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The 2022 regional reports use the latest available annual data from a variety of state and federal sources on or about Sept. 1, 2021. The data for the 2020 U.S. Census is as of Oct. 1, 2021. Sources include JobsEQ, REMI, Texas A&M Real Estate Center, Texas Department of Transportation, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.
The 19-county Alamo region covers about 18,000 square miles in south central Texas, stretching from Fredericksburg and Kerrville in the Hill Country to Port Lavaca on the Gulf Coast.
The Alamo region includes two metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs): the San Antonio-New Braunfels MSA, which includes Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe, Kendall, Medina and Wilson counties and the Victoria MSA, which includes Calhoun, Goliad and Victoria counties. The region’s other eight counties are not associated with an MSA.
This report examines regional economic information and trends regarding population, personal income, jobs and wages, and education, as well as economic conditions unique to the Alamo region.
According to the 2020 Census, the Alamo region had a total population approaching 2.9 million, or 9.8 percent of the state’s total population. The San Antonio-New Braunfels MSA accounted for 89 percent of the region’s population and 8.8 percent of the state, with 70 percent of the region concentrated in Bexar County.
The region’s population grew by 17.5 percent (about 425,000 people) since the 2010 Census, compared to 15.9 percent growth statewide. Comal County led regional gains during this period at 48.9 percent. Despite overall population growth, nine of the 19 counties in the region lost population during the past 10 years.
The median age in the Alamo region was 35.5 years in 2019, older than the state median age of 34.6 years. The San Antonio-New Braunfels MSA’s median age (34.7 years) was similar to that of the state. Frio (31.2 years) was the youngest county in the region and Bandera (52.2 years) was the oldest (Exhibit 1). An area’s age distribution can reveal can reveal specific challenges. A younger county may prioritize education and workforce development, for example, while an older county might face retirement issues and higher health care costs.
County | 2010 Census | 2020 Census | Change 2010 to 2020 |
Percent Change | Median Age |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Atascosa | 44,911 | 48,981 | 4,070 | 9.1% | 35.4 |
Bandera | 20,485 | 20,851 | 366 | 1.8% | 52.2 |
Bexar | 1,714,773 | 2,009,324 | 294,551 | 17.2% | 33.6 |
Calhoun | 21,381 | 20,106 | -1,275 | -6.0% | 37.7 |
Comal | 108,472 | 161,501 | 53,029 | 48.9% | 42.2 |
DeWitt | 20,097 | 19,824 | -273 | -1.4% | 41.0 |
Frio | 17,217 | 18,385 | 1,168 | 6.8% | 31.2 |
Gillespie | 24,837 | 26,725 | 1,888 | 7.6% | 50.0 |
Goliad | 7,210 | 7,012 | -198 | -2.7% | 46.1 |
Gonzales | 19,807 | 19,653 | -154 | -0.8% | 36.3 |
Guadalupe | 131,533 | 172,706 | 41,173 | 31.3% | 37.0 |
Jackson | 14,075 | 14,988 | 913 | 6.5% | 37.7 |
Karnes | 14,824 | 14,710 | -114 | -0.8% | 35.4 |
Kendall | 33,410 | 44,279 | 10,869 | 32.5% | 41.4 |
Kerr | 49,625 | 52,598 | 2,973 | 6.0% | 47.4 |
Lavaca | 19,263 | 20,337 | 1,074 | 5.6% | 43.4 |
Medina | 46,006 | 50,748 | 4,742 | 10.3% | 39.0 |
Victoria | 86,793 | 91,319 | 4,526 | 5.2% | 35.9 |
Wilson | 42,918 | 49,753 | 6,835 | 15.9% | 40.2 |
Alamo Region Total | 2,437,637 | 2,863,800 | 426,163 | 17.5% | 35.5 |
San Antonio-New Braunfels MSA | 2,142,508 | 2,558,143 | 415,635 | 19.4% | 34.7 |
Victoria MSA | 94,003 | 98,331 | 4,328 | 4.6% | 36.7 |
Texas Total | 25,145,561 | 29,145,505 | 3,999,944 | 15.9% | 34.6 |
Note: Median age data for the counties are from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2015 to 2019; Region median age calculations are from JobsEQ.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
The Alamo region had a median household income of $60,196 in 2019, up from $48,778 in 2010, a 23.4 percent increase. Median household income in Texas, by comparison, was $61,874 in 2019, up 24.6 percent from 2010.
