The Town Files

Zapata County, Texas

13,841 people. The median home is worth $97,100 (typical Texas town: $184,100) and the median household earns $39,239.

Towns in Zapata County

Towns in Zapata County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Zapata5,383$124,900$45,48838.5
Medina3,953$65,000$21,50624.6

People and housing

Zapata CountyTypical Texas town
Median home value$97,100$184,100
Median rent$617$1,086
Median household income$39,239$65,842
Median age32.337.1
Bachelor's degree or higher15.2%18.9%
Below the poverty line38.4%13.1%

Jobs and pay

2,819 jobs in 2024, average pay $41,400 a year.

Largest industries in Zapata CountyHealth care & social assistan…698 jobs · $21,637Retail317 jobs · $21,490Mining, oil & gas112 jobs · $61,506Construction104 jobs · $54,150Other services31 jobs · $20,594Manufacturing21 jobs · $74,434
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Zapata County0%4%8%12%2000200420082012201620202023 6.4%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 482 storm events in Zapata County from 1996 to 2026.

Storm events in Zapata County by type since 1996Hail49Heat31Flood11Drought216Wildfire9Lightning4Heavy Rain17Flash Flood29Frost/Freeze68Excessive Heat2
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Zapata County has been included in 15 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
February 19, 2021Severe Ice StormDR-4586: Severe Winter Storms
February 14, 2021Severe Ice StormEM-3554: Severe Winter Storm
July 26, 2020HurricaneEM-3530: Hurricane Hanna
March 25, 2020BiologicalDR-4485: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3458: Covid-19
August 3, 2010HurricaneDR-1931: Hurricane Alex
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).