El Refugio, Texas
Census designated place in Starr County, Texas · ZIP 78582
- Starr County
- Census data · ACS 2019-2023
- 686 (2019-2023 estimate)Population
- 173Households
- $51,042Median household income
- 1ZIP codes
About El Refugio
This page shows only what has been published about El Refugio: Census facts with their sources first, then its businesses, jobs, events, people in public roles, housing and questions as they are added. Nothing here is written by the town government.
Town intelligenceOfficial sources, refreshed yearly
| Census | Population |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 221 |
| 2010 | 331 |
| 2020 | 407 |
As counted at each census, within the boundaries the area had then; the current estimate is in the glance card.
Sources: Census 2000 Summary File 1: total population, place level, state 48, retrieved November 14, 2026; Census 2010 Summary File 1: total population, place level, state 48, retrieved November 14, 2026; Census 2020 Redistricting Data (P.L. 94-171): total population, place level, state 48, retrieved November 14, 2026.
Median household income $51,042 · Share of households by income, American Community Survey 5-year 2019-2023, table S1901.
Source: American Community Survey 5-year subject table S1901 (household income) 2019–2023, place level, state 48, retrieved November 14, 2026.
- Owner occupied
- 121 units
- Renter occupied
- 52 units
- Vacancy rate
- 10.8%
Occupied housing units by tenure and the share of all units vacant, American Community Survey 5-year 2019-2023, table DP04.
Source: American Community Survey 5-year data profile 2019–2023, place level, state 48, retrieved November 14, 2026.
| Measure | El Refugio | Starr County | Texas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 686 | 65,809 | 29,640,343 |
| Median household income | $51,042 | $38,182 | $76,292 |
| Median age | 22.0 | 29.1 | 35.5 |
| Median home value | Not available | $93,300 | $260,400 |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 4.4% | 13.3% | 33.1% |
| Foreign-born residents | 17.9% | 27.5% | 17.2% |
| Owner-occupied homes | 69.9% | 71.6% | 62.6% |
| Mean commute to work | 15.1 minutes | 24.4 minutes | 26.7 minutes |
Source: American Community Survey 5-year data profile 2019–2023, place level, state 48, retrieved November 14, 2026.
CommunityRules and moderation
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Events in El RefugioAll events
No upcoming event is listed in El Refugio yet. Members and businesses add events from the Events page; each is screened before it shows.
Schools
No public school is listed for El Refugio: either the NCES directory for Texas is not loaded yet, or no school's address falls inside El Refugio’s boundary. Schools in neighbouring towns are on their pages.
Legislative districts
| Chamber | District |
|---|---|
| U.S. House of Representatives | Congressional District 28 (TX-28) |
| State legislature, lower chamber | State House District 31 |
| State legislature, upper chamber | State Senate District 21 |
Boundaries from the Census Bureau’s TIGER/Line district files, matched to El Refugio’s own boundary. Who holds each seat appears on the People page once the official records are approved.
Sources: Census cartographic boundaries 2025: congressional districts, 119th Congress, retrieved November 14, 2026; Census cartographic boundaries 2025: state legislative districts, upper chamber, state 48, retrieved November 14, 2026; Census cartographic boundaries 2025: state legislative districts, lower chamber, state 48, retrieved November 14, 2026.
Frequently asked about El RefugioPromoted from questions people asked
No question about El Refugio has been asked often enough to publish an answer yet. Ask El Refugio and the answer, once a person checks it, appears here.
Nearby towns
- La PuertaCensus designated place
- El ChaparralCensus designated place
- Garza-Salinas IICensus designated place
- Santa RosaCensus designated place
- Santa CruzCensus designated place
- B and ECensus designated place
- Amada AcresCensus designated place
- CamargitoCensus designated place
- ChaparritoCensus designated place
- La CasitaCensus designated place
Other towns in Starr County
- Airport HeightsCensus designated place
- Alto Bonito HeightsCensus designated place
- Amada AcresCensus designated place
- AnacuaCensus designated place
- B and ECensus designated place
- BarreraCensus designated place
- Benjamin PerezCensus designated place
- Buena VistaCensus designated place
- CamargitoCensus designated place
- Campo VerdeCensus designated place