Neighborhood in Harlingen, Cameron County

Living in Russell Estates, Harlingen

B+

5th of 24areas in Harlingen
Overall score 75 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Harlingen overall: C+

Russell Estates is a neighborhood in Harlingen, TX, home to about 700 people. It gets a B+, in the top 28% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 5th of 24 areas we score in Harlingen. It does best on schools and worst on home ownership.

  • Top-rated schools
  • Affordable
  • Hurricane risk is very high

Closest everyday places

Grocery store0.3 mi
Pharmacy0.3 mi
Park2.3 mi
Cafe0.6 mi
Restaurant0.3 mi
Gym0.6 mi
Hospital or urgent care0.6 mi
Childcare2.1 mi
Library4.2 mi

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

Population
670
Median rent
$1,090
Median home value
$76,000
Household income
$51,000
Average commute
24 min
Homes owned
73%
Loading map

What it's like to live in Russell Estates

Russell Estates is a neighborhood in Harlingen with about 700 residents, homes built around 1985, mostly owner-occupied (73%) and 14% of households with children.

It grades B+ against every neighborhood in Texas and ranks 5th of 24 areas in Harlingen, which grades C+ overall.

Pros of living in Russell Estates

  • Well-rated schools nearby. 3 of the 3 closest public schools are rated A or B.
  • Groceries close by. The nearest grocery store is about 0.3 miles from the middle of the neighborhood.

Cons of living in Russell Estates

  • Pricier rent than the city. Median rent is $1,090, 17% higher than the Harlingen median.
  • Longer commutes. The average commute is 24 minutes, against 18 for Harlingen as a whole.
  • Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of hurricanes as very high in this part of town.

Russell Estates report card

Each grade compares Russell Estates 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 $1,090, homes cost 1.5x income.

    78 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Jobs and income: grade B-

    Median household income $51,000, 0% unemployed.

    58 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Schools: grade A-

    Nearby schools average 89 of 100 on the state rating.

    86 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 C

    Most everyday stores and services within a mile of homes.

    47 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Getting around: grade D+

    Average commute 24 min, 30% work from home.

    28 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Education levels: grade C-

    21% have a bachelor’s degree.

    38 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Health: grade C+

    21% of adults uninsured.

    50 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Home ownership: grade D

    73% of homes owner-occupied.

    22 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Internet access: grade C-

    89% of homes have broadband.

    33 of 100 vs TX areas

Russell Estates compared with Harlingen

Better than Harlingen

  • People below the poverty line: 6.7%18 points lower than Harlingen (25%)
  • Homes owned by the people living in them: 73%17 points higher than Harlingen (56%)
  • Home value to income: 1.5x43% lower than Harlingen (2.6x)

Worse than Harlingen

  • Average commute: 24 min34% higher than Harlingen (18 min)
  • Vacant homes: 21%8 points higher than Harlingen (12%)
  • Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent: 55%8 points higher than Harlingen (47%)

Closest public schools

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

  • BStuart Place ElementaryElementary, Harlingen CISD0.2 mi
  • AMoises Vela MiddleMiddle, Harlingen CISD0.8 mi
  • AHarlingen H S - SouthHigh, Harlingen CISD2.2 mi

Cost of living in Russell Estates

Median rent in Russell Estates is $1,090 a month, 17% higher than the Harlingen median. A household would need about $44,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.

The median home is worth $76,000, 46% lower than the Harlingen median, which means a monthly payment of about $683 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.

MeasureHereHarlingenTexas
Median rent17% higher than Harlingen$1,090$928$1,403
Median home value46% lower than Harlingen$76,000$140,600$283,800
Home value to income43% lower than Harlingen1.5x2.6x3.6x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent8 points higher than Harlingen55%47%52%
Homes owned by the people living in them17 points higher than Harlingen73%56%63%
Vacant homes8 points higher than Harlingen21%12%9.4%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Harlingen198519881992

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$683
Mortgage payment
$416
Property tax
$267
Median rent, for comparison
$1,090

Based on a $76,000 home in Russell Estates, 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 income5% lower than Harlingen$51,000$53,645$78,476
Unemployment rate5 points lower than Harlingen0%5.2%5.3%
People below the poverty line18 points lower than Harlingen6.7%25%14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher2 points lower than Harlingen21%23%34%
Average commute34% higher than Harlingen24 min18 min27 min
Workers who work from home20 points higher than Harlingen30%10%14%
Workers who walk, bike or take transit2 points lower than Harlingen0%2.0%2.6%
Homes with broadband internet4 points higher than Harlingen89%85%91%

Natural hazard risk

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

  • River floodingLow
  • Coastal floodingVery low
  • HurricanesVery high
  • TornadoesLow
  • HailHigh
  • Heat wavesModerate
  • WildfiresHigh
  • Winter stormsLow
  • Strong windLow

Who lives in Russell Estates

Under 1811%
18 to 345.2%
35 to 6441%
65 and over42%
Race and ethnicity
White48%
Hispanic or Latino50%
Black0%
Asian0%
Other or more than one race1.2%

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. 6B+Valor at HarlingenMedian rent $1,170
  6. 7BFox Run SubdivisionMedian rent $1,180
  7. 8BSummerfield EstatesMedian rent $860
  8. 9B-Vista VerdeMedian rent $930

Similar neighborhoods in other cities

Areas elsewhere in Texas with the closest mix of grades.

  1. BRegency ParkPearland
  2. BCentral WeslacoWeslaco
  3. B-Cielo Vista EastEl Paso

Questions about Russell Estates

Is Russell Estates a good place to live?

Russell Estates is a neighborhood in Harlingen, TX, home to about 700 people. It gets a B+, in the top 28% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 5th of 24 areas we score in Harlingen. It does best on schools and worst on home ownership.

How much does it cost to live in Russell Estates?

Median rent in Russell Estates is $1,090 a month, 17% higher than the Harlingen median. The median home is worth $76,000, 46% lower than the Harlingen median. A median home costs 1.5x the median household income, compared with 2.6x across Harlingen.

What schools serve Russell Estates?

The closest rated public schools are Stuart Place Elementary (elementary, rated B), Moises Vela Middle (middle, rated A) and Harlingen H S - South (high, rated A). School zones can differ from the closest school, so check with the district.

This area is built from 1 Census block group closest to the Russell Estates name on the map, so its edges are approximate. Sources: US Census Bureau 2020-2024 ACS 5-year, CDC PLACES 2025, Texas Education Agency, FEMA National Risk Index, Overture Maps. How we grade.