Neighborhood in Laredo, Webb County

Living in Las Polkas, Laredo

B

20th of 61areas in Laredo
Overall score 64 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Laredo overall: B-

Las Polkas is a neighborhood in Laredo, TX, home to about 6,900 people. It gets a B, in the top 36% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 20th of 61 areas we score in Laredo. It does best on schools and worst on jobs and income.

  • Top-rated schools
  • Affordable
  • Short commutes
  • Lots of parks
  • Jobs and income scores low (6 of 100)
  • Education levels scores low (7 of 100)

Closest everyday places

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

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

Population
6,870
Median rent
$940
Median home value
$122,000
Household income
$48,000
Average commute
18 min
Homes owned
33%
Loading map

What it's like to live in Las Polkas

Las Polkas is a neighborhood in Laredo with about 6,900 residents, homes built around 1980, mostly rented (67% of homes) and 47% of households with children.

Our grade for Las Polkas is B. That puts it 20th of 61 areas we grade in Laredo, a city that gets a B- overall.

Pros of living in Las Polkas

  • 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.
  • Parks within walking distance. The closest park is about 0.3 miles away.

Cons of living in Las Polkas

  • Higher poverty. 31% of residents live below the poverty line, against 21% across Laredo.
  • Higher unemployment. 12% of the labor force is out of work, against 5.4% across Laredo.
  • Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of heat waves as very high in this part of town.

Las Polkas report card

Each grade compares Las Polkas 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 $940, homes cost 2.5x income.

    77 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Jobs and income: grade F

    Median household income $48,000, 12% unemployed.

    6 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Schools: grade A-

    Nearby schools average 89 of 100 on the state rating.

    87 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Safety: no grade

    Citywide, 316 violent crimes per 100k, 1,157 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.

    83 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Getting around: grade A-

    Average commute 18 min, 5.7% work from home.

    84 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Education levels: grade F

    12% have a bachelor’s degree.

    7 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Health: grade F

    40% of adults uninsured.

    8 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Home ownership: grade D+

    33% of homes owner-occupied.

    25 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Internet access: grade D-

    78% of homes have broadband.

    11 of 100 vs TX areas

Las Polkas compared with Laredo

Better than Laredo

  • Average commute: 18 min19% lower than Laredo (22 min)
  • Home value to income: 2.5x16% lower than Laredo (3.0x)
  • Median rent: $9409% lower than Laredo ($1,030)

Worse than Laredo

  • Homes owned by the people living in them: 33%32 points lower than Laredo (64%)
  • Median household income: $48,00025% lower than Laredo ($63,915)
  • Homes with broadband internet: 78%10 points lower than Laredo (87%)

Closest public schools

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

  • AMilton ElementaryElementary, Laredo ISD0.3 mi
  • BLamar MiddleMiddle, Laredo ISD1.1 mi
  • ANixon High SchoolHigh, Laredo ISD0.1 mi

Cost of living in Las Polkas

Median rent in Las Polkas is $940 a month, 9% lower than the Laredo median. A household would need about $38,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.

The median home is worth $122,000, 37% lower than the Laredo median, which means a monthly payment of about $868 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.

MeasureHereLaredoTexas
Median rent9% lower than Laredo$940$1,030$1,403
Median home value37% lower than Laredo$122,000$193,500$283,800
Home value to income16% lower than Laredo2.5x3.0x3.6x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent3 points lower than Laredo52%55%52%
Homes owned by the people living in them32 points lower than Laredo33%64%63%
Vacant homes1 points lower than Laredo5.7%7.2%9.4%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Laredo198019971992

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$868
Mortgage payment
$668
Property tax
$200
Median rent, for comparison
$940

Based on a $122,000 home in Las Polkas, 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

MeasureHereLaredoTexas
Median household income25% lower than Laredo$48,000$63,915$78,476
Unemployment rate7 points higher than Laredo12%5.4%5.3%
People below the poverty line10 points higher than Laredo31%21%14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher10 points lower than Laredo12%22%34%
Average commute19% lower than Laredo18 min22 min27 min
Workers who work from homeAbout the same as Laredo5.7%5.9%14%
Workers who walk, bike or take transitAbout the same as Laredo1.9%2.0%2.6%
Homes with broadband internet10 points lower than Laredo78%87%91%

Natural hazard risk

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

  • River floodingLow
  • HurricanesHigh
  • TornadoesModerate
  • HailHigh
  • Heat wavesVery high
  • WildfiresLow
  • Winter stormsModerate
  • Strong windLow

Who lives in Las Polkas

Under 1832%
18 to 3424%
35 to 6428%
65 and over15%
Race and ethnicity
White1.3%
Hispanic or Latino97%
Black1.0%
Asian0.2%
Other or more than one race0.2%

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

Other neighborhoods in Laredo

  1. 1A+LakesideMedian rent $980
  2. 2A+AlexanderMedian rent $1,070
  3. 3A+East LaredoMedian rent $980
  4. 4ANorthwest Laredo
  5. 5A-Sierra Vista
  6. 6A-WinfieldMedian rent $2,140
  7. 7A-PlantationMedian rent $1,600
  8. 8B+Del MarMedian rent $1,220

Similar neighborhoods in other cities

Areas elsewhere in Texas with the closest mix of grades.

  1. BGlen CoveEl Paso
  2. B-Roosevelt School ColoniaWeslaco
  3. C+Sprauge Meadows IVEdinburg

Questions about Las Polkas

Is Las Polkas a good place to live?

Las Polkas is a neighborhood in Laredo, TX, home to about 6,900 people. It gets a B, in the top 36% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 20th of 61 areas we score in Laredo. It does best on schools and worst on jobs and income.

How much does it cost to live in Las Polkas?

Renters in Las Polkas pay a median of $940 a month, 9% lower than the Laredo median. The median home is worth $122,000, 37% lower than the Laredo median. A median home costs 2.5x the median household income, compared with 3.0x across Laredo.

What schools serve Las Polkas?

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

This area is built from 5 Census block groups closest to the Las Polkas 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.