Population 36,329 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Matagorda County
Household size in Matagorda County
| Period | Matagorda County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.61 | 2.87 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.77 | 2.93 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.71 | 2.95 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.58 | 2.83 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.04 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
At 2.58 people per household, Matagorda County sits close to the national average of 2.65. The typical household here is smaller than in Texas as a whole, where it has 2.83 people. Household size has edged down from 2.61 in 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Matagorda County
| Period | Matagorda County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.3 | 34.7 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.6 | 35.4 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.7 | 36.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 36.2 | 36.7 | 40.1 |
| Change | −3.1 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Matagorda County is younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 36.2, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has dropped from 39.3, even as the national median rose. The youngest areas are in the center, the oldest in the southwest.
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 Matagorda County
| Period | Matagorda County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.4% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.2% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.7% | 13.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 14.7% | 12.9% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in seven households in Matagorda County (14.7%), well above the national share of 11.6%. Compared with other Texas counties, Matagorda County has a higher share of single-parent households than most.
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 Matagorda County
Renters in Matagorda County
| Period | Matagorda County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.4% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 31.7% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.3% | 38.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 31.9% | 37.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.5 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Nearly a third of households in Matagorda County rent their homes (31.9%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Renters make up a smaller share here than in Texas overall (37.4%). Just over six in ten owners (62.7%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 3.5 points, in line with the national trend.
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 Matagorda County
| Period | Matagorda County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.9% | 11.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 24.7% | 10.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 24.3% | 10.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 17.8% | 9.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.1 pts | −2.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Matagorda County: 17.8% 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 has fallen 3.1 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Matagorda County
| Period | Matagorda County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1972 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1974 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1976 | 1987 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1979 | 1992 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +8 | +6 |
Homes in Matagorda County are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1979, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are older than in Texas overall, where the median home dates to 1992. The median year built has moved up from 1972 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the east, the oldest in the west.
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 Matagorda County
| Period | Matagorda County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $602 | $921 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $713 | $1,005 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $851 | $1,178 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,020 | $1,560 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$418 | +$639 | +$606 |
Rent in Matagorda County runs $1,020 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $418 a month since 2006–10, up 70%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 35.1% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the southwest; the highest are in the northeast.
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 Matagorda County
Bachelor's degrees in Matagorda County
| Period | Matagorda County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.9% | 27.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.6% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.2% | 30.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 22.1% | 34.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.3 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Matagorda County: 22.1% 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 6.3 points, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the east and least in the west.
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 Matagorda County
| Period | Matagorda County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 77.4% | 80.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 76.8% | 82.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 80.1% | 83.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 80.0% | 85.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.6 pts | +5.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in five adults in Matagorda County never finished high school, well above the national share: only 80.0% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 2.6 points, as it has nationally.
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 Matagorda County
| Period | Matagorda County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.2% | 7.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.2% | 7.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.9% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.3% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.9 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Matagorda County runs well above the national rate: 8.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Only 23 of Texas' 254 counties have higher unemployment. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 2.9 points, in line with the national trend.
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).
Matagorda County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matagorda County | 2.58 | 36.2 | 14.7% | 31.9% | 17.8% | 1979 | $1,020 | 22.1% | 80.0% | 8.3% |
| Wharton County | 2.64 | 38.7 | 12.1% | 27.7% | 11.5% | 1980 | $1,068 | 20.5% | 85.0% | 4.9% |
| Jackson County | 2.50 | 42.5 | 12.2% | 29.2% | 13.9% | 1979 | $1,014 | 17.1% | 84.3% | 4.9% |
| Calhoun County | 2.30 | 40.8 | 12.5% | 22.7% | 16.7% | 1980 | $931 | 20.4% | 85.3% | 7.3% |
| Brazoria County | 2.93 | 37.2 | 11.9% | 25.9% | 11.7% | 1995 | $1,626 | 34.7% | 88.9% | 4.4% |
| Victoria County | 2.65 | 37.8 | 13.5% | 34.7% | 12.1% | 1983 | $1,161 | 19.4% | 84.8% | 4.6% |
| Galveston County | 2.66 | 39.6 | 11.2% | 32.4% | 10.1% | 1992 | $1,583 | 36.6% | 90.3% | 5.8% |
| Lavaca County | 2.39 | 44.3 | 8.4% | 21.7% | 18.4% | 1977 | $1,131 | 22.0% | 88.4% | 3.1% |
| DeWitt County | 2.68 | 41.6 | 10.2% | 26.1% | 23.5% | 1979 | $864 | 17.4% | 86.0% | 3.2% |
| Goliad County | 2.64 | 45.5 | 5.1% | 13.2% | 21.1% | 1987 | $775 | 21.5% | 88.2% | 5.1% |
| Gonzales County | 2.51 | 41.8 | 16.4% | 33.8% | 12.1% | 1983 | $854 | 12.0% | 75.0% | 4.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Meade County, KY · Osage County, OK · Orleans County, NY · Orange County, VA · Okmulgee County, OK · Okanogan County, WA · Ohio County, WV · Monroe County, TN · Mississippi County, AR · Miller County, AR
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 Matagorda County. 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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