Living in McAllen, TX
Mid-size city in Texas
McAllen is a mid-size city in Texas, home to about 144,000 people, with 764,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, most trips are by car. Life moves at a relaxed pace, and homes are mostly houses.
Is McAllen a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $213k and rents for $1,380 a month
- Strong healthcare: 4 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Safe: violent crime is 0.3× the US rate (FBI 2019)
- Sunny: more sunshine and clearer skies than most places
👎 Cons
- Few dog parks: 2 within 9 mi
- Hot summers: highs around 98°F
- Fewer outdoor escapes: no big hills or water close by
- Smaller job market: about 764,000 people live within 31 mi
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how McAllen ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in McAllen: common questions
What is the cost of living in McAllen?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $213k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $1,380 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are below the US average (index 86, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in McAllen?
Texas has no state income tax, and homeowners here pay about 1.78% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is McAllen safe?
Violent crime is well below the national rate (0.3× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in McAllen?
McAllen is warm all year: winter days average around 73°F and summer days around 98°F.
Does McAllen get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from hurricanes, flooding and cold waves: 13 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.78 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to McAllen?
The nearest major airport is SAT, about 229 mi away.
How McAllen scores
Each bar compares McAllen with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Is McAllen right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.