Neighborhood in McAllen, Hidalgo County

Living in Central McAllen, McAllen

A-

5th of 21areas in McAllen
Overall score 88 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
McAllen overall: B+

Central McAllen covers part of McAllen, TX, home to about 4,600 people. It gets an A-, in the top 20% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 5th of 21 areas we score in McAllen. It does best on schools.

  • Top-rated schools
  • Lots of parks
  • Hurricane risk is very high

Closest everyday places

Grocery store0.9 mi
Pharmacy1.1 mi
Park0.3 mi
Cafe0.6 mi
Restaurant0.3 mi
Gym0.8 mi
Hospital or urgent care1.3 mi
Childcare0.4 mi
Library0.9 mi

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

Population
4,630
Median rent
$1,670
Median home value
$215,000
Household income
$85,000
Average commute
22 min
Homes owned
82%
Loading map

What it's like to live in Central McAllen

Central McAllen is an area in McAllen with about 4,600 residents, mostly newer homes (median year built 2000), mostly owner-occupied (82%) and 45% of households with children.

It grades A- against every neighborhood in Texas and ranks 5th of 21 areas in McAllen, which grades B+ overall.

Pros of living in Central McAllen

  • Higher incomes. The median household earns $85,000, 38% higher than the McAllen median.
  • Well-rated schools nearby. 3 of the 3 closest public schools are rated A or B.
  • Parks within walking distance. The closest park is about 0.3 miles away.

Cons of living in Central McAllen

  • Pricier rent than the city. Median rent is $1,670, 59% higher than the McAllen median.
  • Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of hurricanes as very high in this part of town.

Central McAllen report card

Each grade compares Central McAllen 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 $1,670, homes cost 2.5x income.

    57 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Jobs and income: grade B

    Median household income $85,000, 2.8% unemployed.

    68 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Schools: grade A

    Nearby schools average 91 of 100 on the state rating.

    94 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Safety: no grade

    Citywide, 126 violent crimes per 100k, 1,422 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.

    41 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Getting around: grade B

    Average commute 22 min, 13% work from home.

    70 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Education levels: grade C

    35% have a bachelor’s degree.

    43 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Health: grade C

    24% of adults uninsured.

    42 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Home ownership: grade B+

    82% of homes owner-occupied.

    73 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Internet access: grade B

    96% of homes have broadband.

    64 of 100 vs TX areas

Central McAllen compared with McAllen

Better than McAllen

  • Homes owned by the people living in them: 82%22 points higher than McAllen (59%)
  • People below the poverty line: 4.0%16 points lower than McAllen (20%)
  • Median household income: $85,00038% higher than McAllen ($61,579)

Worse than McAllen

  • Median rent: $1,67059% higher than McAllen ($1,049)

Closest public schools

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

  • ABlanca E SanchezElementary, McAllen ISD0.3 mi
  • AMichael E Fossum MiddleMiddle, McAllen ISD0.7 mi
  • ASharyland Pioneer High SchoolHigh, Sharyland ISD2.6 mi

Cost of living in Central McAllen

Median rent in Central McAllen is $1,670 a month, 59% higher than the McAllen median. A household would need about $67,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.

The median home is worth $215,000, 13% higher than the McAllen median, which means a monthly payment of about $1,490 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.

MeasureHereMcAllenTexas
Median rent59% higher than McAllen$1,670$1,049$1,403
Median home value13% higher than McAllen$215,000$190,400$283,800
Home value to income18% lower than McAllen2.5x3.1x3.6x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent3 points lower than McAllen48%51%52%
Homes owned by the people living in them22 points higher than McAllen82%59%63%
Vacant homes9 points lower than McAllen3.0%12%9.4%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as McAllen200019951992

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$1,490
Mortgage payment
$1,177
Property tax
$313
Median rent, for comparison
$1,670

Based on a $215,000 home in Central McAllen, 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

MeasureHereMcAllenTexas
Median household income38% higher than McAllen$85,000$61,579$78,476
Unemployment rate3 points lower than McAllen2.8%6.0%5.3%
People below the poverty line16 points lower than McAllen4.0%20%14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher2 points higher than McAllen35%32%34%
Average commuteAbout the same as McAllen22 min22 min27 min
Workers who work from home1 points higher than McAllen13%12%14%
Workers who walk, bike or take transitAbout the same as McAllen1.5%1.7%2.6%
Homes with broadband internet4 points higher than McAllen96%92%91%

Natural hazard risk

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

  • River floodingVery low
  • HurricanesVery high
  • TornadoesLow
  • HailHigh
  • Heat wavesModerate
  • WildfiresLow
  • Winter stormsLow
  • Strong windVery low

Who lives in Central McAllen

Under 1829%
18 to 3423%
35 to 6437%
65 and over11%
Race and ethnicity
White11%
Hispanic or Latino83%
Black0%
Asian3.1%
Other or more than one race2.9%

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

Other neighborhoods in McAllen

  1. 1A+Royal Oak EstatesMedian rent $1,340
  2. 2A+The GablesMedian rent $1,070
  3. 3ATrenton VillageMedian rent $1,980
  4. 4ASouthwest McAllenMedian rent $1,300
  5. 6A-Nuevo SantanderMedian rent $1,020
  6. 7A-Tuscany EstatesMedian rent $1,280
  7. 8A-The GardensMedian rent $1,140
  8. 9A-Northwest McAllenMedian rent $2,480

Similar neighborhoods in other cities

Areas elsewhere in Texas with the closest mix of grades.

  1. A-Southwest BrownsvilleBrownsville
  2. B+MinesLaredo
  3. A-Park PlaceDeer Park

Questions about Central McAllen

Is Central McAllen a good place to live?

Central McAllen covers part of McAllen, TX, home to about 4,600 people. It gets an A-, in the top 20% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 5th of 21 areas we score in McAllen. It does best on schools.

How much does it cost to live in Central McAllen?

Median rent in Central McAllen is $1,670 a month, 59% higher than the McAllen median. The median home is worth $215,000, 13% higher than the McAllen median. A median home costs 2.5x the median household income, compared with 3.1x across McAllen.

What schools serve Central McAllen?

The closest rated public schools are Blanca E Sanchez (elementary, rated A), Michael E Fossum Middle (middle, rated A) and Sharyland Pioneer High School (high, rated A). School zones can differ from the closest school, so check with the district.

This area groups 4 Census block groups in this part of McAllen 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.