Texas · GEOID 48061

Cameron County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 426,120 · 159,679 housing units

Median household income

$52,601

State $80,443

Median home value

$136,500

State $291,649

Median gross rent

$912

State $1,408

Homeownership rate

65.2%

State 62.6%

Renter cost-burden rate

49.8%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

19.7%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

1.4%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

5.5%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

13.3%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

2.60

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Cameron County	Texas
Population	426,120	30,188,424
Population density (per sq. mi.)	477.86	—
Median household income	$52,601	$80,443
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$64,600	—
Households	138,433	—
Average household size	3.05 people	—
Owner-occupied	65.2%	62.6%
Renter-occupied	34.8%	37.4%
Race	35.4% White · 0.6% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Cameron County compared with Texas.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

22.1% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 33.8%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	15.2%	$26,761	$669	$68,594
1 earner	37.1%	$41,696	$1,042	$124,187
2 earners	36.1%	$80,643	$2,016	$269,161
3+ earners	11.6%	$110,695	$2,767	$381,025

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

138,433

Average size: 3.05 people

Households with children

46,069

33.3% of households

Per-capita income

$24,089

Poverty rate: 19.9%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

65.2% owner-occupied vs. state average 62.6%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 67.5% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 13.4%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

29.1% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,992.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $136,500.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $912.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 21,246 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 5.9% · For rent 13.4% · Seasonal 46.1% · Other 29.8%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

23.9% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 76.1% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

6.1%

9,798 units of 159,679 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

4.0%

6,321 units of 159,679 total

Census "Other vacant" — units off the market for reasons other than seasonal, migrant, sale, or rental.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$42,081

100% MHI$52,601

120% MHI$63,121

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Cameron County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$46,900	$53,600	$66,950
100% AMI	$45,220	$51,680	$64,600
120% AMI	$54,250	$62,000	$77,500

HUD FMR Area: Brownsville-Harlingen, TX MSA. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

49.8% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (24.7% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

19.7% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Cameron County.

Covered employment

137,450

Across 21 sectors

Establishments

7,200

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$43,481

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	46,282	$36,440	$104,623	−$31,877	$911
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	17,538	$33,102	$92,197	−$44,303	$828
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	17,369	$21,179	$47,816	−$88,684	$529
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	9,401	$36,225	$103,822	−$32,678	$906
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	7,110	$62,209	$200,544	+$64,044	$1,555
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	6,662	$77,685	$258,150	+$121,650	$1,942
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	5,544	$109,149	$375,270	+$238,770	$2,729
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	5,107	$59,910	$191,986	+$55,486	$1,498
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	4,206	$52,002	$162,550	+$26,050	$1,300
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	3,406	$63,957	$207,050	+$70,550	$1,599
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	3,041	$57,565	$183,257	+$46,757	$1,439
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	2,768	$38,478	$112,209	−$24,291	$962
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	2,005	$50,837	$158,213	+$21,713	$1,271
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	1,883	$40,589	$120,067	−$16,433	$1,015
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	1,570	$24,368	$59,686	−$76,814	$609
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	1,491	$58,105	$185,267	+$48,767	$1,453
NAICS 22 Utilities NAICS 22	905	$68,634	$224,460	+$87,960	$1,716
NAICS 55 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 55	594	$41,028	$121,701	−$14,799	$1,026
NAICS 11 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting NAICS 11	400	$35,547	$101,298	−$35,202	$889
NAICS 21 Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction NAICS 21	101	$55,066	$173,955	+$37,455	$1,377
NAICS 99 Unclassified NAICS 99	67	$37,054	$106,908	−$29,592	$926