The region’s income distribution finds proportionally fewer households in the top quintile when compared to Texas as a whole (Exhibit 2).
Income Level | Alamo Region | State Total |
---|---|---|
less than $25,000 | 19% | 19% |
$25,000 to $49,999 | 22% | 22% |
$50,000 to $74,999 | 19% | 18% |
$75,000 to $99,999 | 13% | 13% |
$100,000 or more | 26% | 29% |
Note: Figures may not sum due to rounding.
Source: Income distribution derived by JobsEQ using data from U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, 2015 to 2019.
A strong educational foundation provides a cornerstone for growth and competitiveness in the global economy. Postsecondary education delivers a good return on investments of time and tuition.
Data for 2021 indicates that occupations in the Alamo region requiring at least an associate degree or certificate paid an average of $4,400 more annually than those requiring less than a postsecondary education. Occupations requiring at least a bachelor’s degree paid an average of $42,900 more (Exhibit 3).
Educational Attainment | Number Employed, Region | Percent of Region | Average Annual Earnings, Region | Number Employed, Texas | Percent of Texas | Average Annual Earnings, Texas |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No Postsecondary Award | 913,428 | 63.8% | $40,700 | 9,051,532 | 61.8% | $44,733 |
Associate Degree or Certificate | 120,615 | 8.4% | $45,100 | 1,120,514 | 7.6% | $47,600 |
Bachelor's Degree | 261,121 | 18.3% | $83,600 | 2,987,310 | 20.4% | $88,800 |
Postgraduate Degree | 135,346 | 9.5% | $104,700 | 1,509,671 | 10.3% | $110,300 |
Note: Figures may not sum due to rounding.
Sources: JobsEQ; Education requirement category assignments are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
A postsecondary education also offers opportunity for greater job prospects, workplace advancement, higher wages and the development of a richer world view. The Alamo region offers a variety of options for higher educational achievement, including nine universities, two junior and community colleges and one health science school (Exhibit 4).
Institution | Type of Institution | Fall 2020 Enrollment |
---|---|---|
Our Lady of the Lake University of San Antonio | University | 2,771 |
Schreiner University | University | 1,244 |
St. Mary's University | University | 2,748 |
Texas A&M University-San Antonio | University | 6,741 |
Texas Lutheran University | University | 1,498 |
The University of Texas at San Antonio | University | 34,402 |
Trinity University | University | 2,677 |
University of Houston-Victoria | University | 4,931 |
University of the Incarnate Word | University | 7,103 |
Alamo Community College District | Junior or Community College | 68,319 |
Victoria College | Junior or Community College | 3,214 |
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio | Health Science School | 3,439 |
Source: Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
Residents of the Alamo region have access to a variety of hospital services. General hospitals offer a comprehensive range of services and facilities for medical diagnoses and treatments, including surgical services. Special hospitals provide clinical laboratory facilities, diagnostic X-ray facilities, treatment facilities or other definitive medical treatments (Exhibit 5).
For a list of facilities offering services other than hospitals – such as rural health clinics, community mental health centers and birthing centers – visit Texas Health and Human Services.
Facility Type | Number of Facilities | Total Number of Beds | Average Number of Beds Per Facility |
---|---|---|---|
General Hospital | 39 | 8,146 | 208.87 |
Special Hospital | 22 | 701 | 31.86 |
Private Psychiatric Hospital | 4 | 552 | 138 |
State Psychiatric Hospital | 2 | 488 | 244 |
Note: State psychiatric hospitals data as of February 2019
Source: Texas Department of Health and Human Services
Access to health care facilities adds to the viability of a community. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the share of Texans without health insurance — 18.4 percent in 2019 — was twice the national average of 9.2 percent.
