City profile · Texas · Census ACS 2023

McAllen, TX

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for McAllen - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

143,789
Residents
$60,165
Median income
$173,800
Median home
$1,060
Median rent (state)

McAllen - the verdict

Nationally, McAllen sits in the 35th percentile for household income and the 32nd percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

35th
percentile, household income
35th
percentile, home value
25th
percentile, median rent
32nd
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: McAllen, TX

McAllen is a mid-sized U.S. city in Texas, home to 143,789 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $60,165 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 17.8%. Typical homes in McAllen are valued around $173,800, and the median resident age is 34.0 years. About 32.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 58.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 1,722 residential building permits were authorized in McAllen (Building Boom), up 99% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 1985.6 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, near the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA puts McAllen's yearly average temperature at 75.5°F with 18.7 inches of precipitation per year and 0.1 inches of snowfall.

Texas tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Texas at 97.1 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Near Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,060 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Texas run around $223, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 99.0 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

143,789 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Texas

Median Household Income

$60,165 /yr

Poverty 17.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

97.1 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Texas average

How does McAllen compare to other US cities?

Where McAllen sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 35% higher than other cities
Home value 35% pricier than other cities
Median rent 25% pricier than other cities
Safety 32% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Texas, McAllen ranks #452 of 624 Texas cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below McAllen's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Texas, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

35thIncome percentile
32ndSafety percentile

35th percentile nationally for median household income · 32nd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

McAllen's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

McAllen's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 46 Avg. percentile National median
McAllen's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How McAllen's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$173,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 65% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. McAllen $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - McAllen, TX McAllen, TX's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not McAllen, TX-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution McAllen, TX median $60,165/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
McAllen, TX's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for McAllen, TX. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 32.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 17.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 58.4%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
143,789
Median Income
$60,165
Median Home Value
$173,800
Median Age
34.0
Poverty Rate
17.8%
Labor force participation
58.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
32.0%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1985.6
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
150.0
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1835.6
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
75.5°F
Annual Precipitation
18.7"
Annual Snowfall
0.1"

Schools

Total Schools
44
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
140,000 residents145,000 residents150,000 residents155,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 142,395 residents 150,640 residents ▲ +5.8%
McAllen's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
1,722
housing units authorized
Single-Family
669
detached homes
Multifamily
1,053
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
12
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 865
2020 1,096
2021 1,012
2022 1,330
2023 1,181
2024 1,722

Permit volume increased 99% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
72.2%
Carpool
10.4%
Public Transit
0.5%
Walk
0.9%
Work from Home
11.5%
Other
4.5%

Based on 62,501 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Texas - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$130
avg/month
Natural Gas
$45
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$48
avg/month
Total Utilities
$223
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Texas state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Texas state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county McAllen sits in

Cost of Living Index
97.1
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,060/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
99.0 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Texas

Waco
141,925 people
Denton
146,987 people
Mesquite
148,848 people
Pasadena
149,345 people
Midland
133,998 people
Carrollton
132,741 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to McAllen's 143,789 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Olathe, KS
143,720 people
Gainesville, FL
143,611 people
Torrance, CA
143,499 people
Thornton, CO
142,878 people
Visalia, CA
142,649 people
Syracuse, NY
146,211 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to McAllen's $60,165 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Troy, NC
$60,167 median income
Reading, OH
$60,167 median income
Tallula, IL
$60,156 median income
Ashton, IA
$60,156 median income
Tower, MN
$60,156 median income
Blue Springs, MS
$60,156 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - McAllen, TX Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition McAllen, TX - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 43.1% 17.5% 35.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 86.5% White 43.1% Black or African American 0.9% Asian 2.9% American Indian 0.6% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 17.5% Two or more races 35.1% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How McAllen compares to nearby Texas cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
McAllen (this city) 143,789 $60,165
Waco 141,925 $51,468
Denton 146,987 $73,719
Mesquite 148,848 $71,843
Census ACS 5-year FIPS TX FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about McAllen, TX?

What is the population of McAllen, TX? +

The population of McAllen, TX stands at 143,789 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in McAllen, TX? +

McAllen households earn a median of $60,165 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in McAllen? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for McAllen; the closest available measure is the Texas state average, a cost of living index of 97.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Texas vary by metro area.

Is McAllen, TX safe? +

McAllen has a total crime rate of 1985.6 per 100,000 residents, which is near the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in McAllen, TX? +

Homes in McAllen carry a median value of $173,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in McAllen? +

Climate normals put McAllen's yearly average temperature at 75.5°F, 18.7 inches of precipitation, and 0.1 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.