Neighborhood in Harlingen, Cameron County

Living in Villa Las Palmas, Harlingen

B-

13th of 24areas in Harlingen
Overall score 58 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Harlingen overall: C+

Villa Las Palmas is a neighborhood in Harlingen, TX, home to about 1,200 people. It gets a B-, in the top 44% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 13th of 24 areas we score in Harlingen. It does best on cost of living and worst on education levels.

  • Affordable
  • Education levels scores low (7 of 100)
  • Home ownership scores low (18 of 100)

Closest everyday places

Grocery store2.2 mi
Pharmacy0.7 mi
Park1.3 mi
Cafe1.4 mi
Restaurant0.5 mi
Gym1.6 mi
Hospital or urgent care3.3 mi
Childcare1.0 mi
Library3.1 mi

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

Population
1,210
Median rent
$1,060
Median home value
$27,000
Household income
$41,100
Average commute
23 min
Homes owned
69%
Loading map

What it's like to live in Villa Las Palmas

Villa Las Palmas is a neighborhood in Harlingen with about 1,200 residents, homes built around 1985, mostly owner-occupied (69%) and 26% of households with children.

It grades B- against every neighborhood in Texas and ranks 13th of 24 areas in Harlingen, which grades C+ overall.

Pros of living in Villa Las Palmas

  • Well-rated schools nearby. 3 of the 3 closest public schools are rated A or B.

Cons of living in Villa Las Palmas

  • Groceries are a drive. The nearest grocery store is about 2.2 miles from the middle of the neighborhood.
  • Longer commutes. The average commute is 23 minutes, against 18 for Harlingen as a whole.
  • Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of hurricanes and hail as very high in this part of town.

Villa Las Palmas report card

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

  • Cost of living: grade A

    Median rent $1,060, homes cost 0.7x income.

    94 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Jobs and income: grade C

    Median household income $41,100, 0% unemployed.

    44 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Schools: grade B+

    Nearby schools average 87 of 100 on the state rating.

    78 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 D

    Few everyday stores and services within a mile of homes.

    23 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Getting around: grade C-

    Average commute 23 min, 3.7% work from home.

    32 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Education levels: grade F

    12% have a bachelor’s degree.

    7 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Health: grade C-

    31% of adults uninsured.

    32 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Home ownership: grade D

    69% of homes owner-occupied.

    18 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Internet access: grade C-

    90% of homes have broadband.

    39 of 100 vs TX areas

Villa Las Palmas compared with Harlingen

Better than Harlingen

  • Home value to income: 0.7x75% lower than Harlingen (2.6x)
  • Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent: 22%25 points lower than Harlingen (47%)
  • People below the poverty line: 11%14 points lower than Harlingen (25%)

Worse than Harlingen

  • Average commute: 23 min29% higher than Harlingen (18 min)
  • Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher: 12%10 points lower than Harlingen (23%)
  • Vacant homes: 22%10 points higher than Harlingen (12%)

Closest public schools

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

  • ADishman ElementaryElementary, Harlingen CISD1.5 mi
  • BGutierrez MiddleMiddle, Harlingen CISD1.8 mi
  • BHarlingen High SchoolHigh, Harlingen CISD2.7 mi

Cost of living in Villa Las Palmas

Median rent in Villa Las Palmas is $1,060 a month, 14% higher than the Harlingen median. A household would need about $42,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.

The median home is worth $27,000, 81% lower than the Harlingen median, which means a monthly payment of about $191 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.

MeasureHereHarlingenTexas
Median rent14% higher than Harlingen$1,060$928$1,403
Median home value81% lower than Harlingen$27,000$140,600$283,800
Home value to income75% lower than Harlingen0.7x2.6x3.6x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent25 points lower than Harlingen22%47%52%
Homes owned by the people living in them13 points higher than Harlingen69%56%63%
Vacant homes10 points higher than Harlingen22%12%9.4%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Harlingen198519881992

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$191
Mortgage payment
$148
Property tax
$43
Median rent, for comparison
$1,060

Based on a $27,000 home in Villa Las Palmas, 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 income23% lower than Harlingen$41,100$53,645$78,476
Unemployment rate5 points lower than Harlingen0%5.2%5.3%
People below the poverty line14 points lower than Harlingen11%25%14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher10 points lower than Harlingen12%23%34%
Average commute29% higher than Harlingen23 min18 min27 min
Workers who work from home7 points lower than Harlingen3.7%10%14%
Workers who walk, bike or take transit2 points lower than Harlingen0%2.0%2.6%
Homes with broadband internet6 points higher than Harlingen90%85%91%

Natural hazard risk

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

  • River floodingLow
  • Coastal floodingHigh
  • HurricanesVery high
  • TornadoesModerate
  • HailVery high
  • Heat wavesHigh
  • WildfiresHigh
  • Winter stormsModerate
  • Strong windModerate

Who lives in Villa Las Palmas

Under 1831%
18 to 340%
35 to 6426%
65 and over43%
Race and ethnicity
White35%
Hispanic or Latino64%
Black0%
Asian0%
Other or more than one race0.7%

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. CEast AlvinAlvin
  2. B-Central AngletonAngleton
  3. CNorth ShoreHouston

Questions about Villa Las Palmas

Is Villa Las Palmas a good place to live?

Villa Las Palmas is a neighborhood in Harlingen, TX, home to about 1,200 people. It gets a B-, in the top 44% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 13th of 24 areas we score in Harlingen. It does best on cost of living and worst on education levels.

How much does it cost to live in Villa Las Palmas?

Median rent in Villa Las Palmas is $1,060 a month, 14% higher than the Harlingen median. The median home is worth $27,000, 81% lower than the Harlingen median. A median home costs 0.7x the median household income, compared with 2.6x across Harlingen.

What schools serve Villa Las Palmas?

The closest rated public schools are Dishman Elementary (elementary, rated A), Gutierrez 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 is built from 1 Census block group closest to the Villa Las Palmas 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.