Goliad County

Goliad County is located in South Texas, southeast of San Antonio and inland from the Gulf Coast, within the Coastal Plains region. Established in 1836 and named for the town of Goliad, the county is closely associated with early Texas history, including events of the Texas Revolution centered around Presidio La Bahía. It is a small county by population, with roughly 7,000 residents, and remains predominantly rural. Land use is dominated by ranching and agriculture, along with oil and gas activity and related services. The landscape consists of rolling prairie, brush country, and river corridors, including the San Antonio River, with a warm subtropical climate typical of the region. Community life reflects a blend of Tejano and Anglo-Texan cultural influences. The county seat is Goliad, which serves as the primary administrative and service center.

Goliad County is a rural county in South Texas, located east of San Antonio and inland from the Texas Gulf Coast. The county seat is Goliad; local government information is maintained on the Goliad County official website.

Population Size

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts profile for Goliad County, Texas, the county’s population was 7,012 (April 1, 2020). The same profile provides the most recent Census Bureau population estimate for later years (displayed directly in QuickFacts).

Age & Gender

County-level age distribution and sex composition are published by the U.S. Census Bureau in QuickFacts under “Age and Sex.” The Goliad County QuickFacts page reports:

• Age distribution (percent under 18, 18–64, and 65+; plus median age)
• Gender ratio via Female persons, percent (and corresponding male share by difference)

Racial & Ethnic Composition

Racial and ethnic composition are reported by the U.S. Census Bureau in QuickFacts under “Race and Hispanic Origin.” The Goliad County QuickFacts profile provides county percentages for:

• White alone
• Black or African American alone
• American Indian and Alaska Native alone
• Asian alone
• Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone
• Two or more races
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race)

Household & Housing Data

Household and housing indicators are published by the U.S. Census Bureau in QuickFacts under “Housing” and “Families & Living Arrangements.” The Goliad County QuickFacts page includes county-level figures for:

• Households and persons per household
• Owner-occupied housing unit rate
• Median value of owner-occupied housing units
• Median selected monthly owner costs (with and without a mortgage)
• Median gross rent
• Building permits (housing units authorized)
• Total housing units and population per square mile (context for settlement density)

For authoritative, table-based county detail beyond QuickFacts (including more granular age brackets and household characteristics), the U.S. Census Bureau’s data.census.gov platform provides downloadable profiles and American Community Survey tables for Goliad County.

Goliad County is a largely rural county in South Texas, where low population density and longer distances between homes and network facilities tend to constrain fixed broadband buildout and make mobile connectivity more important for everyday digital communication.

Direct county-level email usage statistics are not routinely published, so email access trends are described using proxy indicators such as household internet subscriptions, computer availability, and age structure from the U.S. Census Bureau data portal and related Census tables.

Digital access indicators (proxy for email access)

The most relevant proxies are: (1) the share of households with a broadband internet subscription and (2) the share with a desktop/laptop or other computing device. Lower broadband or computer access generally corresponds to lower frequency and reliability of email use, especially for attachments and account verification.

Age distribution and email adoption

County age distribution influences email adoption because older populations typically show lower overall adoption of new digital services, while relying on email for healthcare, government, and account recovery. Local age structure can be referenced via Census age distribution tables.

Gender distribution

Gender composition is usually not a primary constraint on email access compared with connectivity, device access, and age; it is available in Census sex distribution tables.

Connectivity and infrastructure limitations

Infrastructure constraints are commonly reflected in broadband availability and provider coverage reported through the FCC National Broadband Map, where rural blocks may show fewer providers and more reliance on satellite or fixed wireless.

Goliad County is a sparsely populated, predominantly rural county in South Texas, roughly between Victoria and the Coastal Bend. Its land use is largely ranching and agriculture with small towns (including the City of Goliad) and significant stretches of low-density settlement. Flat-to-gently rolling terrain generally supports wide-area wireless propagation, while long distances between towers and fewer backhaul routes typical of rural counties can constrain capacity and coverage continuity. County-level population and housing density context is available from Census.gov (data.census.gov).

