Neighborhood in McAllen, Hidalgo County

Living in The Gardens, McAllen

A-

8th of 21areas in McAllen
Overall score 85 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
McAllen overall: B+

The Gardens is a neighborhood in McAllen, TX, home to about 3,900 people. It gets an A-, in the top 20% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 8th of 21 areas we score in McAllen. It does best on schools and worst on home ownership.

  • Errands close by
  • Top-rated schools
  • Lots of parks
  • Jobs and income scores low (18 of 100)
  • Home ownership scores low (13 of 100)

Closest everyday places

Grocery store0.3 mi
Pharmacy0.4 mi
Park0.2 mi
Cafe0.2 mi
Restaurant0.2 mi
Gym0.3 mi
Hospital or urgent care0.4 mi
Childcare0.5 mi
Library1.2 mi

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

Population
3,910
Median rent
$1,140
Median home value
$202,000
Household income
$65,400
Average commute
21 min
Homes owned
43%
Loading map

What it's like to live in The Gardens

The Gardens is a neighborhood in McAllen with about 3,900 residents, homes built around 1988, a mix of owners and renters and 40% of households with children.

It grades A- against every neighborhood in Texas and ranks 8th of 21 areas in McAllen, which grades B+ overall.

Pros of living in The Gardens

  • 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 0.2 miles away.

Cons of living in The Gardens

  • Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of hurricanes and hail as very high in this part of town.

The Gardens report card

Each grade compares The Gardens 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 $1,140, homes cost 3.1x income.

    67 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Jobs and income: grade D

    Median household income $65,400, 6.2% unemployed.

    19 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Schools: grade A+

    Nearby schools average 92 of 100 on the state rating.

    95 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 A

    Most everyday stores and services within a mile of homes.

    92 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Getting around: grade B

    Average commute 21 min, 7.4% work from home.

    69 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Education levels: grade C-

    34% have a bachelor’s degree.

    38 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Health: grade C+

    19% of adults uninsured.

    54 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Home ownership: grade D-

    43% of homes owner-occupied.

    13 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Internet access: grade B

    97% of homes have broadband.

    71 of 100 vs TX areas

The Gardens compared with McAllen

Better than McAllen

  • Adults 18 to 64 without health insurance: 19%11 points lower than McAllen (30%)
  • Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent: 44%7 points lower than McAllen (51%)
  • Homes with broadband internet: 97%5 points higher than McAllen (92%)

Worse than McAllen

  • Homes owned by the people living in them: 43%16 points lower than McAllen (59%)
  • Median rent: $1,1409% higher than McAllen ($1,049)
  • People below the poverty line: 22%2 points higher than McAllen (20%)

Closest public schools

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

  • ARayburn ElementaryElementary, McAllen ISD0.1 mi
  • AMorris MiddleMiddle, McAllen ISD0.3 mi
  • AMcAllen High SchoolHigh, McAllen ISD2.9 mi

Cost of living in The Gardens

Median rent in The Gardens is $1,140 a month, 9% higher than the McAllen median. A household would need about $46,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.

The median home is worth $202,000, 6% higher than the McAllen median, which means a monthly payment of about $1,444 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.

MeasureHereMcAllenTexas
Median rent9% higher than McAllen$1,140$1,049$1,403
Median home value6% higher than McAllen$202,000$190,400$283,800
Home value to incomeAbout the same as McAllen3.1x3.1x3.6x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent7 points lower than McAllen44%51%52%
Homes owned by the people living in them16 points lower than McAllen43%59%63%
Vacant homes1 points higher than McAllen13%12%9.4%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as McAllen198819951992

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$1,444
Mortgage payment
$1,106
Property tax
$338
Median rent, for comparison
$1,140

Based on a $202,000 home in The Gardens, 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 income6% higher than McAllen$65,400$61,579$78,476
Unemployment rateAbout the same as McAllen6.2%6.0%5.3%
People below the poverty line2 points higher than McAllen22%20%14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher2 points higher than McAllen34%32%34%
Average commute6% lower than McAllen21 min22 min27 min
Workers who work from home5 points lower than McAllen7.4%12%14%
Workers who walk, bike or take transit1 points lower than McAllen0.2%1.7%2.6%
Homes with broadband internet5 points higher than McAllen97%92%91%

Natural hazard risk

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

  • River floodingLow
  • HurricanesVery high
  • TornadoesLow
  • HailVery high
  • Heat wavesHigh
  • WildfiresVery low
  • Winter stormsModerate
  • Strong windLow

Who lives in The Gardens

Under 1828%
18 to 3425%
35 to 6433%
65 and over14%
Race and ethnicity
White9.7%
Hispanic or Latino89%
Black0%
Asian1.5%
Other or more than one race0.1%

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. 9A-Northwest McAllenMedian rent $2,480

Similar neighborhoods in other cities

Areas elsewhere in Texas with the closest mix of grades.

  1. AThe PresidioEdinburg
  2. B+First WardHouston
  3. B+West GrapevineGrapevine

Questions about The Gardens

Is The Gardens a good place to live?

The Gardens is a neighborhood in McAllen, TX, home to about 3,900 people. It gets an A-, in the top 20% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 8th 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 The Gardens?

Median rent in The Gardens is $1,140 a month, 9% higher than the McAllen median. The median home is worth $202,000, 6% higher than the McAllen median. A median home costs 3.1x the median household income, compared with 3.1x across McAllen.

What schools serve The Gardens?

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

This area is built from 3 Census block groups closest to the The Gardens 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.