The Town FilesZapata, Texas
Community in Zapata County · population 5,383 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $124,900
- Household income
- $45,488
- Jan low / Jul high
- 47° / 98°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 38.5
Zapata is a community of 5,383 people in Zapata County, Texas. The median home is worth $124,900, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 80% of Texas towns.
How Zapata ranks
Percentile among Texas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Texas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Zapata is worth $124,900, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $45,488, which is more affordable than 59% of Texas towns. Median rent is $395 a month. 68.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Zapata | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $124,900 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $395 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $45,488 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 68.0% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1993 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 11.5% | — |
Who lives in Zapata
| People | Zapata | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.5 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.2% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 30.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.2% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 32.5% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 2.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 21.0% | — |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 23.2 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.1% | 89.2% |
Weather in Zapata
July highs average 98.2°F and January lows 46.6°F. About 20.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.1 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 172 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 4 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Zapata since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 23, 1970 about 0.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 17, 2002.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on February 5, 2013.
Severe weather in Zapata County since 1996
Zapata County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 19, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4586: Severe Winter Storms |
| February 14, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3554: Severe Winter Storm |
| July 26, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3530: Hurricane Hanna |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4485: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3458: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Zapata County
Zapata County had 2,819 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,400 a year. Unemployment was 6.4% in 2023; in Zapata itself the ACS puts it at 2.1%.
Public schools in Zapata
5 public schools with 3,298 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZAPATA H S | 9-12 | 1,068 | 15.0 |
| ZAPATA MIDDLE | 6-8 | 750 | 12.7 |
| ZAPATA NORTH EL | PK-5 | 575 | 16.9 |
| FIDEL AND ANDREA R VILLARREAL EL | PK-5 | 463 | 14.9 |
| ZAPATA SOUTH EL | PK-5 | 442 | 13.0 |
Towns near Zapata
- Medina, TX2.3 mi · 3,953 people · home $65,000
Zapata questions
Is Zapata, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Zapata scores better for retirees than 59% of Texas towns and quieter than 54%. 20.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.5).
How much does a house cost in Zapata?
The median owner-occupied home in Zapata is valued at $124,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $45,488, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $395 a month.
What is the weather like in Zapata?
July highs average 98.2°F and January lows 46.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 20.4 inches of precipitation a year and 0.1 inches of snow.
Does Zapata get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Zapata since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 23, 1970. The typical Texas town has had 21.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)