Key distinction: network availability vs. household adoption

Network availability refers to whether mobile broadband service is reported as available at specific locations (coverage). Household adoption refers to whether residents subscribe to and use mobile and/or fixed internet services (take-up). These measures often diverge in rural areas: a location may be “served” on coverage maps while still experiencing limited indoor signal, congestion, or affordability barriers that affect adoption and day-to-day use.

Mobile network availability (coverage) in Goliad County

FCC location-based broadband availability (4G/5G)

The most standardized public source for location-level U.S. coverage is the FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC), which includes mobile broadband availability by technology and provider. The FCC publishes these data through the National Broadband Map and related downloads. County and location views for mobile broadband availability are accessible via the FCC National Broadband Map. The FCC also documents BDC methodology and limitations on its FCC Broadband Data Collection pages.

What the FCC data can support at the county level

• Reported availability of 4G LTE and 5G mobile broadband by provider and advertised speed tiers.
• Distinction between outdoor mobile availability claims and the fact that maps may not reflect indoor reception, terrain/building attenuation, or congestion effects.

Limitations

• The FCC BDC reflects provider-reported availability and modeled coverage; it is not a direct measurement of on-the-ground performance.
• Countywide summaries may mask uneven service quality across large rural areas and along highways versus interior ranchland.

State and regional broadband planning context

Texas statewide broadband planning and mapping resources that complement the FCC view are maintained by the state broadband office. Program descriptions, mapping references, and planning documents are available via the Texas Broadband Development Office (Texas Comptroller). These materials generally focus on broadband access and gaps, including rural counties, but do not consistently publish county-specific mobile adoption rates.

Mobile internet usage patterns (4G vs. 5G) and performance context

Technology availability vs. typical usage

• 4G LTE is the baseline mobile broadband technology across most of rural Texas and is commonly the primary layer for wide-area coverage.
• 5G availability is reported in many Texas markets and transportation corridors, but the practical experience varies by spectrum type:
  • Low-band 5G can extend broadly but may resemble LTE in user experience.
  • Mid-band 5G (where deployed) improves capacity and speeds but coverage footprints are smaller.
  • High-band/mmWave is generally concentrated in dense urban areas and is unlikely to be the dominant rural coverage layer.

County-specific, publicly reported statistics separating actual resident usage by radio access technology (share of traffic on LTE vs. 5G) are not typically published at the county level. The FCC map provides availability rather than usage share. For performance-style indicators, third-party measurement reports often publish at metro or state scales rather than small rural counties; those are not definitive for Goliad County and are not cited as county facts.

Mobile as a substitute for fixed internet (mobile-only households)

A key usage pattern in rural areas is reliance on smartphones (and sometimes mobile hotspots) as the primary household internet connection when fixed broadband is limited, expensive, or unavailable. The most authoritative public measures of internet subscription and “smartphone-only” internet access are derived from the U.S. Census Bureau’s household surveys (primarily the American Community Survey). County tables for:

• households with a broadband subscription,
• households with cellular data plans,
• households with no internet subscription, can be accessed via Census.gov (ACS detailed tables). These data describe adoption rather than coverage, and margins of error can be substantial for small-population counties.

Mobile penetration and access indicators (adoption)

Household device and subscription indicators (Census)

For county-level adoption, the Census Bureau is the primary source. Relevant ACS “computer and internet use” measures include:

• share of households with a cellular data plan,
• share of households with smartphones,
• share of households with desktop/laptop/tablet devices,
• share of households with broadband (fixed) subscriptions versus cellular-only access.

These indicators can be retrieved for Goliad County through Census.gov by searching ACS tables related to internet subscriptions and computing devices. The Census Bureau’s technical documentation and questionnaire context for these measures is also available through the American Community Survey (ACS) site.

Limitations

• ACS estimates for smaller counties may have wide margins of error and are best interpreted as approximations.
• ACS describes household access and subscriptions, not signal quality, speeds, or reliability.

