge, PA · Old Orchard Beach, ME · Olive Hill, KY · Otsego, MI · Perry Heights, OH · Pigeon Forge, TN · Pine Bush, NY · Pine Grove, PA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up La Joya. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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