Zapata is a small town of 5,110 in Texas, with a median household income of $34,818
and a 2.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 85 (US average = 100), which is
15% below the national average.
Strengths:
Zapata stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Zapata is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Zapata city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 85.0
Zapata's overall cost of living index is 85.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Zapata costs roughly 15% less than the average American city.
Metric
Zapata, TX
National Avg
Median Home Value
$101,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$438
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
67.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$34,818
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Zapata's violent crime rate is 35.3 per 100,000 residents
— 91% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
35.3 /100k
Property Crime
232.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Zapata is served primarily by ZAPATA COUNTY ISD.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.7:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Zapata, TX
National Avg
School District
ZAPATA COUNTY ISD
—
Elementary Schools
4
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.7:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
14.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
76.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Zapata sees average highs of 68.2°F in January
and 98.2°F in July,
with 20.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.1 inches of snow per year.
Zapata's cost of living index is 85, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Zapata roughly 15% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $101,600 and median rent is $438/month.
Zapata's violent crime rate is 35.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 232.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Zapata are operated by ZAPATA COUNTY ISD.
The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.7:1. 14.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Zapata, TX has a population of 5,110, a median household income of $34,818, and an unemployment rate of 2.1%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Zapata averages 68.2°F in January and 98.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 20.4 inches
with about 0.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Zapata, TX is covered by 1 ZIP code: 78076.
The population of Zapata, Texas is 5,110 with a median age of 35.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Zapata: cost of living index 85 (100 = US average), median home $101,600, median household income $34,818, crime index 10 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Zapata side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
