Median Age
58 Years
Largest Age Group
65-74 Years
Approximately 21% of Residents
Under 20
13%
Over 65
39%
South Padre Island
South Padre Island, TX Area Guide
Avg Rent
$836
Population
3,055
Renter Mix
36% Rent
Surround yourself with dolphins and sea turtles
Beach
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Ocean
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Coastal
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Resort
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Tropical
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Tourism
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Island Living
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Wildlife
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Outdoors
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If you're dreaming of life on an island, where your free time is spent on a sandy beach enjoying everything from swimming and surfing to boating and fishing, South Padre Island might be the place for you. South Padre Island is a resort town known for its beautiful beaches and water sports. It is located on a barrier island off the southernmost tip of Texas, roughly 25 miles northeast of Brownsville. The island is very narrow, so no matter where you choose to live in South Padre Island, you'll be close to the water.
While dolphin-watching and sea turtles will consume much of your time, South Padre Island does offer a variety of shops and restaurants to explore -- many catering to the booming tourist industry. Among the surf shops, you'll find a smattering of art galleries, book stores, and specialty shops. The South Padre Island Farmers Market, open every Sunday, provides fresh produce, eggs, and (of course) seafood.
The Padre Island National Seashore takes up much of the island north of South Padre Island and is the world's longest stretch of undeveloped barrier island. The park provides 70 miles of unspoiled beaches and is home to nearly 400 different species of birds. The park is popular for camping, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, and fishing. From mid-June through August, sea turtles hatchlings draw tourists from all over, anxious to see the hatchlings take their 30-40 minute trek across the beach and into the water.
Explore the City
Dolphin-watching is offered by the South Padre Island Dolphin Research & Sea Life Nature Center
The critically endangered Atlantic ridley sea turtle on Padre Island National Seashore
Demographics
Median Household Income
$74,540
Average: $110,715
Education
1,667
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
1,572
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
South Padre Island has more homeowners than renters.
Renters
36%
Non-Renters
64%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
43%
Other Education
57%
Rent Trends
As of May 2026, the average apartment rent in South Padre Island, TX is $836 for one bedroom, and $1,963 for two bedrooms. Apartment rent in South Padre Island has increased by 0.8% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$836/month
324 Sq Ft
Condo
$2,776/month
1,064 Sq Ft
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly South Padre Island, TX is for everyday living.
Somewhat Walkable
Walkability
30
/ 100
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
100
/ 100
Moderately Bikeable
Bikeability
70
/ 100
Scores provided by
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center
- Caprock Canyons State Park
- Port Isabel Lighthouse State Historic Site
Airports
- Brownsville/South Padre Island International
- Valley International
Colleges
Top Apartments in South Padre Island
Houses for Rent in South Padre Island
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Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.