Neighborhood in Mercedes, Hidalgo County

Living in Southwest Mercedes, Mercedes

B-

4th of 6areas in Mercedes
Overall score 57 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Mercedes overall: D

Southwest Mercedes covers part of Mercedes, TX, home to about 1,500 people. It gets a B-, in the top 44% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 4th of 6 areas we score in Mercedes. It does best on schools and worst on internet access.

  • Top-rated schools
  • Affordable
  • Short commutes
  • Health scores low (18 of 100)
  • Internet access scores low (6 of 100)

Closest everyday places

Grocery store1.4 mi
Pharmacy1.4 mi
Park0.7 mi
Cafe2.7 mi
Restaurant0.5 mi
Gym1.3 mi
Hospital or urgent care1.4 mi
Childcare1.1 mi
Library1.3 mi

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

Population
1,480
Median rent
$1,040
Median home value
$85,000
Household income
$58,500
Average commute
20 min
Homes owned
81%
Loading map

What it's like to live in Southwest Mercedes

Southwest Mercedes is an area in Mercedes with about 1,500 residents, homes built around 1987, mostly owner-occupied (81%) and 15% of households with children.

Our grade for Southwest Mercedes is B-. That puts it 4th of 6 areas we grade in Mercedes, a city that gets a D overall.

Pros of living in Southwest Mercedes

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

Cons of living in Southwest Mercedes

  • Pricier rent than the city. Median rent is $1,040, 28% higher than the Mercedes median.
  • Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of hurricanes, heat waves and hail as very high in this part of town.

Southwest Mercedes report card

Each grade compares Southwest Mercedes 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 $1,040, homes cost 1.5x income.

    80 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Jobs and income: grade C

    Median household income $58,500, 3.7% unemployed.

    45 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Schools: grade A-

    Nearby schools average 89 of 100 on the state rating.

    85 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Safety: no grade

    Citywide, 341 violent crimes per 100k, 1,819 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.

    20 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Getting around: grade C+

    Average commute 20 min, 25% work from home.

    48 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Education levels: grade C-

    20% have a bachelor’s degree.

    36 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Health: grade D

    35% of adults uninsured.

    18 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Home ownership: grade D+

    81% of homes owner-occupied.

    25 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Internet access: grade F

    72% of homes have broadband.

    6 of 100 vs TX areas

Southwest Mercedes compared with Mercedes

Better than Mercedes

  • People below the poverty line: 5.3%23 points lower than Mercedes (29%)
  • Homes owned by the people living in them: 81%18 points higher than Mercedes (63%)
  • Home value to income: 1.5x39% lower than Mercedes (2.4x)

Worse than Mercedes

  • Vacant homes: 32%18 points higher than Mercedes (14%)
  • Median rent: $1,04028% higher than Mercedes ($812)
  • Homes with broadband internet: 72%6 points lower than Mercedes (78%)

Closest public schools

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

  • BProgreso ElementaryElementary, Progreso ISD3 mi
  • BSouth Texas ISD Virtual AcademyMiddle, South Texas ISD2 mi
  • ASouth Texas ISD Health ProfessionsHigh, South Texas ISD1.9 mi

Cost of living in Southwest Mercedes

Median rent in Southwest Mercedes is $1,040 a month, 28% higher than the Mercedes median. A household would need about $42,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.

The median home is worth $85,000, 24% lower than the Mercedes median, which means a monthly payment of about $606 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.

MeasureHereMercedesTexas
Median rent28% higher than Mercedes$1,040$812$1,403
Median home value24% lower than Mercedes$85,000$111,800$283,800
Home value to income39% lower than Mercedes1.5x2.4x3.6x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent8 points lower than Mercedes55%63%52%
Homes owned by the people living in them18 points higher than Mercedes81%63%63%
Vacant homes18 points higher than Mercedes32%14%9.4%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Mercedes198719911992

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$606
Mortgage payment
$465
Property tax
$141
Median rent, for comparison
$1,040

Based on a $85,000 home in Southwest Mercedes, 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

MeasureHereMercedesTexas
Median household income25% higher than Mercedes$58,500$46,904$78,476
Unemployment rate3 points lower than Mercedes3.7%6.8%5.3%
People below the poverty line23 points lower than Mercedes5.3%29%14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher5 points higher than Mercedes20%15%34%
Average commute6% higher than Mercedes20 min19 min27 min
Workers who work from home15 points higher than Mercedes25%9.5%14%
Workers who walk, bike or take transit1 points lower than Mercedes0%1.1%2.6%
Homes with broadband internet6 points lower than Mercedes72%78%91%

Natural hazard risk

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

  • River floodingModerate
  • HurricanesVery high
  • TornadoesModerate
  • HailVery high
  • Heat wavesVery high
  • WildfiresModerate
  • Winter stormsHigh
  • Strong windModerate

Who lives in Southwest Mercedes

Under 1815%
18 to 349.6%
35 to 6435%
65 and over41%
Race and ethnicity
White35%
Hispanic or Latino63%
Black0%
Asian0%
Other or more than one race1.6%

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

Other neighborhoods in Mercedes

  1. 1B+West MercedesMedian rent $880
  2. 2BLas Palmas Del ValleMedian rent $970
  3. 3B-Central MercedesMedian rent $830
  4. 5CColonia GarzaMedian rent $750
  5. 6CLorenzana Subdivision ColoniaMedian rent $850

Similar neighborhoods in other cities

Areas elsewhere in Texas with the closest mix of grades.

  1. B-Central PalmviewPalmview
  2. CEast AlvinAlvin
  3. BCentral WeslacoWeslaco

Questions about Southwest Mercedes

Is Southwest Mercedes a good place to live?

Southwest Mercedes covers part of Mercedes, TX, home to about 1,500 people. It gets a B-, in the top 44% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 4th of 6 areas we score in Mercedes. It does best on schools and worst on internet access.

How much does it cost to live in Southwest Mercedes?

Renters in Southwest Mercedes pay a median of $1,040 a month, 28% higher than the Mercedes median. The median home is worth $85,000, 24% lower than the Mercedes median. A median home costs 1.5x the median household income, compared with 2.4x across Mercedes.

What schools serve Southwest Mercedes?

The closest rated public schools are Progreso Elementary (elementary, rated B), South Texas ISD Virtual Academy (middle, rated B) and South Texas ISD Health Professions (high, rated A). School zones can differ from the closest school, so check with the district.

This area groups 2 Census block groups in this part of Mercedes 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.