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City · 145,385 residents · Hidalgo County, Texas

McAllen , Texas

In McAllen, a typical home is worth $190,400 and typical rent is $1,049 a month. Compared with all of Hidalgo County, the typical home value is 35% higher, typical household income is 13% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 8 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $190,400

    35% above the county

    33% below Texas

    • McAllen
    • Hidalgo
    • Texas

  • Typical rent

    $1,049a month

    10% above the county

    25% below Texas

    • McAllen
    • Hidalgo
    • Texas

  • Typical household income

    $61,579a year

    13% above the county

    22% below Texas

    • McAllen
    • Hidalgo
    • Texas

  • Households that own their home

    59%

    8 points below the county

    3 points below Texas

    • McAllen
    • Hidalgo
    • Texas

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$226,801
0.5% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,300 a month
2.5% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

McAllen is in Hidalgo County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Hidalgo County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets McAllen apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in La Homa, the typical home value is $109,200: 43% less than in McAllen ($190,400).

  2. The typical home in McAllen is worth $190,400, 35% more than in Hidalgo County as a whole ($140,900).

  3. Nearby, in La Homa, the typical rent is $740: 29% less than in McAllen ($1,049).

  4. 59% of households in McAllen own their home, against 67% in Hidalgo County.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in McAllen

What homes there are in McAllen, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

In McAllen, 6 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses, about the same as in Hidalgo County.

Year built

In McAllen, half of the homes were built before 1995; in Hidalgo County, before 2000.

By size, homes in McAllen look like those in Hidalgo County: 63% have 3 bedrooms or more.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

By price, most homes in McAllen sit under the FHA limit for Hidalgo County ($541,287): about 96%.

Monthly rent with utilities

Measured against HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($1,017), about 47% of rented homes in McAllen cost less.

With a mortgage

$1,764 a month

Hidalgo County: $1,486 a month

Without a mortgage

$577 a month

Hidalgo County: $472 a month

Owners with a mortgage

48%

Hidalgo County: 39%

In McAllen, 48% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $1,764 a month, against $1,486 in Hidalgo County. Without one it drops to $577.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

The typical home value in McAllen rose 51% since 2015–2019, less than in Hidalgo County (62%).

Much as in Hidalgo County, the typical rent in McAllen rose 33% since 2015–2019.

While home values in McAllen changed +51% and rent +33%, the typical household income rose 32%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureMcAllenHidalgo CountyTexasUnited States
Rental vacancy 7.7%6.7%7.7%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate1.3%1.1%0.9%
More than one person per room 7.9%10.9%4.8%3.4%
People per household 2.953.272.692.53
Drive alone 72%75%71%69%
Carpool 10%11%10%9%
Public transit 1%0%1%3%
Walk or bike 1%1%2%3%
Work from home 12%9%14%15%
Other means 4%4%2%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutesUnreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Open rentals in McAllen look like those in Hidalgo County: the rental vacancy rate is 7.7%.

Fewer households are short on space in McAllen: 7.9% have more than one person per room; in Hidalgo County, 10.9%.

Fewer people live in each home here: 2.95 on average, against 3.27 in Hidalgo County.

The car rules in McAllen: 72% of workers drive to work alone, and the typical trip takes 10 to 19 minutes.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in McAllen?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in McAllen, worth $190,400, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 33% of the typical household income in McAllen, which is $61,579 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $73,051 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Hidalgo County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in McAllen. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $6,664 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,705

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$186,951
Total interest
$268,979
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $3,215 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,437 a month

  • Tight

    $1,437 to $1,847 a month

    Your payment · 33%

  • Hard

    more than $1,847 a month

Compared with the typical household income in McAllen ($61,579 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,705
Principal & interest$1,266
Property tax$275
Home insurance$79
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$84

You need at least $6,664 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

McAllen and Hidalgo County

McAllen is in Hidalgo County, Texas. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

McAllen's own numbers

Typical home value
$190,400
Typical monthly rent
$1,049
Typical yearly household income
$61,579
Households that own their home
59%
Effective property tax rate
1.73%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Hidalgo County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,017
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+56%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Hidalgo County.

Everything about Hidalgo County

Buying

Buying a home in McAllen

A typical home in McAllen is worth $190,400: 35% above the county and 33% below Texas. With the typical household income in McAllen ($61,579 a year), a typical home costs 3.1 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • McAllen 3.1 years
  • Hidalgo 2.6 years
  • Texas 3.6 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Hidalgo County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Hidalgo County rose 88% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Hidalgo County.

Period County Texas U.S.
Last year (2025) +4.1% +0.8% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +56% +44% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +88% +88% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

McAllen next to Hidalgo County, Texas and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • McAllen $190,400
  • Hidalgo $140,900
  • Texas $283,800
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • McAllen $1,049
  • Hidalgo $957
  • Texas $1,403
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • McAllen $61,579
  • Hidalgo $54,338
  • Texas $78,476
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
McAllen next to Hidalgo County and Texas
Measure McAllen Hidalgo County Texas U.S.
Typical home value $190,400 $140,900 $283,800 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,049 $957 $1,403 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $61,579 $54,338 $78,476 $80,734
Households that own their home 59% 67% 63% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $3,287 $2,279 $4,232 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.73% 1.62% 1.49% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 51% 49% 52% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Hidalgo County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in McAllen

For a typical $190,400 home in McAllen, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, McAllen's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,705a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $6,664
    Cash to close
    $12,376
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $84

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,670a month

    Down payment
    $9,520
    Cash to close
    $15,232
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $90

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,386a month

    Down payment
    $38,080
    Cash to close
    $43,792
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,562a month

    Down payment
    $28,560
    Cash to close
    $34,272
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for McAllen and for Hidalgo County.