In 2019, the rate of uninsured in the Alamo region ranged from a low of 15.0 percent in Comal County to a high of 25.2 percent in Gonzales County; the overall rate for the region was 18.9 percent (Exhibit 6). (For additional information, see Uninsured Texans, Fiscal Notes, October 2020).
County | Uninsured Population | Percent Uninsured |
---|---|---|
Gonzales | 4,266 | 25.2% |
Gillespie | 4,544 | 24.2% |
Kerr | 8,656 | 23.8% |
Frio | 3,265 | 22.8% |
Atascosa | 9,578 | 22.2% |
Jackson | 2,632 | 22.1% |
Bandera | 3,371 | 20.5% |
Calhoun | 3,480 | 20.3% |
Victoria | 15,208 | 20.2% |
DeWitt | 2,921 | 20.1% |
Karnes | 2,028 | 19.5% |
Bexar | 327,450 | 19.1% |
Lavaca | 2,881 | 18.9% |
Medina | 7,422 | 18.2% |
Goliad | 982 | 17.0% |
Kendall | 6,399 | 16.7% |
Wilson | 7,054 | 16.6% |
Guadalupe | 22,560 | 15.9% |
Comal | 19,100 | 15.0% |
Alamo Region | 453,797 | 18.9% |
Note: Uninsured population includes under 65 (ages 0-64) only.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, SAHIE (Small Area Health Insurance Estimates)
In 2020, the Alamo region had a gross domestic product (GDP) of $152.2 billion, about 8.6 percent of Texas’ statewide GDP of $1.8 trillion. Between 2010 and 2020, GDP rose by an average annual rate of 4.7 percent, over the statewide average annual rate of 3.6 percent. In 2020, GDP fell from the previous year by 4.9 percent, slightly more than the state’s GDP fall of 4.7 percent. (GDP values not adjusted for inflation.) Preliminary data for the first two quarters of 2021, however, suggest a significant economic rebound in many industries and regions.
Of the 1.2 million people employed in the Alamo region in 2020, 88.9 percent were in the San Antonio-New Braunfels MSA, while 3.4 percent were in the Victoria MSA. Between 2010 and 2020, employment rose by 17.7 percent in the San Antonio-New Braunfels metro area, higher than in the state (17.1 percent) and the U.S. (7.8 percent) (Exhibit 7).
Locality | Total Employed, 2020 | Change 2010 to 2020 | Percent Change 2010 to 2020 |
---|---|---|---|
United States | 150,028,344 | 10,838,037 | 7.8% |
Texas | 13,164,072 | 1,924,421 | 17.1% |
Alamo Region | 1,202,791 | 170,202 | 16.5% |
San Antonio-New Braunfels MSA | 1,069,094 | 160,732 | 17.7% |
Victoria MSA | 41,264 | -1,003 | -2.4% |
Source: JobsEQ using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages
In the five-year period between 2015 and 2020, total industry jobs in the Alamo region rose by 2.5 percent. During this period, by comparison, jobs rose by 3.3 percent in Texas and fell by 0.5 percent in the U.S.
The Alamo region’s largest industry sectors by employment are in restaurants, education and health care. Insurance and building equipment contractors also employ many workers in the region (Exhibit 8).
