Neighborhood in McAllen, Hidalgo County

Living in South McAllen, McAllen

B-

17th of 21areas in McAllen
Overall score 62 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
McAllen overall: B+

South McAllen covers part of McAllen, TX, home to about 44,100 people. It gets a B-, in the top 44% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 17th of 21 areas we score in McAllen. It does best on schools and worst on home ownership.

  • Short commutes
  • Lots of parks
  • Jobs and income scores low (17 of 100)
  • Health scores low (17 of 100)

Closest everyday places

Grocery store0.5 mi
Pharmacy0.9 mi
Park0.3 mi
Cafe0.5 mi
Restaurant0.3 mi
Gym0.5 mi
Hospital or urgent care1.0 mi
Childcare0.6 mi
Library1.4 mi

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

Population
44,130
Median rent
$1,040
Median home value
$184,000
Household income
$56,400
Average commute
19 min
Homes owned
50%
Loading map

What it's like to live in South McAllen

South McAllen is an area in McAllen with about 44,100 residents, homes built around 1988, a mix of owners and renters and 34% of households with children.

It grades B- against every neighborhood in Texas and ranks 17th of 21 areas in McAllen, which grades B+ overall.

Pros of living in South McAllen

  • 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 0.5 miles from the middle of the neighborhood.
  • Parks within walking distance. The closest park is about 0.3 miles away.

Cons of living in South McAllen

  • Higher poverty. 27% of residents live below the poverty line, against 20% across McAllen.
  • Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of hurricanes and hail as very high in this part of town.

South McAllen report card

Each grade compares South 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 $1,040, homes cost 3.3x income.

    66 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Jobs and income: grade D

    Median household income $56,400, 4.5% unemployed.

    17 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Schools: grade A-

    Nearby schools average 88 of 100 on the state rating.

    84 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 B-

    Most everyday stores and services within a mile of homes.

    57 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Getting around: grade A-

    Average commute 19 min, 12% work from home.

    83 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Education levels: grade D+

    29% have a bachelor’s degree.

    28 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Health: grade D

    33% of adults uninsured.

    17 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Home ownership: grade D-

    50% of homes owner-occupied.

    15 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Internet access: grade C-

    91% of homes have broadband.

    40 of 100 vs TX areas

South McAllen compared with McAllen

Better than McAllen

  • Average commute: 19 min14% lower than McAllen (22 min)
  • Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent: 49%2 points lower than McAllen (51%)
  • Unemployment rate: 4.5%1 points lower than McAllen (6.0%)

Worse than McAllen

  • Homes owned by the people living in them: 50%9 points lower than McAllen (59%)
  • People below the poverty line: 27%7 points higher than McAllen (20%)
  • Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher: 29%4 points lower than McAllen (32%)

Closest public schools

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

  • BGeraldine Palmer ElementaryElementary, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD1.2 mi
  • BKennedy MiddleMiddle, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD1.6 mi
  • BPsja Southwest Early College High SchoolHigh, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD2.3 mi

Cost of living in South McAllen

Median rent in South McAllen is $1,040 a month, about the same as the McAllen median. A household would need about $42,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.

The median home is worth $184,000, about the same as the McAllen median, which means a monthly payment of about $1,256 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.

MeasureHereMcAllenTexas
Median rentAbout the same as McAllen$1,040$1,049$1,403
Median home value3% lower than McAllen$184,000$190,400$283,800
Home value to income6% higher than McAllen3.3x3.1x3.6x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent2 points lower than McAllen49%51%52%
Homes owned by the people living in them9 points lower than McAllen50%59%63%
Vacant homes2 points higher than McAllen14%12%9.4%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as McAllen198819951992

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$1,256
Mortgage payment
$1,007
Property tax
$249
Median rent, for comparison
$1,040

Based on a $184,000 home in South 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 income8% lower than McAllen$56,400$61,579$78,476
Unemployment rate1 points lower than McAllen4.5%6.0%5.3%
People below the poverty line7 points higher than McAllen27%20%14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher4 points lower than McAllen29%32%34%
Average commute14% lower than McAllen19 min22 min27 min
Workers who work from homeAbout the same as McAllen12%12%14%
Workers who walk, bike or take transitAbout the same as McAllen2.3%1.7%2.6%
Homes with broadband internet2 points lower than McAllen91%92%91%

Natural hazard risk

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

  • River floodingLow
  • HurricanesVery high
  • TornadoesModerate
  • HailVery high
  • Heat wavesHigh
  • WildfiresLow
  • Winter stormsModerate
  • Strong windLow

Who lives in South McAllen

Under 1827%
18 to 3425%
35 to 6433%
65 and over15%
Race and ethnicity
White8.1%
Hispanic or Latino90%
Black0.3%
Asian1.2%
Other or more than one race0.9%

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. 5A-Central McAllenMedian rent $1,670
  6. 6A-Nuevo SantanderMedian rent $1,020
  7. 7A-Tuscany EstatesMedian rent $1,280
  8. 8A-The GardensMedian rent $1,140

Similar neighborhoods in other cities

Areas elsewhere in Texas with the closest mix of grades.

  1. CHills at ChapinEdinburg
  2. C+Ghost TownLaredo
  3. BSouth BrownsvilleBrownsville

Questions about South McAllen

Is South McAllen a good place to live?

South McAllen covers part of McAllen, TX, home to about 44,100 people. It gets a B-, in the top 44% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 17th of 21 areas we score in McAllen. It does best on schools and worst on home ownership.

How much does it cost to live in South McAllen?

Median rent in South McAllen is $1,040 a month, about the same as the McAllen median. The median home is worth $184,000, 3% lower than the McAllen median. A median home costs 3.3x the median household income, compared with 3.1x across McAllen.

What schools serve South McAllen?

The closest rated public schools are Geraldine Palmer Elementary (elementary, rated B), Kennedy Middle (middle, rated B) and Psja Southwest Early College High School (high, rated B). School zones can differ from the closest school, so check with the district.

This area groups 38 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.