Population 33,171 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Mercedes
Household size in Mercedes
| Period | Mercedes | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.78 | 3.67 | 2.87 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.92 | 3.72 | 2.93 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.87 | 3.66 | 2.95 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.75 | 3.42 | 2.83 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.03 | −0.25 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Mercedes is a place of big households: 3.75 people per home on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. Numbers like that usually point to plenty of families with kids. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 3.78, in line with the national trend. Only 12 of the 545 Texas cities with 5,000+ people have 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 Mercedes
| Period | Mercedes | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.1 | 28.7 | 34.7 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 27.2 | 29.5 | 35.4 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 28.3 | 30.0 | 36.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 31.1 | 31.9 | 36.7 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.0 | +3.2 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 31.1, Mercedes is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward young families with children. The median age has climbed from 27.1 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only 36 of the 545 Texas cities with 5,000+ people are 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 Mercedes
| Period | Mercedes | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.9% | 18.3% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.0% | 18.3% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 19.7% | 19.5% | 13.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 19.2% | 18.6% | 12.9% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.7 pts | +0.3 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in five households in Mercedes (19.2%), well above the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 3.7 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Mercedes has a higher share of single-parent households than the great majority of Texas cities.
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 Mercedes
Renters in Mercedes
| Period | Mercedes | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.3% | 29.2% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 31.9% | 32.1% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.1% | 32.0% | 38.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 27.9% | 32.5% | 37.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −4.4 pts | +3.4 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Nearly three in ten households in Mercedes rent their homes (27.9%), below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. About seven in ten owners (68.4%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the northeast. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 4.4 points, even as the national share rose.
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 Mercedes
| Period | Mercedes | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.2% | 14.6% | 11.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.5% | 12.1% | 10.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 14.7% | 13.1% | 10.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.3% | 12.4% | 9.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.9 pts | −2.2 pts | −2.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs high in Mercedes: 13.3% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Vacancy is down 1.9 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Mercedes
| Period | Mercedes | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1984 | 1991 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1987 | 1993 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1990 | 1995 | 1987 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1995 | 1998 | 1992 | 1980 |
| Change | +11 | +7 | +8 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Mercedes is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1995, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1984 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the south has the oldest housing.
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 Mercedes
| Period | Mercedes | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $461 | $597 | $921 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $468 | $652 | $1,005 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $626 | $737 | $1,178 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $868 | $987 | $1,560 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$407 | +$390 | +$639 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Mercedes costs $868 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $407 a month from 2006–10, an 88% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 33.6% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Rents run highest in the northeast and lowest in the northwest.
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 Mercedes
Bachelor's degrees in Mercedes
| Period | Mercedes | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.6% | 15.1% | 27.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.8% | 16.4% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 10.1% | 18.4% | 30.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.7% | 20.3% | 34.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.1 pts | +5.2 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Mercedes have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 12.7%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree is up 3.1 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Mercedes has a lower share of college graduates than at least four in five Texas cities.
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 Mercedes
| Period | Mercedes | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 46.1% | 59.4% | 80.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 54.3% | 61.5% | 82.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 59.9% | 64.9% | 83.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 62.8% | 69.8% | 85.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +16.7 pts | +10.4 pts | +5.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
More than a third of adults in Mercedes never finished high school, well above the national share: only 62.8% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 16.7 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only 17 of the 545 Texas cities with 5,000+ people have a lower share of high school graduates.
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 Mercedes
| Period | Mercedes | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.1% | 10.2% | 7.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 15.4% | 10.5% | 7.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.2% | 6.7% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.5% | 7.6% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.6 pts | −2.6 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Mercedes runs well above the national rate: 10.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Only 23 of the 545 Texas cities with 5,000+ people have higher unemployment. Unemployment has fallen 2.6 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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).
Mercedes compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes | 3.75 | 31.1 | 19.2% | 27.9% | 13.3% | 1995 | $868 | 12.7% | 62.8% | 10.5% |
| Rio Rico | 4.08 | 21.8 | 18.2% | 28.9% | 10.8% | 2000 | $552 | 7.4% | 47.9% | 26.0% |
| Weslaco | 3.46 | 32.0 | 19.6% | 34.8% | 14.1% | 1996 | $940 | 18.6% | 72.3% | 7.6% |
| Solis | 3.26 | 30.5 | 20.6% | 36.6% | 22.0% | 1995 | $938 | 11.3% | 72.4% | 17.8% |
| Bixby | 3.04 | 30.9 | 20.4% | 35.0% | 13.0% | 1988 | $780 | 9.9% | 64.6% | 48.0% |
| Progreso | 4.35 | 29.0 | 23.6% | 24.7% | 16.2% | 1996 | $1,024 | 12.1% | 56.1% | 3.7% |
| Midway South | 3.65 | 25.9 | 25.6% | 32.5% | 21.2% | 2006 | $937 | 18.5% | 63.4% | 9.9% |
| Relampago | 2.62 | 64.9 | 11.8% | 0.0% | 13.2% | 1983 | $804 | 2.3% | 34.7% | 27.2% |
| Midway North | 3.87 | 26.5 | 16.6% | 12.4% | 1.2% | 2004 | $879 | 10.9% | 59.8% | 4.4% |
| La Feria | 2.88 | 39.3 | 17.1% | 26.7% | 17.5% | 1993 | $1,152 | 14.9% | 74.2% | 6.0% |
| Laguna Seca | 4.48 | 22.8 | 28.6% | 9.7% | 3.6% | 2002 | $913 | 12.9% | 82.8% | 0.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Southlake, TX · Dawsonville, GA · East Wenatchee, WA · Englewood, FL · Foothill Farms, CA · Fruit Cove, FL · Galesburg, IL · Garfield, NJ · Locust Grove, GA · Quakertown, PA
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 Mercedes. 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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