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	22,919	$33,210	$92,599	−$43,901	$830
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	15,730	$20,729	$46,141	−$90,359	$518
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	11,398	$20,050	$43,613	−$92,887	$501
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	9,108	$35,576	$101,406	−$35,094	$889
NAICS 623 Nursing and residential care facilities NAICS 623	8,146	$51,138	$159,333	+$22,833	$1,278
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	5,544	$109,149	$375,270	+$238,770	$2,729
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	5,069	$27,308	$70,630	−$65,870	$683
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	4,069	$96,032	$326,444	+$189,944	$2,401
NAICS 622 Hospitals NAICS 622	3,820	$73,372	$242,096	+$105,596	$1,834
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	3,107	$34,291	$96,623	−$39,877	$857
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	2,713	$53,912	$169,659	+$33,159	$1,348
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	2,525	$50,795	$158,057	+$21,557	$1,270
NAICS 336 Transportation equipment manufacturing NAICS 336	2,336	$56,111	$177,845	+$41,345	$1,403
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	2,046	$65,777	$213,825	+$77,325	$1,644
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	2,005	$50,837	$158,213	+$21,713	$1,271
NAICS 423 Merchant wholesalers, durable goods NAICS 423	1,791	$56,573	$179,564	+$43,064	$1,414
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	1,658	$60,359	$193,657	+$57,157	$1,509
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	1,640	$25,486	$63,848	−$72,652	$637
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	1,568	$46,250	$141,139	+$4,639	$1,156
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	1,560	$22,240	$51,765	−$84,735	$556
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	1,476	$34,416	$97,089	−$39,411	$860
NAICS 488 Support activities for transportation NAICS 488	1,355	$47,929	$147,388	+$10,888	$1,198
NAICS 311 Food manufacturing NAICS 311	1,297	$48,306	$148,792	+$12,292	$1,208
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	1,281	$25,353	$63,353	−$73,147	$634
NAICS 524 Insurance carriers and related activities NAICS 524	1,250	$58,970	$188,487	+$51,987	$1,474
NAICS 531 Real estate NAICS 531	1,194	$38,058	$110,645	−$25,855	$951
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	1,150	$59,761	$191,431	+$54,931	$1,494
NAICS 517 Telecommunications NAICS 517	1,062	$61,527	$198,005	+$61,505	$1,538
NAICS 713 Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries NAICS 713	1,018	$20,537	$45,426	−$91,074	$513
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	978	$41,498	$123,450	−$13,050	$1,037
NAICS 221 Utilities NAICS 221	905	$68,634	$224,460	+$87,960	$1,716
NAICS 458 Clothing, clothing accessories, shoe, and jewelry retailers NAICS 458	894	$18,843	$39,121	−$97,379	$471
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	877	$31,489	$86,193	−$50,307	$787
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	854	$36,226	$103,826	−$32,674	$906
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	805	$45,092	$136,828	+$328	$1,127
NAICS 236 Construction of buildings NAICS 236	763	$57,316	$182,330	+$45,830	$1,433
NAICS 333 Machinery manufacturing NAICS 333	724	$54,862	$173,195	+$36,695	$1,372
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	699	$66,850	$217,819	+$81,319	$1,671
NAICS 492 Couriers and messengers NAICS 492	690	$51,905	$162,189	+$25,689	$1,298
NAICS 332 Fabricated metal product manufacturing NAICS 332	612	$57,639	$183,532	+$47,032	$1,441
NAICS 551 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 551	594	$41,028	$121,701	−$14,799	$1,026
NAICS 449 Furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers NAICS 449	582	$40,478	$119,653	−$16,847	$1,012
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	579	$56,455	$179,125	+$42,625	$1,411
NAICS 712 Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions NAICS 712	540	$31,362	$85,721	−$50,779	$784
NAICS 493 Warehousing and storage NAICS 493	530	$90,495	$305,834	+$169,334	$2,262
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	491	$65,763	$213,773	+$77,273	$1,644
NAICS 325 Chemical manufacturing NAICS 325	423	$180,224	$639,835	+$503,335	$4,506
NAICS 327 Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing NAICS 327	350	$52,445	$164,199	+$27,699	$1,311
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	332	$66,646	$217,060	+$80,560	$1,666
NAICS 335 Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing NAICS 335	313	$54,744	$172,756	+$36,256	$1,369
NAICS 562 Waste management and remediation services NAICS 562	293	$56,369	$178,805	+$42,305	$1,409
NAICS 111 Crop production NAICS 111	184	$30,287	$81,719	−$54,781	$757
NAICS 115 Support activities for agriculture and forestry NAICS 115	161	$43,412	$130,575	−$5,925	$1,085
NAICS 326 Plastics and rubber products manufacturing NAICS 326	152	$40,507	$119,761	−$16,739	$1,013
NAICS 331 Primary metal manufacturing NAICS 331	125	$57,274	$182,174	+$45,674	$1,432
NAICS 925 Administration of housing programs, urban planning, and community development NAICS 925	124	$54,043	$170,147	+$33,647	$1,351
NAICS 485 Transit and ground passenger transportation NAICS 485	120	$36,800	$105,963	−$30,537	$920
NAICS 334 Computer and electronic product manufacturing NAICS 334	112	$136,201	$475,967	+$339,467	$3,405
NAICS 814 Private households NAICS 814	108	$18,590	$38,179	−$98,321	$465
NAICS 425 Wholesale trade agents and brokers NAICS 425	100	$50,089	$155,429	+$18,929	$1,252
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	99	$70,971	$233,159	+$96,659	$1,774
NAICS 312 Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing NAICS 312	89	$75,048	$248,335	+$111,835	$1,876
NAICS 323 Printing and related support activities NAICS 323	88	$39,526	$116,110	−$20,390	$988
NAICS 519 Web search portals, libraries, archives, and other information services NAICS 519	83	$34,135	$96,043	−$40,457	$853
NAICS 487 Scenic and sightseeing transportation NAICS 487	76	$26,861	$68,966	−$67,534	$672
NAICS 513 Publishing industries NAICS 513	72	$39,381	$115,570	−$20,930	$985
NAICS 321 Wood product manufacturing NAICS 321	70	$46,013	$140,256	+$3,756	$1,150
NAICS 999 Unclassified NAICS 999	67	$37,054	$106,908	−$29,592	$926
NAICS 928 National security and international affairs NAICS 928	62	$65,031	$211,048	+$74,548	$1,626
NAICS 339 Miscellaneous manufacturing NAICS 339	53	$30,885	$83,945	−$52,555	$772
NAICS 337 Furniture and related product manufacturing NAICS 337	52	$45,539	$138,492	+$1,992	$1,138
NAICS 112 Animal production and aquaculture NAICS 112	35	$28,323	$74,408	−$62,092	$708
NAICS 314 Textile product mills NAICS 314	35	$30,663	$83,119	−$53,381	$767
NAICS 114 Fishing, hunting and trapping NAICS 114	20	$33,277	$92,849	−$43,651	$832
NAICS 711 Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries NAICS 711	12	$34,637	$97,911	−$38,589	$866
NAICS 518 Computing infrastructure providers, data processing, web hosting, and related services NAICS 518	8	$95,045	$322,770	+$186,270	$2,376

