McAllen, TX, known as 'The City of Palms,' offers a unique blend of suburban tranquility and modern urban amenities. Located in Hidalgo County, McAllen is a large city that serves as a major cultural and economic hub. Major nearby cities like Edinburg (10 miles) and Mission (5 miles) enhance its status as a central point in the region. McAllen's blend of scenic landscapes, cultural festivals, and urban amenities creates a distinctive living experience.
McAllen is home to several iconic landmarks, including the Quinta Mazatlan, the historic McAllen Heritage Center, and the scenic Fireman's Park. The city offers a variety of attractions, from the beautiful McAllen Nature Center to the bustling La Plaza Mall, known for its shopping and dining. McAllen's dining scene is diverse, offering everything from Tex-Mex cuisine to international dishes.
Annual events such as the McAllen Holiday Parade and the PalmFest International Folklife Celebration highlight the city's vibrant cultural scene and provide unique entertainment opportunities for residents and visitors. These events celebrate McAllen's rich cultural heritage and community spirit. Prestigious institutions like South Texas College contribute to the city's academic and cultural vibrancy, fostering a thriving intellectual community.
The arts and culture scene in McAllen is dynamic and diverse, with numerous theaters, music venues, and art galleries. The McAllen Performing Arts Center and the International Museum of Art & Science are just a few of the cultural landmarks that showcase the city's commitment to the arts. Living in McAllen provides ample opportunities to engage with art, music, and history, making it an exciting place to call home.
McAllen’s community is welcoming and diverse, creating a friendly environment for newcomers. The city is home to professional sports teams like the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros (USL), providing plenty of excitement for sports fans. Major industries in McAllen include healthcare, education, and retail, with significant employers such as McAllen Medical Center and McAllen Independent School District driving economic growth. The city has extensive public transit options, including buses and bike-sharing programs, making commuting convenient for residents.
Cost Of Living
Residents in this area benefit from an affordable cost of living. This includes goods and services, transportation, housing, utilities, groceries and healthcare.
Housing
The housing category in this area boasts higher than average scores, likely influenced by a positive home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.
Health & Safety
Earning a high health and safety score depends on factors such as good air quality and the availability of essential health facilities like hospitals, clinics, doctors, and fire stations.
Amenities
It appears that many amenities may not be conveniently situated within walking distance, potentially necessitating the use of a vehicle or public transit.
Commute
Commuters in this area may experience longer-than-average work commute times due to limited public transportation access.
McAllen is a moderately-sized city located in the state of Texas. The city has a population of 142,557 residents. More than a quarter of the residents of McAllen identify themselves as Hispanic or Latino, and 72% of the population speak Spanish as their primary or secondary language. McAllen could be a great place for young adults and students as the average age of 33 years old is below the nation’s average. Not a fan of sitting in traffic during your commute to work? McAllen offers shorter work commutes, with an average one-way commute time taking only 20 minutes, far lower than the national average of 26 minutes.
Are you trying to ascertain if living in McAllen is the right fit for your lifestyle? To ensure a good experience before moving to any new city in Texas, you will probably want to make sure that you check all of the most important boxes. Several key factors deserve attention. For one, safety is paramount, ensuring that your new area is low in crime is key. Proximity to workplaces or schools minimizes commute times and fosters convenience. Access to essential amenities like parks, grocery stores, food, fitness, shops and healthcare facilities enhances daily life. Efficient public transportation options provide mobility and connectivity. The sense of community creates a welcoming and supportive environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere, encompassing the vibe, aesthetics, and lifestyle offerings, contributes to a fulfilling living experience. Considering these elements helps identify the ideal neighborhood for your needs and preferences. Finding the best places to live in McAllen and nearby areas is a much easier task when you can rely on information and data from the livability score, which includes crime, commute, health & safety, employment and other important metrics.
The livability score in McAllen is 74 out of 100 and the city is ranked in the 87th percentile of all cities across America. If we take a closer look at each of the categories individually, we see that McAllen ranks well for crime (B+), education (B-) and housing (A-). There are some categories that McAllen ranks poorly for, including: amenities (F) and employment (D-). It might be worth taking a closer look to find out why.
Ensuring a sense of security is paramount for the majority of residents in any area. Low crime rates exert a positive influence on various aspects, including home prices, rates of home appreciation and the cultivation of positive community dynamics and social cohesion. In the case of McAllen, it boasts a notably low violent crime rate of 196 crimes per 100,000 residents, which significantly outperforms the national average.
For home buyers, real estate will be the largest purchase they will ever make and it will also be their most valuable asset. For renters, the monthly rent paid on their McAllen apartments will most likely be their largest expense. Based on tangible metrics like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates, housing in this area has received a score that is well above the average of every other US city. A thriving real estate market can also generate strong local economic activity and job creation.
There are many factors that go into deciding if an area is the right fit for your lifestyle. Certain “must haves” like low crime, great schools and nearby amenities are all at the top of most people's lists. But before even considering if those options are attainable, we'll need to know if the real estate in McAllen is actually affordable. Median real estate prices in McAllen come in at $131,500, which is 7.8% lower than the Texas average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In McAllen, the home price to income ratio is 2.7, which is 3.8% higher than the Texas average.
| Statistic | McAllen | Texas | National |
| Average one way commute | 20min | 26min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 76.1% | 80.3% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 12.6% | 10.6% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 0.5% | 1.5% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 0.7% | 1.6% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 5.9% | 4.3% | 4.6% |
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