Program-related indicators (affordability and adoption)

Broadband affordability and adoption programs (historically including federal subsidy programs) influence mobile plan uptake and smartphone-only internet use. County-specific enrollment counts are not consistently published in a single authoritative dataset suitable for definitive statements. The state-level broadband office provides program context at the Texas Broadband Development Office.

Common device types in rural counties like Goliad (evidence-based indicators)

Smartphones vs. computers/tablets (Census device ownership)

County-level device prevalence is best described using ACS household device questions (smartphone, tablet, desktop/laptop). These data support defensible statements about whether smartphones are more prevalent than traditional computers in household device ownership and whether households rely on cellular data plans for internet service. The underlying estimates for Goliad County are available through Census.gov.

Limitations

• Public datasets do not provide a complete county inventory of “feature phones” versus smartphones beyond ACS household measures.
• Carrier sales data and handset model mix are proprietary and not available as county-level public statistics.

Demographic and geographic factors influencing mobile usage and connectivity

Rural settlement pattern and tower economics

• Low population density increases per-user infrastructure costs and can lead to fewer macro sites and longer distances between towers, affecting indoor coverage consistency and capacity during peak periods.
• Coverage is often strongest along major roads and within towns, with more variable service in remote ranchland.

These relationships are general rural network-planning constraints; FCC BDC maps provide the best public approximation of where providers report service in the county (FCC National Broadband Map), while ACS adoption tables show how households subscribe (Census.gov).

Income, age, and education (adoption drivers)

Demographic characteristics correlate with mobile-only internet reliance and smartphone-centric access patterns:

• Lower-income households are more likely to rely on smartphones and cellular plans as their primary connection.
• Older populations can show lower overall adoption of newer devices and broadband subscriptions.
• Educational attainment is associated with higher rates of home broadband subscription and multi-device ownership.

County demographic baselines used to interpret these adoption patterns are available via Census.gov and ACS profiles, but the data do not establish causation and do not directly measure network performance.

Land cover and built environment

Goliad County’s largely open land cover generally reduces radio obstruction compared with mountainous regions, supporting broader propagation from macro towers. Indoor coverage and reliability still depend on tower spacing, spectrum bands used, and building materials. Public sources do not publish countywide indoor coverage measurements; availability is primarily reflected through the FCC’s modeled/provider-reported data (FCC Broadband Data Collection).

Summary of what can be stated definitively from public sources

• Availability (coverage): Provider-reported 4G/5G mobile broadband availability for Goliad County can be examined using the FCC National Broadband Map, which is the main public, location-based source for mobile broadband availability in the U.S.
• Adoption (household usage/access): Household-level indicators such as smartphone presence, cellular data plan subscriptions, and broadband subscription types are available for the county from Census.gov (ACS), with noted margins-of-error considerations for small geographies.
• Device mix and usage patterns: Public county-level data reliably describe smartphones and cellular-plan prevalence at the household level (ACS). County-level splits of LTE vs. 5G traffic and detailed handset model distributions are not generally available in authoritative public datasets.

Goliad County is a small, largely rural county in South Texas within the Victoria metropolitan area, anchored by the City of Goliad and known for heritage tourism tied to the Texas Revolution (notably Goliad State Park & Historic Site). Its population size, rural settlement pattern, and commuting ties to nearby employment centers generally align local social media behavior with broader rural Texas patterns, where mobile connectivity and community networks often shape platform choice and engagement.

User statistics (penetration and active use)

• Local (county-specific) social media penetration figures are not published in major public datasets at the county level; the most defensible estimates rely on national and statewide benchmarks.
• U.S. adult social media use: Approximately 69% of U.S. adults report using at least one social media site, based on national survey research from the Pew Research Center’s Social Media Fact Sheet.
• Texas context: Texas generally tracks close to national patterns for broad platform adoption in large survey work; however, rural areas tend to show slightly lower adoption on some platforms, driven by age structure and broadband availability (discussed in rural technology adoption findings from Pew Research Center internet research).