Property tax

Effective rate in McAllen

1.73%of the home’s value each year

$3,287 a year for the typical owner in McAllen.

  • McAllen 1.73%
  • Hidalgo 1.62%
  • Texas 1.49%

What Texas publishes School-district homestead exemption (Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts)

Exemptions and deadlines in Texas

Flood risk in Hidalgo County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Hidalgo County.

FEMA’s maps count no homes in the high-risk zone in Hidalgo County. That does not mean it cannot flood: check your address.

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in McAllen

Typical rent in McAllen is $1,049 a month: 10% above the county. In McAllen, 51% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Hidalgo County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,017 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $19.56 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Hidalgo County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $801 $15.40 $32,040
1 bedroom $806 $15.50 $32,240
2 bedrooms $1,017 $19.56 $40,680
3 bedrooms $1,305 $25.10 $52,200
4 bedrooms $1,439 $27.67 $57,560

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in McAllen

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). McAllen has 3 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,100 in 78501 to $1,260 in 78504.

3 of the 3 are above the fair market rent for Hidalgo County ($1,017).

  • 78501 $1,100$1,410
  • 78503 $1,180$1,510
  • 78504 $1,260$1,620

2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for McAllen when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in McAllen

HUD lists 18 buildings with rents for lower incomes in McAllen. These are the largest.

  • El Patrimonio Apts 2601 Sarah Ave, McAllen 78503 192 homes, 144 low-income · 1 bd: 28 · 2 bd: 104 · 3 bd: 60 · In service since 2001
  • Nolana Villas N K Center ST. Near E. Nolana Ave., McAllen 78504 124 homes, 104 low-income · For older adults, people with disabilities, families, people experiencing homelessness
  • Las Palomas NWC W Dove Ave & Bicentennial BLVD, McAllen 78504 122 homes, 100 low-income · For older adults, people with disabilities, families, people experiencing homelessness
  • Jackson Apartments W Side 3700 BLK N Jackson RD, McAllen 78504 120 homes, 96 low-income · For older adults, people with disabilities, families, people experiencing homelessness
  • Avanti Legacy Valor Heights Sec 2nd Street & Business 83, McAllen 78501 93 homes, 85 low-income · For older adults, people with disabilities, families, people experiencing homelessness

See all 128 buildings in Hidalgo County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in McAllen

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Hidalgo County; 1 says it serves in Spanish.

A man leans over the armchair where a girl is reading a book.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in McAllen

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for McAllen or Hidalgo County. The ones below are statewide in Texas: they work in McAllen the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Texas

  • My First Texas Home

    Statewide in Texas

    Texas state program for first-time buyers: a 30-year mortgage with down payment assistance. Offered by Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA).

    DeferredForgivable

    See the program Official page

  • My Choice Texas Home

    Statewide in Texas

    Texas state program with down payment assistance for any buyer, not only first-time buyers. Offered by Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA).

    DeferredForgivable

    See the program Official page

  • Texas Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC)

    Statewide in Texas

    Limited funds remain, per the source

    Texas state certificate that turns part of your mortgage interest into a credit on your federal tax return. Offered by Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA).

    Tax credit

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near McAllen

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of McAllen, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Affordable Homes of South Texas, Inc.

    1420 Erie Ave, McAllen · 2 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 6 more
    (956) 687-6263

  • cdcb-come dream.come build.

    901 E Levee St, Brownsville · 51 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 4 more
    (956) 541-4955

  • Laredo-Webb Neighborhood Housing Services

    216 Bob Bullock Loop, Laredo · 115 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 6 more
    (956) 712-9100

Every agency in Hidalgo County All counseling agencies in Texas

Help in Spanish near McAllen

3 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of McAllen

HUD’s record names them for McAllen or Hidalgo County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • McAllen Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (956) 686-3951
  • Hidalgo County Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (956) 969-5866

12 other authorities have an office in Hidalgo County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Hidalgo County

These cities are also in Hidalgo County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Hidalgo County Housing in Texas
See 8 more cities in Hidalgo County, with prices and rents

Every city has its own page with prices, rents and help.

Nearby cities

The cities closest to McAllen, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Hidalgo County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in McAllen.

All guides
Two parents walk hand in hand with their little daughter.

Questions

Housing questions about McAllen

Short answers with the numbers for McAllen and all of Hidalgo County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in McAllen?

The typical home value in McAllen is $190,400, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Hidalgo County it is $140,900.

How much does it cost to rent in McAllen?

Typical rent in McAllen is $1,049 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Hidalgo County is $1,017.

What is the FHA loan limit in McAllen?

McAllen uses the FHA limit for all of Hidalgo County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in McAllen?

The typical homeowner in McAllen pays $3,287 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.73% of the home’s value; in Hidalgo County, the rate is 1.62%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in McAllen?

There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Hidalgo County. 1 says it serves in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).