Industry | Employment | Average Annual Wages | Location Quotient | Employment Change, 2015 to 2020 | Percent Employment Change, 2015 to 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Restaurants and Other Eating Places | 91,246 | $19,947 | 1.27 | -2,914 | -3.1% |
Elementary and Secondary Schools | 78,901 | $45,961 | 1.26 | 2,415 | 3.2% |
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 42,275 | $64,768 | 0.88 | 405 | 1.0% |
Depository Credit Intermediation | 27,102 | $71,726 | 1.91 | 2,636 | 10.8% |
Home Health Care Services | 26,511 | $23,806 | 2.04 | -293 | -1.1% |
Grocery Stores | 25,102 | $34,940 | 1.14 | 4,307 | 20.7% |
Offices of Physicians | 24,588 | $96,338 | 1.11 | 3,309 | 15.6% |
Building Equipment Contractors | 22,391 | $55,047 | 1.18 | 3,391 | 17.8% |
Insurance Carriers | 21,884 | $114,784 | 2.21 | 2,861 | 15.0% |
Employment Services | 20,170 | $38,521 | 0.79 | -4,147 | -17.1% |
Total - All Industries | 1,202,791 | $52,568 | 1.00 | 29,409 | 2.5% |
Source: JobsEQ using data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages
Jobs in warehousing and storage and architectural and engineering services were among the leaders in regional gains between 2015 and 2020 (Exhibit 9).
Industry | Employment | Average Annual Wages | Location Quotient | Employment Change, 2015 to 2020 | Percent Employment Change, 2015 to 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Warehousing and Storage | 11,930 | $40,275 | 1.00 | 7,009 | 142.4% |
Grocery Stores | 25,102 | $34,940 | 1.14 | 4,307 | 20.7% |
Architectural, Engineering and Related Services | 14,094 | $84,062 | 1.08 | 3,845 | 37.5% |
Building Equipment Contractors | 22,391 | $55,047 | 1.18 | 3,391 | 17.8% |
Offices of Physicians | 24,588 | $96,338 | 1.11 | 3,309 | 15.6% |
Source: JobsEQ using data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages
Using the location quotient (LQ) — a measure of an industry’s relative size in a region compared to its average size in the nation — jobs in pipeline transportation of natural gas, support activities for mining and national security are highly concentrated and unique to the regional economy. An LQ of 1.25 or higher indicates that the region has a comparative advantage in the industry (Exhibit 10).
Industry | Employment | Average Annual Wages | Location Quotient | Employment Change, 2015 to 2020 | Percent Employment Change, 2015 to 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hunting and Trapping | 340 | $37,426 | 5.56 | 42 | 14.1% |
Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas | 1,314 | $134,719 | 5.23 | -412 | -23.9% |
Support Activities for Mining | 7,722 | $78,505 | 3.99 | -2,993 | -27.9% |
Other Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing | 404 | $30,963 | 3.84 | 69 | 20.5% |
National Security and International Affairs | 17,262 | $83,053 | 3.50 | 1,983 | 13.0% |
Resin, Synthetic Rubber and Artificial Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing | 2,414 | $114,834 | 3.29 | 638 | 35.9% |
Other Residential Care Facilities | 4,254 | $49,386 | 3.04 | 1,626 | 61.9% |
Amusement Parks and Arcades | 2,856 | $23,740 | 2.67 | -1,534 | -34.9% |
Water, Sewage and Other Systems | 4,480 | $60,934 | 2.55 | 615 | 15.9% |
RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps | 1,185 | $29,231 | 2.54 | -82 | -6.5% |
Source: JobsEQ using data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages
Occupations with high levels of employment and relative concentration reflect the industrial composition of the region. The Alamo region has large numbers of people in health care, fast food and retail occupations, in addition to material moving, truck driving and customer service (Exhibit 11).