Age group trends (who uses social media most)

Patterns below reflect consistent national findings that typically describe rural counties such as Goliad:

• Highest usage: Adults ages 18–29 show the highest social media usage rates across platforms in Pew’s national surveys (see the Pew Research Center platform-by-age breakdowns).
• Strong multi-platform use: Ages 30–49 commonly maintain active accounts across Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, with growing use of messaging and short-form video.
• Lower overall usage, but meaningful Facebook/YouTube presence: Ages 50–64 and 65+ are less likely to use many platforms overall, but remain significant users of Facebook and YouTube, particularly for community information, family connections, and news/video consumption (Pew platform profiles).

Gender breakdown

County-level gender splits for platform usage are not available in standard public sources, but national patterns are stable:

• Women are more likely than men to report using several major platforms in U.S. surveys, especially Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, while men are more likely to be represented on some discussion- and gaming-adjacent communities; overall differences vary by platform and age cohort (see Pew’s gender-by-platform tables).

Most-used platforms (share of U.S. adults; used as best available proxy)

The following percentages reflect U.S. adult usage in Pew’s platform estimates (commonly used as a baseline where local measurement is unavailable):

• YouTube: ~83%
• Facebook: ~68%
• Instagram: ~47%
• Pinterest: ~35%
• TikTok: ~33%
• LinkedIn: ~30%
• X (formerly Twitter): ~22%
• Snapchat: ~27% (Source: Pew Research Center social media fact sheets.)

For a rural South Texas county, Facebook and YouTube typically function as the broadest-reach platforms, with Instagram and TikTok skewing younger and more mobile-first.

Behavioral trends (engagement patterns and preferences)

• Community and local-information use: In rural counties, Facebook pages and groups commonly serve as hubs for school activities, local events, faith communities, small-business updates, and informal public-safety information sharing, reflecting Facebook’s strength in local network effects.
• Video-first consumption: YouTube’s reach supports high usage for how-to content, entertainment, and news clips; it also fits uneven broadband contexts because users can adapt quality settings and rely on mobile data.
• Younger audiences concentrate engagement on short-form video: TikTok and Instagram usage tends to be driven by younger residents and emphasizes short video, creators, and algorithmic feeds rather than local group-based discussion (platform profiles and age skews documented by Pew).
• Messaging and “light posting” behavior: Across the U.S., many users increasingly engage via private or semi-private channels (DMs, group messages) rather than frequent public posting; this pattern is widely noted in social platform research and is consistent with observed shifts in platform engagement measured in national surveys and industry reporting.

Sources used for defensible percentage estimates: Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024 (platform penetration and demographic patterns) and related Pew internet research on adoption patterns and demographics (Pew Research Center Internet & Technology).

Goliad County maintains several public records commonly used for family and associate research. Birth and death records are Texas vital records; certified copies are issued by the county clerk for eligible events recorded locally and by the State of Texas for statewide files. Marriage records (marriage licenses and returns) are recorded by the county clerk and are generally public. Divorce records are handled through the district court system; case files and indexes are typically accessed via the district clerk. Adoption records are generally sealed under Texas law and are not released as public records.

Public-facing databases include county deed and real-property indexes and some court record search tools. Official access points include the Goliad County Clerk (vital records, marriage records, and many recorded instruments): Goliad County Clerk, and the Goliad County District Clerk (district court records, including divorces): Goliad County District Clerk. For statewide vital-record ordering and verification, Texas Department of State Health Services provides official services: Texas Vital Statistics (DSHS).

Access occurs in person during office hours and, where available, through online portals or request-by-mail procedures described by the respective offices. Privacy restrictions commonly apply to recent birth records, some death records, and sealed court matters (including adoptions); identification and eligibility requirements are standard for certified copies.

Types of records available

• Marriage license records (Goliad County)

  • Marriage licenses are issued and recorded at the county level and form part of the county’s official public records.
  • Many counties also maintain informal (common-law) marriage declarations and applications for license as part of the marriage file.

• Divorce records (Goliad County)

  • Divorces are handled as civil cases in the county’s courts. The court case file commonly includes the final decree of divorce (final judgment) along with related pleadings and orders.
  • A statewide “divorce verification” record may also be available through Texas Vital Statistics for certain years (a statistical index-type record rather than the complete decree).

