City in Hidalgo County, part of the McAllen metro

Living in Mission, TX

B

27th of 75Texas cities of 50,000+ people
Overall score 70 of 100
4th of 46 in the McAllen area

Mission gets an overall grade of B and ranks 27th of 75 Texas cities of 50,000+ people. It does best on cost of living and safety, and trails on jobs and income and education levels. It is a strong pick for people on a budget.

  • Good for people on a budget
  • Affordable
  • Jobs and income scores low (11 of 100)
  • Education levels scores low (17 of 100)
Mission, Texas
Photo: Theunderratedtaco, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Population
88,992+3.7% since 2020
Median rent
$95032% lower than Texas
Median home value
$175,70038% lower than Texas
Household income
$60,767Median
Average commute
21 minOne way
Violent crime
134Per 100k, 2025

About Mission

Down in the Rio Grande Valley, Mission sits in western Hidalgo County, a few miles north of the Rio Grande and right next to McAllen, whose downtown is about 5 miles east. The town takes its name from La Lomita, a mission chapel the Oblate fathers started around 1865. In 1907 John J. Conway and J. W. Holt bought the La Lomita ranch and began selling lots, and the city incorporated in 1910.

Citrus put Mission on the map. Irrigation turned the area into orchard country, and the city has called itself the home of the Ruby Red grapefruit since 1921. The Texas Citrus Exchange is based here, and the Texas Citrus Fiesta parade happens every year. Interstate 2 and US 83 are the main roads, running east to McAllen and west toward Rio Grande City. Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, headquarters of the World Birding Center, and the National Butterfly Center next door draw visitors from all over.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org, tshaonline.org, en.wikipedia.org

What it's like to live in Mission

Mission sits about 5 miles from downtown McAllen, in the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission metro. 88,992 people lived here in 2025, up 3.7% from 2020. It is suburban, with mostly newer homes (the median home was built in 2000).

Places locals use include Bentsen Palm Park, Bentsen Palm Community Park and Mission Nature Park.

The median age is 34.9, 41% of households have children, 71% of homes are owned by the people living in them and the typical household earns $60,767 a year (23% lower than the Texas median).

Pros of living in Mission

  • Low violent crime. 134 violent crimes per 100,000 people in 2025, 65% lower than the Texas rate.
  • Lower rent. Median rent is $950, 32% lower than the Texas median.
  • Short commutes. The average trip to work takes 21 minutes, against 27 across Texas.

Cons of living in Mission

  • Higher unemployment. 7.8% of the labor force is out of work, against 5.3% statewide.
  • Many adults uninsured. 32% of adults 18 to 64 have no health insurance, against 20% statewide.
  • Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of hurricanes and hail as very high here.
  • Long, hot summers. Expect about 177 days a year at 90°F or hotter.

Who Mission suits

  • FamiliesA reasonable fit: 77% of rated schools earn an A or B and violent crime is 65% lower than the Texas rate. Compared with similar Texas places, it beats 74% for families.
  • Young professionalsA reasonable fit: household income is 23% lower than the Texas median, with 323 restaurants and 35 cafes in town. Compared with similar Texas places, it beats 49% for young professionals.
  • RetireesA strong fit: 32% of working-age adults are uninsured and violent crime is 65% lower than the Texas rate. Compared with similar Texas places, it beats 78% for retirees.
  • Remote workersA reasonable fit: 90% of homes have broadband and the median rent of $950 is 32% lower than the Texas median. Compared with similar Texas places, it beats 54% for remote workers.
  • People on a budgetA strong fit: the median rent of $950 is 32% lower than the Texas median. Compared with similar Texas places, it beats 91% for people on a budget.

Mission report card

Ten grades, one for each part of daily life we measure. Most compare Mission with other US cities of 50,000+ people. Schools, safety and errands compare it with other Texas cities of 50,000+ people.

  • Cost of living: grade A+

    Median rent $950, homes cost 2.9x income.

    97 of 100 vs US cities

  • Jobs and income: grade D-

    Median household income $60,767, 7.8% unemployed.

    11 of 100 vs US cities

  • Schools: grade B-

    31 rated campuses, 77% rated A or B.

