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Living in Pharr, TX

Small city in Texas

Pharr is a small city in Texas, home to about 80,000 people, with 842,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, most trips are by car. Life moves at a relaxed pace, and homes are a mix of apartments and houses.

Is Pharr a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $162k and rents for $1,380 a month
  • Strong healthcare: 4 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
  • Safe: violent crime is 0.8× the US rate (FBI 2019)
  • Sunny: more sunshine and clearer skies than most places

👎 Cons

  • No dog parks within 9 mi
  • Hot summers: highs around 99°F
  • Fewer graduates: 18% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
  • Fewer outdoor escapes: no big hills or water close by

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Pharr ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
80,000
842,000 within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
75°F / 99°F
Average daily highs
3-bedroom home
$162k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$1,380/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
86
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
No income tax
State income tax per resident · 2.15% property tax
Safety
0.8× US
Violent crime vs US (FBI 2019)
Natural disasters
13 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly hurricanes, cold waves
Top-rated hospitals
4
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Adults with a degree
18%
1 research university within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
SAT
233 mi away

Living in Pharr: common questions

What is the cost of living in Pharr?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $162k, 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 Pharr?

Texas has no state income tax, and homeowners here pay about 2.15% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Pharr safe?

Violent crime is close to the national rate (0.8× in FBI 2019 data).

What is the weather like in Pharr?

Pharr is warm all year: winter days average around 75°F and summer days around 99°F.

Does Pharr get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from hurricanes, cold waves and flooding: 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 Pharr?

The nearest major airport is SAT, about 233 mi away.

How Pharr scores

Each bar compares Pharr 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).

🏙️City size Small city Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quiet Urban & suburban mix Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting around Mostly car Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or nature Culture & nature Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️Climate Warm all year Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of living Very affordable Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️Pace Relaxed Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝Community Friendly community AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡Housing Apartments & houses ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housing Excellent
💸Low taxes Below average
💼Job market Poor
🏥Healthcare Excellent
🎓Education Poor
🧸Kids & family Average
🐕Dog-friendly Poor
⛰️Outdoors Poor
🎭Culture Below average
🛡️Safety Safe
🌪️Few natural disasters Good
☀️Sunny Good
🌤️Mild summers Poor
✈️Airport Below average

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Is Pharr right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

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Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.