Occupation | Employment | Average Annual Wages | Location Quotient | Employment Change, 2015 to 2020 | Percent Employment Change, 2015 to 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Laborers and Material Movers | 42,335 | $30,700 | 0.86 | 5,116 | 13.70% |
Fast Food and Counter Workers | 37,146 | $22,600 | 1.35 | 709 | 1.90% |
Retail Salespersons | 33,071 | $28,800 | 1.08 | -2,877 | -8.00% |
Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 31,444 | $22,700 | 1.15 | 4,365 | 16.10% |
Cashiers | 29,078 | $24,500 | 1.07 | -502 | -1.70% |
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | 27,337 | $38,800 | 1.03 | -1,974 | -6.70% |
Driver/Sales Workers and Truck Drivers | 27,199 | $41,600 | 0.99 | 2,765 | 11.30% |
Customer Service Representatives | 26,810 | $34,800 | 1.18 | 3,115 | 13.10% |
Building Cleaning Workers | 26,424 | $25,600 | 1.03 | -1,581 | -5.60% |
Office Clerks, General | 25,856 | $35,400 | 1.12 | 296 | 1.20% |
Source: JobsEQ using data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages
The Texas Housing Affordability Index (THAI) from the Texas A&M Real Estate Center measures the ability of a household earning the median family income to purchase a median-priced home. An index ratio greater than 1 means that the median family income is more than the income required to purchase the median home in a specific area. The calculations for the index assume that consumers are making a down payment of 20 percent and have a family income that is 25 percent of the price of the median home.[1]
According to the THAI, a median-income family in the Victoria MSA would have slightly more than twice the income needed to afford the median home in the area, compared to the San Antonio-New Braunfels MSA, where the median income is around one and a half the amount needed (Exhibit 12). While home prices in Victoria are more affordable than in the state as a whole, the San Antonio area is on par with the state.
Locality | 2019 | 2020 |
---|---|---|
State of Texas | 1.43 | 1.78 |
San Antonio-New Braunfels MSA | 1.46 | 1.74 |
Victoria MSA | 1.76 | 2.13 |
Source: Texas A&M Real Estate Center
Texas has 14 U.S. military installations within its borders. In 2019, these bases directly employed more than 226,000 and supported nearly 634,000 jobs in all. Military installations in Texas contributed an estimated $75.3 billion annually to the state’s GDP. The military installations within the Alamo region — Joint Base San Antonio, which includes Fort Sam Houston, Lackland Air Force Base and Randolph Air Force Base — had a major impact on the Texas economy, supporting an estimated 211,000 jobs and contributing nearly $25.2 billion to the state’s GDP in 2019 (Exhibit 13). Learn more about the impact of U.S. military installations on the state’s economy.
Region | Total Jobs Supported | U.S. Military Contribution
to State GDP (billions) |
---|---|---|
State of Texas | 633,892 | $75.3 |
Alamo Region | 210,998 | $25.2 |
Sources: Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts;
Texas Military Preparedness Commission and REMI
Metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) are federally mandated policymaking organizations created to coordinate transportation planning in urbanized areas. The Victoria MPO and the San Antonio-Bexar County/Alamo Area MPO coordinate transportation planning in the Alamo region. Roadways within the region make up parts of the San Antonio, Corpus Christi and Yoakum Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) districts.
Road miles and vehicle miles traveled for the region’s roadway network, as of 2019, are listed by road type (Exhibit 14).
Road Type | Centerline Miles | Lane Miles | Daily Vehicle Miles Traveled | Daily Truck Miles Traveled |
---|---|---|---|---|
Certified County Roads | 11,793.0 | 23,641.2 | 3,077,262.6 | 108,251.0 |
City Streets | 7,633.2 | 16,325.6 | 13,768,463.3 | 530,376.2 |
Farm or Ranch to Market Roads and Spurs | 3,046.3 | 6,289.1 | 7,220,607.4 | 646,445.5 |
Federal Roads | 110.1 | 212.1 | 34,073.3 | 1,059.8 |
Frontage Roads | 691.2 | 1,429.4 | 3,785,368.9 | 224,094.2 |
Interstate Highways | 394.3 | 1,911.9 | 25,075,952.5 | 4,081,483.6 |
Pass, Park and Recreation Roads | 35.0 | 112.6 | 561,021.3 | 21,849.9 |
State Highways, Spurs, Loops, Business Routes | 1,429.9 | 3,637.5 | 13,541,253.1 | 1,171,830.4 |
US Highways | 865.8 | 2,745.8 | 10,876,037.5 | 1,267,310.6 |
Total | 25,998.8 | 56,305.1 | 77,940,040.2 | 8,052,701.1 |
Source: Texas Department of Transportation
Transit authorities and transit districts are governmental entities or companies that coordinate public transit in an area. Bexar County is served by the VIA Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) while Victoria is served by a small urban transit district. Rural transit in the region is provided by Alamo Area Council of Governments and Concho Valley Transit District (Exhibit 15).