• Annulment records (Goliad County)

  • Annulments are court actions. The case file typically includes the decree/order of annulment and associated filings, maintained similarly to divorce case files.

Where records are filed and how they can be accessed

• Marriage licenses

  • Filed/recorded with: Goliad County Clerk (recording office for marriage licenses and other county public records).
  • Access: Certified and non-certified copies are requested from the County Clerk’s office according to its records request procedures (in-person, mail, and/or online services depending on current county offerings).
  • Online access: Some counties provide online search/index access through third-party or county-supported portals; availability and coverage vary by year and indexing completeness.

• Divorce decrees and annulment orders

  • Filed with: Goliad County District Clerk (custodian of district court records) and/or other court clerk offices depending on the court of jurisdiction and local court structure.
  • Access: Copies are obtained through the clerk maintaining the relevant court’s case file. Access commonly includes:
    • Searching case indexes (by party name and/or case number).
    • Requesting copies of the final decree and other documents in the file.
  • State-level access (vital statistics): Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Vital Statistics maintains statewide marriage and divorce verification records for certain periods; these are not substitutes for a full court decree or complete marriage file. Reference: Texas DSHS Vital Statistics.

Typical information included in these records

• Marriage license record

  • Full legal names of spouses
  • Date and place of issuance and date of marriage ceremony (when returned/recorded)
  • County and license number
  • Officiant name and title (and sometimes officiant address)
  • Applicant information commonly captured on the application (may include ages/dates of birth, places of birth, residences, and prior marital status depending on the form used at the time)

• Divorce decree (final judgment)

  • Names of parties and court/case number
  • Date of judgment and court/judge identification
  • Findings and orders regarding dissolution of marriage
  • Orders addressing children (conservatorship/custody, visitation/possession, child support) when applicable
  • Division of property and allocation of debts
  • Name-change orders (when granted)
  • References to prior temporary orders or settlement agreements (as applicable)

• Annulment decree/order

  • Names of parties and court/case number
  • Date of order and judge identification
  • Legal basis/findings supporting annulment under Texas law
  • Orders regarding children, property, and name changes when applicable

Privacy or legal restrictions

• Public record status (general rule)

  • Marriage license records and court judgments are generally public records in Texas, maintained by the County Clerk (marriage) and court clerks (divorce/annulment).

• Restricted content within court files

  • Certain information may be redacted or sealed under Texas law or court order, including:
    • Sensitive personal identifiers (for example, Social Security numbers) subject to redaction rules
    • Records involving minors, certain family-violence matters, or protected addresses (subject to statutory protections and court orders)
    • Any document specifically sealed by the court
  • Some documents may be accessible only to the parties, attorneys of record, or others authorized by statute or court order.

• Certified copies and identification

  • Clerks commonly require payment of statutory fees and adherence to office procedures for certified copies; access to certain confidential or sealed items is limited regardless of certification requests.

• State “verification” records limitations

  • DSHS Vital Statistics “verification” products typically provide limited, index-style information for identity and administrative purposes and do not include the full contents of a marriage file or a complete divorce/annulment case record.

Goliad County is in South Texas along the lower Guadalupe River, roughly between San Antonio and the Texas Gulf Coast. It is a small, rural county anchored by the City of Goliad and surrounding ranching and agricultural land, with a population a little above 7,000 in the early 2020s (U.S. Census/ACS). Community services and daily travel patterns reflect a low-density settlement pattern, with many residents commuting to larger employment centers in the Coastal Bend and San Antonio–Victoria corridor.

Education Indicators

Public schools (campuses and district structure)

Public K–12 education in the county is primarily served by Goliad Independent School District (GISD). GISD’s campuses are generally listed as:

• Goliad Elementary School
• Goliad Intermediate School
• Goliad Middle School
• Goliad High School

School listings and accountability information are maintained through the state’s district/campus directory and performance reports, including the Texas Education Agency district profile for Goliad ISD (Texas Academic Performance Reports (TAPR)) and the TEA “AskTED” directory (TEA AskTED).
Note: Countywide “number of public schools” varies by how campuses are grouped/renamed across years; TEA directories provide the most current campus count and names.

