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Texas›Starr County
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Santa CruzTX

A town of 285.

Population
285
Census survey, 2020–24
Household income
$73K
median
Median age
67.5
years

Is Santa Cruz a good place to live?

Santa Cruz has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.

Small town

285 people, and everyone knows the way

In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.

Nearby towns
Rio Grande City · 4 miLa Grulla · 9 miEscobares · 13 miSullivan City · 14 miRoma · 15 miLa Joya · 19 mi
Rio Grande CityRio Grande CitySanta Cruz
Getting set up

Moving to Santa Cruz: who provides what

Santa Cruz is unincorporated, so Starr County and regional agencies provide most services.

PowerMagic Valley Electric Coop10.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterUnion WSC1 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers94% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesStarr CountyStarr County provides services here
SchoolsRio Grande City Grulla Independent School DistrictWhich school depends on your addressNCES
Register to voteIn personTexas has no online registration; you can register in person until 30 days before Election Day or by mail (postmarked 30 days before).vote.gov
Who runs elections hereStarr County Early Voting ClerkStarr County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, May 2022
ZIP code7858278582 100%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Santa Cruz.

Climate

A typical July afternoon in Santa Cruz is hotter than in the typical Texas or U.S. town

Expect warm winters and hot summers in Santa Cruz, with very little rain. July afternoons reach 99°, January nights drop to 48° and snow is almost unheard of.

100°summer high

Typical low → high °F

Winter50–73°
Spring65–89°
Summer76–99°
Fall64–87°
Dec 17
typical first frost
Jan 31
typical last frost
+1.3°
vs. the 20th-century average
100°
typical summer high
Full pageSanta Cruz’s climate pageOpen the page
A year of weatherJuly highs 99°, January lows 48°Rain & snow21″ of rain a year · Snow is almost unheard ofHeating & coolingMostly a cooling billThen and now+1.3° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Health

Compared with most of Texas and the rest of the country, more of Santa Cruz’s adults get no exercise outside work

15% of adults binge drink in Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz: just over two in five adults sleep under 7 hours, above both Texas’ towns (39%) and U.S. towns (36%). In Santa Cruz, 20% of adults have diabetes, and 20% report frequent physical distress. CDC measures, 31 in all: Santa Cruz beats Texas on 1 and trails on 20.

Santa CruzTexas townsU.S. towns
Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES)39%24%19%
Diabetes (CDC PLACES)20%13%12%
Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES)20%15%14%
Get no exercise (CDC PLACES)46%30%25%
31 measures vs. Texas
1 better10 too close to call20 worse
What stands outSanta CruzTX
Fewer adults who have had cancer4%6.1%
More uninsured adults42.6%19.1%
Starr County Memorial Hospital
5.9 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
Full pageSanta Cruz’s health reportOpen the page
Everyday habitsMore adults who get no exerciseHospitals & doctors nearby5.9 miles to an ER · Starr County Memorial HospitalHow adults are doingMore adults in fair or poor healthEvery CDC estimateBetter than TX on 1 of 31

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Natural hazards

Natural hazards: moderate risk in Santa Cruz, mostly cold waves

Of the losses FEMA expects in Santa Cruz, 65% come from cold waves and 26% from inland flooding. FEMA expects more storm and flood damage here than in 57% of U.S. communities.

57risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
57Moderate riskLowerHigher
Cold wavesInland flooding
Full pageSanta Cruz’s hazards pageOpen the page
What it facesModerate riskFlood claims0 paid flood claims · No paid flood claims on recordPast disasters19 disaster declarations · Declared for the countyGet ready2.5 events a year, on average · Ready for cold waves

FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Santa Cruz

13pages on Santa Cruz
The big questions
HealthBetter than TX on 1 of 31 CDC measuresWork & commute$73K median household incomeNatural hazardsFEMA risk higher than 57% of U.S. communities · cold waves
Out and about
PlacesAttractions6 nearby · Border Theater 29 miLibraryRio Grande City Public LibraryColleges
The story
Climate100° summer highs
Day to day
NewsWeatherHandbookTown SquareNeighbors
After high school

Colleges nearby

None within 15 miles of Santa Cruz; the nearest are

South Texas CollegeCommunity college · Public · McAllen33.2 mi$4,920 in-state tuitionThe University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyUniversity or college · Public · Edinburg36.9 mi$9,987 in-state tuitionTexas Southmost CollegeCommunity college · Public · Brownsville85.1 mi$3,148 in-state tuition

About 0 of every 100 Santa Cruz residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Texas.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

Questions about Santa Cruz

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Santa Cruz, TX a good place to live?

Santa Cruz has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.