Transit District | Type | Total Operating Expense | Total Revenue | Unlinked Passenger Trips | Passenger Trips Per Capita | Operating Expense Per Trip |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VIA Metropolitan Transit Authority – San Antonio | MTA | $235,495,396 | $218,357,222 | 35,873,366 | 20.4 | $6.56 |
Victoria | Urban | $1,945,659 | $1,395,496 | 191,311 | 3 | $10.17 |
Alamo Area Council of Governments | Rural | $4,515,218 | $1,886,873 | 130,793 | 0.32 | $34.52 |
Concho Valley Transit District | Rural | $1,647,578 | $637,759 | 30,504 | 0.53 | $54.01 |
Source: Texas Department of Transportation
The state of Texas has 27 commercial service airports offering passenger service. Two of those commercial service airports are in the Alamo region (Exhibit 16).
Airport Name | City | U.S. Rank | 2019 Enplanements | 2020 Enplanements | Percent Change |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
San Antonio International (SAT) | San Antonio | 46 | 5,022,980 | 1,920,042 | -61.8% |
Victoria Regional (VCT) | Victoria | 461 | 5,734 | 2,837 | -50.5% |
Source: Federal Aviation Administration
Amtrak interstate passenger rail service runs three routes through the state of Texas (Texas Eagle, Heartland Flyer and Sunset Limited). Texans can get direct service to Chicago, Los Angeles, New Orleans and Oklahoma City plus numerous stops along the way as well as connections to the rest of the country. Amtrak’s one station in the Alamo region is in the city of San Antonio.
Ports of entry within Texas account for 17 percent of all U.S. international trade, and each region contributes to international trade in direct and indirect ways. The Alamo region has two direct trade official ports of entry (Exhibit 17).
Port of Entry | Exports | Imports |
---|---|---|
Port Lavaca | $720,950,588 | $102,500,104 |
San Antonio | $489,829,504 | $50,448,139 |
State of Texas Ports of Entry | $311,223,000,000 | $326,324,000,000 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, USA Trade Online, Port Level Data for 2020
If the Alamo region were a state, it would be the 42nd largest in terms of area and second in terms of population growth (Exhibit 18). For more information on how Texas and its distinct, diverse regions compare to the U.S. and other states, visit TexIndex.
Measure | Alamo Region | Rank as a State | Texas | State Rank | U.S. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Square Miles | 18,016 | 42 | 268,597 | 2 | 3,531,905 |
Population, 2020 Census | 2,863,800 | 36 | 29,145,505 | 2 | 331,449,281 |
Population Percent Change, 2010 to 2020 | 17.5% | 2 | 15.9% | 3 | 7.4% |
Population over 25 with at Least a High School Diploma, 2019 | 84.8% | 48 | 83.7% | 49 | 88.0% |
Population over 25 with Bachelor’s Degree or Higher, 2019 | 27.2% | 42 | 29.9% | 28 | 32.1% |
Per Capita Income, 2019 | $48,841 | 35 | $52,813 | 26 | $56,490 |
Median Household Income, 2019 | $60,196 | 28 | $61,874 | 22 | $62,843 |
Population Age 65 or Over, 2019 | 14.1% | 48 | 12.9% | 48 | 16.5% |
Population Under Age 18, 2019 | 24.7% | 4 | 25.5% | 2 | 22.3% |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
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