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	490	(920)	(65%)	$11.63	$24,200	$59,061	$605
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	6,570	2,420	58%	$11.95	$24,860	$61,518	$622
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	2,430	10	0%	$12.66	$26,330	$66,990	$658
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	3,420	(740)	(18%)	$12.83	$26,680	$68,293	$667
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	3,820	(1,510)	(28%)	$14.74	$30,660	$83,107	$767
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	1,070	(6,880)	(87%)	$16.03	$33,330	$93,046	$833
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	2,490	120	5%	$16.18	$33,660	$94,274	$842
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	2,900	(1,700)	(37%)	$16.82	$34,990	$99,225	$875
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	460	170	59%	$17.38	$36,150	$103,543	$904
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	250	70	39%	$17.55	$36,490	$104,809	$912
Tellers SOC 43-3071	290	(470)	(62%)	$18.24	$37,940	$110,206	$949
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	1,750	260	17%	$18.82	$39,140	$114,673	$979
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	310	(60)	(16%)	$20.23	$42,070	$125,579	$1,052
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	250	90	56%	$22.88	$47,590	$146,127	$1,190
Electricians SOC 47-2111	450	180	67%	$23.08	$48,000	$147,653	$1,200
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	70	(20)	(22%)	$24.41	$50,760	$157,926	$1,269
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	1,660	30	2%	$24.99	$51,980	$162,468	$1,300
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	820	(180)	(18%)	$29.41	$61,170	$196,676	$1,529
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	1,950	(410)	(17%)	—	$62,090	$200,101	$1,552
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	2,930	570	24%	$41.40	$86,110	$289,511	$2,153

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 48061 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.