The McAllen metro area: Hidalgo County · Population 891,977 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in the McAllen area
Household size in the McAllen area
| Period | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.67 | 2.87 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.72 | 2.93 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.66 | 2.95 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.42 | 2.83 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.25 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Households in the McAllen area are large by national standards, averaging 3.42 people against 2.65 for the U.S. That usually means more families with children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 3.67, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only one other large metro area has larger households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in the McAllen area
| Period | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.7 | 34.7 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 29.5 | 35.4 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 30.0 | 36.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 31.9 | 36.7 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.2 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
The McAllen area is young: half of its residents are under 31.9, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young families with children. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 28.7, as it has nationally. Only one other large metro area is younger.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in the McAllen area
| Period | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.3% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 18.3% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 19.5% | 13.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 18.6% | 12.9% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.3 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in the McAllen area: 18.6% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. No other large metro area has a higher share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in the McAllen area
Renters in the McAllen area
| Period | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.2% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 32.1% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.0% | 38.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 32.5% | 37.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.4 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in the McAllen area is about as common as it is nationally: 32.5% of households rent, against 34.8%. Renters make up a smaller share here than in Texas overall (37.4%). About six in ten owners (61.0%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 3.4 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in the McAllen area
| Period | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.6% | 11.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.1% | 10.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 13.1% | 10.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.4% | 9.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.2 pts | −2.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
More homes sit empty in the McAllen area than nationally: 12.4%, against 9.6%. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Vacancy is down 2.2 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in the McAllen area
| Period | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1991 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1993 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1995 | 1987 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1998 | 1992 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +8 | +6 |
The McAllen area has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1998, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1991 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Few large metro areas have newer homes: only three of 100.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in the McAllen area
| Period | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $597 | $921 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $652 | $1,005 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $737 | $1,178 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $987 | $1,560 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$390 | +$639 | +$606 |
A typical rental in the McAllen area costs $987 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $390 a month from 2006–10, a 65% jump, roughly in step with the nation. Rent takes 30.7% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The McAllen area has the lowest rents of any large metro area.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in the McAllen area
Bachelor's degrees in the McAllen area
| Period | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.1% | 27.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.4% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.4% | 30.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 20.3% | 34.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.2 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in the McAllen area have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 20.3%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree is up 5.2 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. The McAllen area has the lowest share of college graduates of any large metro area.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in the McAllen area
| Period | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 59.4% | 80.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 61.5% | 82.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 64.9% | 83.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 69.8% | 85.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +10.4 pts | +5.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
About three in ten adults in the McAllen area never finished high school, well above the national share: only 69.8% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 10.4 points, as it has nationally. The McAllen area has the lowest share of high school graduates of any large metro area.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in the McAllen area
| Period | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.2% | 7.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.5% | 7.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.7% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.6% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.6 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in the McAllen area runs well above the national rate: 7.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Only two of the 100 large U.S. metro areas have higher unemployment. Unemployment has fallen 2.6 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Largest cities in the McAllen area
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McAllen area (all) | 3.42 | 31.9 | 18.6% | 32.5% | 12.4% | 1998 | $987 | 20.3% | 69.8% | 7.6% |
| Mission | 3.36 | 33.2 | 18.8% | 25.6% | 13.1% | 1999 | $1,025 | 21.8% | 67.4% | 7.7% |
| Edinburg | 2.96 | 32.0 | 17.3% | 45.4% | 10.7% | 2001 | $1,103 | 30.2% | 81.2% | 5.2% |
| Pharr | 3.54 | 30.1 | 22.2% | 40.9% | 13.0% | 2000 | $1,092 | 19.0% | 71.0% | 7.6% |
| Weslaco | 3.46 | 32.0 | 19.6% | 34.8% | 14.1% | 1996 | $940 | 18.6% | 72.3% | 7.6% |
| Nurillo | 3.76 | 28.2 | 19.8% | 23.4% | 9.1% | 2004 | $916 | 14.3% | 67.6% | 9.5% |
| Donna | 3.78 | 29.2 | 22.8% | 27.3% | 13.6% | 1997 | $816 | 11.0% | 57.2% | 8.3% |
| San Juan | 3.46 | 33.9 | 17.6% | 20.9% | 10.9% | 1996 | $977 | 14.2% | 64.5% | 7.3% |
| Alamo | 3.55 | 33.1 | 21.7% | 24.1% | 19.0% | 1997 | $772 | 12.7% | 60.0% | 11.3% |
| Mercedes | 3.75 | 31.1 | 19.2% | 27.9% | 13.3% | 1995 | $868 | 12.7% | 62.8% | 10.5% |
| Alton | 3.80 | 26.3 | 18.9% | 41.4% | 11.4% | 2004 | $1,048 | 14.3% | 66.5% | 8.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Metro areas of similar size: Allentown area · Worcester area · New Haven area · El Paso area · Baton Rouge area · Albany area · Knoxville area · Bakersfield area · Albuquerque area · Greenville area
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up the McAllen area. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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