The Town Files

Matagorda County, Texas

36,329 people. The median home is worth $172,900 (typical Texas town: $184,100) and the median household earns $58,628.

Towns in Matagorda County

Towns in Matagorda County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Bay City18,061$160,800$53,84031.6
Palacios4,395$153,800$52,62046.2

People and housing

Matagorda CountyTypical Texas town
Median home value$172,900$184,100
Median rent$999$1,086
Median household income$58,628$65,842
Median age37.837.1
Bachelor's degree or higher22.2%18.9%
Below the poverty line20.7%13.1%

Jobs and pay

11,209 jobs in 2024, average pay $68,994 a year.

Largest industries in Matagorda CountyManufacturing1,523 jobs · $102,291Retail1,337 jobs · $31,600Hotels & restaurants1,146 jobs · $21,837Health care & social assistan…917 jobs · $51,647Construction519 jobs · $81,101Agriculture, forestry & fishi…466 jobs · $48,096
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Matagorda County0%2%4%6%8%10%12%2000200420082012201620202023 5.4%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 216 storm events in Matagorda County from 1996 to 2026, with 1 deaths.

Storm events in Matagorda County by type since 1996Hail25Heat10Drought32Tornado11Flash Flood30Funnel Cloud14Coastal Flood6Excessive Heat10Tropical Storm11Cold/Wind Chill3
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Matagorda County has been included in 29 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
July 9, 2024HurricaneDR-4798: Hurricane Beryl
February 19, 2021Severe Ice StormDR-4586: Severe Winter Storms
February 14, 2021Severe Ice StormEM-3554: Severe Winter Storm
August 24, 2020HurricaneEM-3540: Tropical Storms Marco And Laura
July 26, 2020HurricaneEM-3530: Hurricane Hanna
March 25, 2020BiologicalDR-4485: Covid-19 Pandemic
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).