Population 9,412 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Zavala County
Household size in Zavala County
| Period | Zavala County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.19 | 2.87 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.35 | 2.93 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.22 | 2.95 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.85 | 2.83 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.35 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
The typical household in Zavala County holds 2.85 people, more than the U.S. average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 3.19, a much bigger shift than nationally. Households are largest in the northeast and smallest in the south.
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 Zavala County
| Period | Zavala County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.0 | 34.7 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 31.7 | 35.4 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 33.8 | 36.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.4 | 36.7 | 40.1 |
| Change | +6.4 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Zavala County is a little younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 37.4, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 31.0, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the northeast, the oldest in the south.
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 Zavala County
| Period | Zavala County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.4% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 21.2% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 25.8% | 13.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 29.8% | 12.9% | 11.6% |
| Change | +11.4 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Zavala County: 29.8% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has risen 11.4 points, even as the national share fell. Only one other Texas county has 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 Zavala County
Renters in Zavala County
| Period | Zavala County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.2% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 28.0% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.0% | 38.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 31.0% | 37.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.3 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Zavala County own their homes; 31.0% rent, a little below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 55.9% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is down 1.3 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
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 Zavala County
| Period | Zavala County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.4% | 11.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.8% | 10.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 19.1% | 10.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.4% | 9.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | −2.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 18.4% of the housing in Zavala County, 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 up 1.0 points since 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 Zavala County
| Period | Zavala County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1971 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1975 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1977 | 1987 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1977 | 1992 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +8 | +6 |
Homes in Zavala County are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1977, 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 1971 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northwest, the oldest in the south.
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 Zavala County
| Period | Zavala County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $407 | $921 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $478 | $1,005 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $618 | $1,178 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $731 | $1,560 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$325 | +$639 | +$606 |
The median renter in Zavala County pays $731 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $325 a month since 2006–10, up 80%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 28.5% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the northwest; the most affordable are in the south.
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 Zavala County
Bachelor's degrees in Zavala County
| Period | Zavala County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.6% | 27.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.6% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 10.5% | 30.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.8% | 34.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +1.2 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Zavala County: 9.8% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 1.2 points from 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Of Texas' 254 counties, only five have a lower share of college graduates.
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 Zavala County
| Period | Zavala County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 60.0% | 80.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 60.1% | 82.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 67.7% | 83.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 67.3% | 85.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.3 pts | +5.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
About a third of adults in Zavala County never finished high school, well above the national share: only 67.3% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma is up 7.3 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Of Texas' 254 counties, only eight 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 Zavala County
| Period | Zavala County | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.4% | 7.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.0% | 7.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.1% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.9% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −6.4 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Zavala County has been strong: just 2.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 6.4 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. 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).
Zavala 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zavala County | 2.85 | 37.4 | 29.8% | 31.0% | 18.4% | 1977 | $731 | 9.8% | 67.3% | 2.9% |
| Dimmit County | 2.83 | 35.2 | 28.1% | 33.5% | 25.6% | 1989 | $886 | 10.3% | 74.4% | 8.6% |
| Uvalde County | 3.00 | 34.9 | 16.6% | 29.4% | 18.1% | 1980 | $1,059 | 20.7% | 77.9% | 3.7% |
| Maverick County | 3.30 | 30.7 | 19.4% | 29.5% | 12.0% | 1996 | $934 | 14.7% | 67.3% | 8.1% |
| Frio County | 3.11 | 31.0 | 16.8% | 41.1% | 16.7% | 1990 | $995 | 12.5% | 74.2% | 5.8% |
| La Salle County | 3.60 | 32.4 | 18.7% | 24.0% | 27.3% | 1982 | $824 | 14.2% | 70.7% | 2.1% |
| Atascosa County | 3.13 | 36.9 | 12.4% | 22.6% | 12.5% | 1990 | $1,135 | 15.5% | 80.6% | 4.0% |
| McMullen County | 3.38 | 31.8 | 35.7% | 21.7% | 40.5% | 1986 | $758 | 20.1% | 85.6% | 0.0% |
| Wilson County | 2.95 | 41.1 | 9.2% | 15.3% | 6.5% | 1999 | $1,095 | 25.9% | 89.6% | 3.6% |
| Live Oak County | 2.32 | 42.0 | 9.2% | 28.7% | 25.3% | 1990 | $949 | 15.6% | 79.9% | 5.0% |
| Karnes County | 2.44 | 38.5 | 15.0% | 37.6% | 20.0% | 1989 | $980 | 14.1% | 78.4% | 3.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Lunenburg County, VA · Macon County, GA · Macon County, AL · Mackinac County, MI · Lyon County, KY · Lyon County, IA · Lynn County, TX · Lyman County, SD · Luquillo Municipio, PR · Macon County, MO
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 Zavala 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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