City · Texas
McAllen, Texas
McAllen, city, in Hidalgo County, Texas. McAllen had 150,640 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 5.9% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 142,210 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 145,385 (±95). GEOID 4845384.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
150,640
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 142,210 · ACS 2020-2024: 145,385 ±95
Median household income
$61,579
±$2,258 (90% margin)
Texas: $78,476
Median home value
$190,400
±$6,316 (90% margin)
Texas: $283,800
Median gross rent
$1,049
±$38 (90% margin)
Texas: $1,403
Where is McAllen and what county is it in?
McAllen is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas. It covers 62.4 square miles of land, 2,280 residents per square mile in 2020.
McAllen is in the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX metropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in McAllen, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 150,640 people lived in McAllen on July 1, 2025, up 5.9% since 2020, slower than Texas (+8.8%). The 2020 Census counted 142,210 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 145,385 (±95).
| Measure | McAllen | Hidalgo County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 145,385 ±95 | 891,977 | +3,417 |
| Households | 48,905 ±995 | 270,210 | +3,200 |
| Average household size | 2.95 ±0.06 | 3.27 | −0.13 |
| Housing units | 55,385 ±1,006 | 308,556 | +3,599 |
McAllen's population since 2000
From 106,414 in 2000 to 150,640 in 2025: up 41.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for McAllen as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in McAllen?
The median resident of McAllen is 33.5 years old; 28.2% are under 18 and 13.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 87.0%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 8.5%. 26.2% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | McAllen | Hidalgo County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.5 ±0.9 | 30.5 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 28.2% ±1.1 pts | 31.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 13.1% ±0.7 pts | 11.7% | – |
| Male | 49.3% ±0.9 pts | 49.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 87.0% ±1.0 pts | 91.9% | +2.2 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 8.5% ±0.8 pts | 6.0% | −2.2 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±0.3 pts | 0.6% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.7% ±0.4 pts | 1.0% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 0.9% ±0.3 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 26.2% ±1.3 pts | 26.1% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 73.7% ±1.4 pts | 80.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 3.4% ±0.3 pts | 3.2% | – |
| With a disability | 13.1% ±0.9 pts | 13.2% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 24.1% ±1.5 pts | 28.2% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 80.1% ±1.3 pts | 70.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 32.5% ±1.5 pts | 20.6% | +2.2 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 11.6% ±0.9 pts | 6.6% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 89.0% ±1.2 pts | 90.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.0% ±0.4 pts | 0.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in McAllen earn?
Half of McAllen's 48,905 households earn less than $61,579 a year (±$2,258), against $54,338 in Hidalgo County and $78,476 in Texas. In 2015-2019 it was $57,601 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 20.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | McAllen | Hidalgo County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $61,579 ±$2,258 | $54,338 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $89,575 ±$4,476 | $74,303 | – |
| Per capita income | $30,885 ±$1,689 | $23,117 | +$2,276 |
| People below the poverty line | 20.0% ±2.1 pts | 26.7% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 27.1% ±4.4 pts | 36.4% | −6.4 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 19.7% ±1.6 pts | 27.8% | – |
| Households with a computer | 95.9% ±0.7 pts | 93.7% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 92.2% ±0.9 pts | 88.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in McAllen?
Owners occupy 59.5% of McAllen's occupied homes and renters 40.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $190,400 by its owner (±$6,316). The median renter pays $1,049 a month including utilities, and 41.7% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | McAllen | Hidalgo County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $190,400 ±$6,316 | $140,900 | +$35,333 |
| Median gross rent | $1,049 ±$38 | $957 | +$78 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 41.7% ±3.6 pts | 40.7% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,764 ±$67 | $1,486 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 59.5% ±1.7 pts | 67.5% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 40.5% ±1.7 pts | 32.5% | – |
| Housing units | 55,385 ±1,006 | 308,556 | +3,599 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.2% ±0.6 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 7.7% ±1.5 pts | 6.7% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 64.4% ±1.6 pts | 64.9% | – |
| Mobile homes | 3.7% ±0.6 pts | 13.9% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.7% ±0.6 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 15.2% ±1.3 pts | 19.4% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 1.7% ±0.5 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 7.0% ±0.9 pts | 5.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is McAllen building?
Builders took permits for 1,504 new housing units in McAllen in 2025 (786 in single-family houses), 10.0 per 1,000 residents against 6.6 across Texas.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in McAllen work and get to work?
71.9% of McAllen's workers drive alone and 12.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 21.9 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.0%.
| Measure | McAllen | Hidalgo County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 61.7% ±1.4 pts | 59.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.0% ±1.0 pts | 7.6% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 71.9% ±1.9 pts | 74.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 10.2% ±1.3 pts | 10.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.6% ±0.2 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Walked | 1.0% ±0.3 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 12.1% ±1.2 pts | 9.2% | +7.3 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 21.9 min ±1.0 | 22.5 min | +2.4 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in McAllen?
51 census tracts lie mostly in McAllen, and 8 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $20,217 (Tract 205.13) to $163,625 (Tract 241.31).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 235.34Hidalgo County | 6,200 | $90,302 |
| Tract 207.27Hidalgo County | 5,072 | $79,643 |
| Tract 208.06Hidalgo County | 4,330 | $53,611 |
| Tract 235.22Hidalgo County | 4,194 | $68,944 |
| Tract 209.05Hidalgo County | 4,151 | $72,109 |
| Tract 207.24Hidalgo County | 4,050 | $64,191 |
| Tract 212.03Hidalgo County | 4,210 | $100,268 |
| Tract 241.15Hidalgo County | 7,329 | $78,830 |
| Tract 235.35Hidalgo County | 3,961 | $126,000 |
| Tract 207.35Hidalgo County | 3,749 | not published |
| Tract 208.04Hidalgo County | 3,644 | $69,341 |
| Tract 212.01Hidalgo County | 3,637 | $52,912 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in McAllen) · Census block assignment files
How does McAllen compare with other places in Texas?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, McAllen is the 182nd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 22nd-most populous of 1,224 in Texas.
McAllen ranks 561st of 933 places in Texas with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 22nd | 1,224 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 335th | 784 |
| Residents per square mile | 167th | 979 |
| Median household income | 561st | 933 |
| Per capita income | 518th | 978 |
| Median home value | 503rd | 950 |
| Median gross rent | 487th | 852 |
| Poverty rate | 234th | 716 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 258th | 877 |
| Median age | 704th | 973 |
| Owner-occupied share | 778th | 973 |
| Work from home | 282nd | 557 |
| Travel time to work | 688th | 976 |
McAllen's figures with every place in Texas (CSV)
Every place in Texas, sortable · Compare McAllen with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for McAllen?
2 of the 57 figures for McAllen on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for McAllen are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in McAllen.