Neighborhood in Harlingen, Cameron County

Living in Central Harlingen, Harlingen

C+

19th of 24areas in Harlingen
Overall score 49 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Harlingen overall: C+

Central Harlingen covers part of Harlingen, TX, home to about 6,300 people. It gets a C+, around the middle of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 19th of 24 areas we score in Harlingen. It does best on getting around and worst on jobs and income.

  • Short commutes
  • Lots of parks
  • Jobs and income scores low (5 of 100)
  • Education levels scores low (11 of 100)

Closest everyday places

Grocery store0.3 mi
Pharmacy0.2 mi
Park0.3 mi
Cafe0.4 mi
Restaurant0.2 mi
Gym0.2 mi
Hospital or urgent care0.6 mi
Childcare0.2 mi
Library0.5 mi

Straight-line distance from the middle of where people live. Overture Maps.

Population
6,300
Median rent
$780
Median home value
$95,000
Household income
$32,500
Average commute
16 min
Homes owned
36%
Loading map

What it's like to live in Central Harlingen

Central Harlingen is an area in Harlingen with about 6,300 residents, homes built around 1971, a mix of owners and renters and 41% of households with children.

It grades C+ against every neighborhood in Texas and ranks 19th of 24 areas in Harlingen, which grades C+ overall.

Pros of living in Central Harlingen

  • Cheaper rent than the city. Median rent is $780, 16% lower than the Harlingen median.
  • Groceries close by. The nearest grocery store is about 0.3 miles from the middle of the neighborhood.
  • Parks within walking distance. The closest park is about 0.3 miles away.

Cons of living in Central Harlingen

  • Higher poverty. 40% of residents live below the poverty line, against 25% across Harlingen.
  • Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of hurricanes as very high in this part of town.

Central Harlingen report card

Each grade compares Central Harlingen with every neighborhood in Texas. Safety is not graded for single neighborhoods because police report crime for the whole city.

  • Cost of living: grade B

    Median rent $780, homes cost 2.9x income.

    70 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Jobs and income: grade F

    Median household income $32,500, 7.4% unemployed.

    5 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Schools: grade B-

    Nearby schools average 83 of 100 on the state rating.

    61 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Safety: no grade

    Citywide, 231 violent crimes per 100k, 2,298 property crimes per 100k.

    No score vs TX areas

  • Errands and things to do: grade A-

    Most everyday stores and services within a mile of homes.

    81 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Getting around: grade A

    Average commute 16 min, 11% work from home.

    92 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Education levels: grade D-

    14% have a bachelor’s degree.

    11 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Health: grade D-

    38% of adults uninsured.

    11 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Home ownership: grade D-

    36% of homes owner-occupied.

    12 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Internet access: grade F

    74% of homes have broadband.

    7 of 100 vs TX areas

Central Harlingen compared with Harlingen

Better than Harlingen

  • Median rent: $78016% lower than Harlingen ($928)
  • Average commute: 16 min9% lower than Harlingen (18 min)
  • Workers who walk, bike or take transit: 4.5%3 points higher than Harlingen (2.0%)

Worse than Harlingen

  • Homes owned by the people living in them: 36%20 points lower than Harlingen (56%)
  • Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent: 64%17 points higher than Harlingen (47%)
  • Median household income: $32,50039% lower than Harlingen ($53,645)

Closest public schools

Texas Education Agency 2025 ratings. Check the attendance zone for any address with the district.

  • BBonham ElementaryElementary, Harlingen CISD0.4 mi
  • BVernon MiddleMiddle, Harlingen CISD0.3 mi
  • BHarlingen High SchoolHigh, Harlingen CISD1.2 mi

Cost of living in Central Harlingen

Median rent in Central Harlingen is $780 a month, 16% lower than the Harlingen median. A household would need about $31,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.

The median home is worth $95,000, 32% lower than the Harlingen median, which means a monthly payment of about $629 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.

MeasureHereHarlingenTexas
Median rent16% lower than Harlingen$780$928$1,403
Median home value32% lower than Harlingen$95,000$140,600$283,800
Home value to income12% higher than Harlingen2.9x2.6x3.6x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent17 points higher than Harlingen64%47%52%
Homes owned by the people living in them20 points lower than Harlingen36%56%63%
Vacant homesAbout the same as Harlingen12%12%9.4%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Harlingen197119881992

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$629
Mortgage payment
$520
Property tax
$109
Median rent, for comparison
$780

Based on a $95,000 home in Central Harlingen, 20% down and a 30-year loan at 7.28% (Freddie Mac average, week of 2026-10-01). Property tax is the median for the surrounding Census tract, or the county where that is not published. Insurance and fees are not included.

Work, income and getting around

MeasureHereHarlingenTexas
Median household income39% lower than Harlingen$32,500$53,645$78,476
Unemployment rate2 points higher than Harlingen7.4%5.2%5.3%
People below the poverty line15 points higher than Harlingen40%25%14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher9 points lower than Harlingen14%23%34%
Average commute9% lower than Harlingen16 min18 min27 min
Workers who work from home1 points higher than Harlingen11%10%14%
Workers who walk, bike or take transit3 points higher than Harlingen4.5%2.0%2.6%
Homes with broadband internet11 points lower than Harlingen74%85%91%

Natural hazard risk

FEMA National Risk Index for the Census tracts in this area.

  • River floodingVery low
  • Coastal floodingVery low
  • HurricanesVery high
  • TornadoesModerate
  • HailHigh
  • Heat wavesHigh
  • WildfiresVery low
  • Winter stormsModerate
  • Strong windModerate

Who lives in Central Harlingen

Under 1833%
18 to 3428%
35 to 6427%
65 and over12%
Race and ethnicity
White6.6%
Hispanic or Latino93%
Black0.1%
Asian0%
Other or more than one race0.8%

Shown for information only. It is never part of any grade.

Other neighborhoods in Harlingen

  1. 1A-Country EstatesMedian rent $1,220
  2. 2A-Palm Vista EstatesMedian rent $1,150
  3. 3A-Stone PineMedian rent $1,110
  4. 4B+Wildwood SubdivisionMedian rent $1,000
  5. 5B+Russell EstatesMedian rent $1,090
  6. 6B+Valor at HarlingenMedian rent $1,170
  7. 7BFox Run SubdivisionMedian rent $1,180
  8. 8BSummerfield EstatesMedian rent $860

Similar neighborhoods in other cities

Areas elsewhere in Texas with the closest mix of grades.

  1. B-Roosevelt School ColoniaWeslaco
  2. C+Normandy ParkEl Paso
  3. B-Central MissionMission

Questions about Central Harlingen

Is Central Harlingen a good place to live?

Central Harlingen covers part of Harlingen, TX, home to about 6,300 people. It gets a C+, around the middle of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 19th of 24 areas we score in Harlingen. It does best on getting around and worst on jobs and income.

How much does it cost to live in Central Harlingen?

Median rent in Central Harlingen is $780 a month, 16% lower than the Harlingen median. The median home is worth $95,000, 32% lower than the Harlingen median. A median home costs 2.9x the median household income, compared with 2.6x across Harlingen.

What schools serve Central Harlingen?

The closest rated public schools are Bonham Elementary (elementary, rated B), Vernon Middle (middle, rated B) and Harlingen High School (high, rated B). School zones can differ from the closest school, so check with the district.

This area groups 6 Census block groups in this part of Harlingen that have no neighborhood name on the map. Sources: US Census Bureau 2020-2024 ACS 5-year, CDC PLACES 2025, Texas Education Agency, FEMA National Risk Index, Overture Maps. How we grade.