1st Advantage MortgageThe median Zavala County household earns $36,749, and 34% of residents live below the poverty line. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Texas before sharing details.
On this page
- Zavala County by the numbers
- Housing costs in Zavala County
- What Zavala County households earn
- How Zavala County residents earn a living
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Zavala County
- Regional comparison for Zavala County
- A Zavala County household budget, worked through
- Local borrowing considerations for Zavala County
- People and households in Zavala County
- Who licenses lenders for Zavala County residents
- Steps before you apply in Zavala County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Zavala County by the numbers
With an estimated 9,412 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Zavala County ranks 170th of 254 in Texas for population. Spread over 1,297 square miles, that works out to roughly 7.3 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Zavala County is not part of any metropolitan area. Crystal City is the biggest of its 6 Census places, at roughly 6,159 people (65% of the county total). Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Zavala County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Housing costs in Zavala County
A typical Zavala County rental runs $548 a month including utilities, which is 61% below Texas. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 44% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $98,800, about 2.7 times the median household income. Owners occupy 69% of homes. The median home was built in 1979, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Housing | Zavala County | Texas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $548/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $98,800 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 69% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 68% | 29% | n/a |
What Zavala County households earn
Half of Zavala County households take in less than $36,749 a year and half take in more, 53% below the Texas median of $78,476. Only 252 Texas counties post a higher median.
| Band | Zavala County | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 44.7% | +23.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.2% | +2.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 13.1% | -13.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 0.0% | -12.5 pts |
The spread is wide: 13% of Zavala County households make $100,000 or more, and 45% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 33.9%, 20 points higher than the state's 13.8%. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
How Zavala County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Zavala County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 26% of workers, followed by retail trade (12%). Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 9% of workers here, versus 2% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.0% in Zavala County. 12% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 6% work from home. Households without a car make up 8.0% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Zavala County workers | vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.1% | +4.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.2% | +1.2 pts |
| Construction | 12.1% | +3.6 pts |
| Other services | 9.5% | +4.6 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.9% | +6.6 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.8% | -0.2 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Zavala County
The table lists the 6 largest of 6 Census places in Zavala County, by population. Together all 6 hold about 9,024 people, so roughly 4% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $28,140 in Batesville to $39,205 in La Pryor. None of the 6 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal City | city | 6,159 | $36,328 | $518 | 13 mi |
| La Pryor | CDP | 1,236 | $39,205 | $2,125 | 8 mi |
| Batesville | CDP | 994 | $28,140 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Loma Grande | CDP | 324 | $76,308 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Chula Vista | CDP | 311 | n/a | n/a | 14 mi |
| Amaya | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
Regional comparison for Zavala County
Six nearby counties, 30 to 52 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. All of the six report a higher median household income than Zavala County; Medina County is highest at $78,074 and Dimmit County lowest at $38,808.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zavala County | - | $36,749 | $548/mo | 69% |
| Dimmit County, TX | 30 mi | $38,808 | $823/mo | 67% |
| Uvalde County, TX | 34 mi | $53,801 | $981/mo | 71% |
| Maverick County, TX | 35 mi | $49,568 | $859/mo | 71% |
| Frio County, TX | 39 mi | $66,010 | $1,016/mo | 59% |
| Medina County, TX | 52 mi | $78,074 | $1,196/mo | 84% |
| Kinney County, TX | 52 mi | $70,000 | $1,272/mo | 84% |
A Zavala County household budget, worked through
Zavala County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Monthly gross at the median, Zavala County: $3,062
- 18% goes to median rent ($548)
- With a 40% ceiling, about $677 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $548, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Local borrowing considerations for Zavala County
Where the Zavala County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Medical bills. 15% of Zavala County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Manufactured homes. 22% of Zavala County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- 34% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
People and households in Zavala County
Degree holders: 11% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 14.9%, against 17.1% for Texas.
| Indicator | Zavala County | All of Texas | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.8 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 11.1% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 29.7% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 14.9% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.0% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.4% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 33.9% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.0% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Zavala County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 51.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 6.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.9% |
| 60+ min | 8.1% |
Who licenses lenders for Zavala County residents
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Zavala County borrowers answers to the Texas Department of Banking. Texas also has the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner for consumer credit. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. See the Texas state guide for the statewide picture.
Steps before you apply in Zavala County
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Zavala County-area credit union.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Texas borrowers.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Related local guides
The Texas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Zavala County?
$36,749 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $78,476 for Texas. It ranks 253rd of 254 in the state.
How much is rent in Zavala County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $548 a month; 44% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Zavala County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Crystal City, La Pryor, Batesville, Loma Grande, Chula Vista and 1 more.
Will a Zavala County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Texas as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Is there a Zavala County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Texas it is the Texas Department of Banking.