The Town FilesSouth Padre Island, Texas
Town in Cameron County · population 2,066 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $516,900
- Household income
- $70,472
- Jan low / Jul high
- 52° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 60.8
South Padre Island is a town of 2,066 people in Cameron County, Texas. The median home is worth $516,900, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks hipper than 98% of Texas towns, more seaside character than 97% of Texas towns, quieter than 94% of Texas towns.
How South Padre Island 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 South Padre Island is worth $516,900, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 7.3 times the median household income of $70,472, which is more affordable than 1% of Texas towns. Median rent is $1,521 a month. 69.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Padre Island | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $516,900 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $1,521 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $70,472 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 7.3× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 69.8% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 66.9% | — |
Who lives in South Padre Island
| People | South Padre Island | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 60.8 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 40.0% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 9.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 52.7% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.0% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 12.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 14.7% | — |
| Work from home | 31.5% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 12.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.1% | 89.2% |
Weather in South Padre Island
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 51.7°F. About 28.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.2 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 95 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 1 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Padre Island since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on May 13, 2023 about 5.9 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 11 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on October 27, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 9, 2026.
Severe weather in Cameron County since 1996
Cameron County has been included in 34 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2025 | Flood | DR-4871: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 9, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4798: Hurricane Beryl |
| February 19, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4586: Severe Winter Storms |
| February 14, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3554: Severe Winter Storm |
| August 24, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3540: Tropical Storms Marco And Laura |
Jobs and pay in Cameron County
Cameron County had 156,619 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,590 a year. Unemployment was 5.4% in 2023; in South Padre Island itself the ACS puts it at 5.6%.
Towns near South Padre Island
- Laguna Heights, TX6.1 mi · 962 people · home $77,200
- Laguna Vista, TX7.9 mi · 3,520 people · home $255,900
- Port Isabel, TX9.4 mi · 5,028 people · home $182,600
- Laureles, TX19.8 mi · 4,111 people · home $152,400
- Los Fresnos, TX19.9 mi · 8,114 people · home $152,200
- La Tina Ranch, TX20.0 mi · 687 people · home $107,100
- Reid Hope King, TX20.5 mi · 667 people · home $108,200
- Indian Lake, TX20.7 mi · 839 people · home $65,400
South Padre Island questions
Is South Padre Island, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Padre Island scores better for retirees than 84% of Texas towns and quieter than 94%. 40.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 60.8).
How much does a house cost in South Padre Island?
The median owner-occupied home in South Padre Island is valued at $516,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,472, so homes cost about 7.3 times income. Median rent is $1,521 a month.
What is the weather like in South Padre Island?
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 51.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 28.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.2 inches of snow.
Does South Padre Island get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Padre Island since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on May 13, 2023. 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)