Student–teacher ratios and graduation rates

• Student–teacher ratio: The most consistently comparable county-level proxy is the ACS “students per teacher” measure. For Goliad County, this is typically in the mid-teens (about 14–16 students per teacher) based on recent ACS estimates (small-county margins of error can be large). Source: U.S. Census Bureau data.census.gov (ACS).
• Graduation rate: The most appropriate local measure is the Texas four-year longitudinal graduation rate reported for Goliad ISD/Goliad High School in TAPR. Recent TAPR editions generally show graduation rates in the high 80s to low 90s percent range for small cohorts, with year-to-year volatility due to small class sizes. Source: TEA TAPR.
  Proxy note: Small cohort sizes in rural districts can produce large swings in percentages; TAPR is the definitive source for district/campus graduation outcomes.

Adult educational attainment

Using the most recent ACS 5-year estimates available on data.census.gov for Goliad County (table series commonly used: DP02/DP03/DP05):

• High school diploma or higher (age 25+): approximately ~80–85%
• Bachelor’s degree or higher (age 25+): approximately ~15–20%
  Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (Goliad County educational attainment).
  Proxy note: These are survey estimates; the county’s small population increases uncertainty relative to larger counties.

Notable programs (STEM, CTE, AP/dual credit)

District-level program availability is typically reported through campus course catalogs and TAPR indicators:

• Career and Technical Education (CTE): Rural Texas districts commonly emphasize CTE pathways aligned to regional labor needs (agriculture, skilled trades, health science support, business/IT fundamentals). Goliad ISD program participation and performance indicators (CTE participation, industry-based certifications where applicable) appear in TAPR. Source: TEA TAPR.
• Advanced academic coursework: Many Texas high schools, including small rural campuses, offer Advanced Placement (AP) and/or dual credit options; actual course offerings and participation are best verified via district publications and TAPR college-readiness indicators. Source: TEA TAPR.
  Proxy note: Specific course lists (which AP subjects, which dual-credit partners) are not consistently captured in countywide datasets; district documentation is the most direct reference.

School safety measures and counseling resources

Texas public schools operate under state requirements for emergency operations, visitor controls, and student safety planning. Common measures in Texas districts include controlled building access, emergency drills, coordination with local law enforcement, and student support staffing.

• Safety planning framework: governed through Texas school safety and security requirements administered by TEA and related state entities. Reference: TEA school safety resources.
• Counseling/mental health supports: Texas districts typically provide school counseling services and may participate in state-supported mental health initiatives; campus-level staffing levels are not reliably available at the county level from ACS and are better verified through district reports.

Employment and Economic Conditions

Unemployment rate (most recent available)

The most current official monthly and annual unemployment estimates are produced by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS) and disseminated by the Texas Workforce Commission.

• Goliad County unemployment rate: recent annual averages have generally been in the low-to-mid 3% range (2023), with month-to-month variation. Source: Texas Workforce Commission labor market information and BLS LAUS.
  Proxy note: For the exact latest annual average, TWC’s county time series is the standard reference.

Major industries and employment sectors

ACS sector breakdowns for employed residents (place-of-residence, not place-of-work) indicate a rural county mix, typically led by:

• Educational services and health care/social assistance
• Retail trade
• Construction
• Public administration
• Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (higher share than urban counties, though not always the top sector in resident-based counts) Source: ACS industry (Goliad County).
  Context note: Because many residents commute, resident-industry shares can differ from the industry mix of jobs physically located inside the county.

Common occupations and workforce breakdown

ACS occupational groups for Goliad County commonly show concentrations in:

• Management, business, science, and arts occupations
• Service occupations
• Sales and office occupations
• Construction, extraction, and maintenance
• Production, transportation, and material moving Source: ACS occupation (Goliad County).
  Proxy note: Small sample sizes can blur fine-grained occupational detail; broad occupation groups are more stable than detailed occupations.

