Population 66,067 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Starr County
Household size in Starr County
| Period | Starr County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.87 | 2.87 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.87 | 2.93 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 4.00 | 2.95 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.55 | 2.83 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.31 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Starr County is a place of big households: 3.55 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 dropped from 3.87, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only five of Texas' 254 counties have 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 Starr County
| Period | Starr County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.9 | 34.7 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 30.4 | 35.4 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 28.9 | 36.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 30.0 | 36.7 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.1 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Starr County is young: half of its residents are under 30.0, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young families with children. The median age has climbed from 28.9 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of Texas' 254 counties, only four 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 Starr County
| Period | Starr County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.9% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 20.5% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 22.5% | 13.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 22.1% | 12.9% | 11.6% |
| Change | +5.2 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head more than one in five households in Starr County (22.1%), well above the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is up 5.2 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell. Only eight of Texas' 254 counties 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 Starr County
Renters in Starr County
| Period | Starr County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.6% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 23.4% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.9% | 38.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 30.5% | 37.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +9.8 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
About three in ten households in Starr County rent their homes (30.5%), a little below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Just over eight in ten owners (83.7%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the west and least common in the southeast. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 9.8 points, 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 Starr County
| Period | Starr County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.8% | 11.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.9% | 10.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 17.4% | 10.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.9% | 9.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | −2.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Starr County: 16.9% 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 has edged down 0.9 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Starr County
| Period | Starr County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1987 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1988 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1991 | 1987 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1995 | 1992 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +8 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Starr County is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1995, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1987 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Starr County has newer homes than at least four in five Texas counties.
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 Starr County
| Period | Starr County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $517 | $921 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $509 | $1,005 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $618 | $1,178 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $734 | $1,560 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$217 | +$639 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Starr County costs $734 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $217 a month since 2006–10, up 42%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 34.5% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
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 Starr County
Bachelor's degrees in Starr County
| Period | Starr County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.1% | 27.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.0% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 9.9% | 30.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.7% | 34.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.5 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Starr County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 14.7%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree has risen 4.5 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Starr County has a lower share of college graduates than the great majority of Texas counties.
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 Starr County
| Period | Starr County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 47.4% | 80.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 46.4% | 82.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 53.0% | 83.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 60.2% | 85.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +12.8 pts | +5.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
About four in ten adults in Starr County never finished high school, well above the national share: only 60.2% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma is up 12.8 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Of Texas' 254 counties, only four 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 Starr County
| Period | Starr County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.7% | 7.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 12.5% | 7.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 14.5% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.1% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Starr County: 10.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Few Texas counties have higher unemployment: only seven of 254. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
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).
Starr 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starr County | 3.55 | 30.0 | 22.1% | 30.5% | 16.9% | 1995 | $734 | 14.7% | 60.2% | 10.1% |
| Hidalgo County | 3.42 | 31.9 | 18.6% | 32.5% | 12.4% | 1998 | $987 | 20.3% | 69.8% | 7.6% |
| Zapata County | 3.13 | 34.4 | 23.7% | 28.0% | 27.3% | 1990 | $663 | 15.5% | 66.2% | 9.2% |
| Jim Hogg County | 3.83 | 28.7 | 27.7% | 43.6% | 28.0% | 1977 | $849 | 15.7% | 76.5% | 5.7% |
| Willacy County | 3.32 | 36.7 | 21.3% | 25.3% | 16.0% | 1987 | $727 | 13.9% | 70.2% | 8.6% |
| Brooks County | 2.23 | 42.8 | 23.4% | 47.2% | 24.7% | 1969 | $807 | 18.0% | 82.8% | 17.8% |
| Kenedy County | 2.53 | 54.8 | 12.2% | 47.3% | 56.7% | 1957 | $1,374 | 13.0% | 52.8% | 0.0% |
| Cameron County | 3.21 | 33.5 | 18.1% | 34.8% | 10.7% | 1992 | $1,012 | 22.4% | 72.9% | 6.0% |
| Webb County | 3.39 | 31.0 | 20.2% | 35.3% | 8.2% | 1995 | $1,173 | 21.6% | 70.7% | 5.4% |
| Kleberg County | 2.47 | 32.8 | 17.0% | 47.5% | 16.1% | 1978 | $983 | 23.4% | 83.6% | 7.5% |
| Duval County | 3.21 | 35.9 | 18.7% | 29.6% | 27.3% | 1979 | $823 | 6.4% | 74.5% | 10.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Van Buren County, MI · Columbia County, NY · Columbia County, PA · Columbia County, WI · Coos County, OR · Crawford County, AR · Creek County, OK · Cumberland County, TN · Erie County, OH · Fauquier County, VA
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 Starr 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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