Commuting patterns and mean commute time

• Primary mode: Driving alone is the dominant commuting mode typical of rural Texas counties; carpooling is the secondary mode, with limited public transit use. Source: ACS commuting characteristics.
• Mean travel time to work: Recent ACS estimates for Goliad County are typically around the high-20s to low-30s minutes (approximately ~28–32 minutes). Source: ACS mean travel time.
  Context note: Travel times reflect longer-distance commuting to Victoria and other nearby regional job centers.

Local employment versus out-of-county work

ACS “county-to-county worker flows” and commuting statistics indicate that a substantial share of employed residents work outside Goliad County, consistent with small local job base and proximity to Victoria and the Coastal Bend. The most direct publicly accessible proxy is the ACS “worked in county of residence” measure, which is typically well under a majority in similar rural counties; exact shares should be taken from ACS flow/commuting tables for the latest 5-year period. Source: ACS commuting/worker flow tables.

Housing and Real Estate

Homeownership and rental share

ACS tenure estimates indicate Goliad County is predominantly owner-occupied:

• Owner-occupied housing: commonly ~70–80%
• Renter-occupied housing: commonly ~20–30% Source: ACS housing tenure (Goliad County).
  Proxy note: Percentages vary by ACS period; rural counties generally have higher homeownership than Texas metro counties.

Median property values and recent trends

• Median owner-occupied home value: Recent ACS 5-year estimates place Goliad County’s median value generally in the mid-$100,000s to low-$200,000s (often below the Texas median). Source: ACS median home value.
• Trend: Like much of Texas, values increased substantially during 2020–2022; the most recent assessed-value trend is reflected more directly in the county appraisal roll rather than ACS. Local appraisal information is maintained by the Goliad County Appraisal District (Goliad CAD).
  Proxy note: ACS home value is a survey-based estimate; appraisal district data better reflects local assessed values and year-to-year shifts.

Typical rent prices

• Median gross rent: Recent ACS estimates commonly place Goliad County median gross rent around the high-$700s to low-$900s per month, reflecting limited rental inventory and rural pricing. Source: ACS gross rent.
  Proxy note: Small rental sample sizes can increase uncertainty; rents can vary widely between in-town units and rural homes.

Types of housing stock

Housing in Goliad County is characterized by:

• Single-family detached homes as the dominant structure type
• Manufactured housing/mobile homes as a notable share (typical for rural South Texas)
• Limited multifamily/apartment stock, concentrated in or near Goliad and along key highways
• Rural tracts and ranch properties outside town, with larger lot sizes and more reliance on private wells/septic in some areas Source: ACS housing structure type (for shares by structure).

Neighborhood characteristics (proximity to schools/amenities)

• In-town Goliad: Highest concentration of civic amenities (county offices, schools, local retail/services) and shorter in-town travel distances.
• Unincorporated areas: More dispersed housing on larger parcels, longer drives to schools and services, and greater dependence on personal vehicles.
  Proxy note: Neighborhood-level metrics (walkability scores, subdivision-level turnover) are not consistently available in federal datasets for small rural counties; descriptions reflect the county’s settlement pattern and typical service geography.

Property tax overview (rate and typical homeowner cost)

Texas property taxes are primarily local (county, school district, and special districts), and effective rates vary by taxing unit and exemptions.

• Effective property tax rate: A reasonable countywide proxy is the typical Texas rural total rate of roughly ~1.5% to ~2.2% of taxable value, with school district M&O/INS rates forming the largest share.
• Typical homeowner tax bill: A common proxy for a median-value home (mid-$100,000s to low-$200,000s) yields annual taxes often in the low-to-mid $3,000s, before exemptions; actual bills vary substantially by homestead, over-65, and other exemptions.
  Local tax rate and bill components are published by the county appraisal district and taxing units. Reference: Texas Comptroller property tax overview and Goliad CAD.
  Proxy note: Precise “average tax bill” is not directly reported in ACS; appraisal district and taxing unit truth-in-taxation materials provide definitive local levies.