    63 of 100 vs TX cities

  • Safety: grade B+

    134 violent crimes per 100k, 1,164 property crimes per 100k.

    75 of 100 vs TX cities

  • Errands and things to do: grade B

    24 grocery stores, 323 restaurants, 48 parks mapped in town.

    71 of 100 vs TX cities

  • Getting around: grade C

    Average commute 21 min, 10% work from home.

    42 of 100 vs US cities

  • Education levels: grade D

    29% have a bachelor’s degree.

    17 of 100 vs US cities

  • Health: grade D

    32% of adults uninsured.

    18 of 100 vs US cities

  • Home ownership: grade C

    71% of homes owner-occupied.

    43 of 100 vs US cities

  • Internet access: grade D+

    90% of homes have broadband.

    28 of 100 vs US cities

Where Mission stands out compared with Texas

Better than Texas

  • Median rent: $95032% lower than Texas ($1,403)
  • Average commute: 21 min23% lower than Texas (27 min)
  • Homes owned by the people living in them: 71%9 points higher than Texas (63%)

Worse than Texas

  • Adults 18 to 64 without health insurance: 32%12 points higher than Texas (20%)
  • Median household income: $60,76723% lower than Texas ($78,476)
  • People below the poverty line: 19%6 points higher than Texas (14%)

Cost of living in Mission

Rent is the cost most newcomers feel first. The median rent in Mission is $950 a month, 32% lower than the Texas median of $1,403. To keep that rent at 30% of income, a household needs to earn about $38,000 a year. Right now 45% of renters here pay more than 30% of their income on rent.

HUD sets fair market rents for this area at $806 for a one-bedroom, $1,017 for a two-bedroom and $1,305 for a three-bedroom (fiscal year 2027). These figures include utilities and describe a modest unit, so newer apartments often ask for more.

The median home is worth $175,700, 38% lower than the Texas median. With 20% down and a 30-year loan at 7.28%, the monthly payment comes to about $962 before tax, or $1,224 with property tax. That is $274 a month more than the median rent, so renting is the cheaper monthly choice unless you plan to stay for years.

Texas has no state income tax, but it leans on property taxes instead, though they are lighter here than in much of the state. The median homeowner in Mission pays $3,151 a year, 26% lower than the Texas median of $4,232. Budget for it, along with homeowners insurance, which our numbers do not include.

See the full cost of living breakdown for Mission

Typical rent by apartment size

Fair market rent by bedroom count in MissionStudio$8011 bedroom$8062 bedrooms$1,0173 bedrooms$1,3054 bedrooms$1,439
HUD fair market rent for FY2027, McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX MSA. This is what a typical, modest unit rents for, including utilities.
MeasureHereTexasUS
Median rent32% lower than Texas$950$1,403$1,413
Median home value38% lower than Texas$175,700$283,800$332,700
Home value to income20% lower than Texas2.9x3.6x4.1x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent7 points lower than Texas45%52%51%
Median property tax per year26% lower than Texas$3,151$4,232$3,119
Homes owned by the people living in them9 points higher than Texas71%63%65%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Texas200019921980

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$1,224
Mortgage payment
$962
Property tax
$263
Median rent, for comparison
$950

Based on a $175,700 home in Mission, 20% down and a 30-year loan at 7.28% (Freddie Mac average, week of 2026-10-01). Property tax is the median paid locally, or the county median where the local figure is not published. Insurance and fees are not included.

Is Mission safe?

In 2025, Mission Police Department reported 120 violent crimes and 1,039 property crimes. That works out to 134 violent crimes per 100,000 people, 65% lower than the Texas rate of 387, and 1,164 property crimes per 100,000, 44% lower than the state rate.

Violent crime is up about 36% since 2021, based on the yearly rates below.

Crime rates describe the whole area a police department covers. Some streets are much quieter than the average and some are busier, so look at the neighborhood grades and visit at different times of day.

Violent crimes per 100,000 people in Mission by yearTexas13420212022202320242025

Violent crimes per 100,000 people by year. The dashed line is the Texas rate for 2025.

Violent crime
134
per 100k, Texas 387
Property crime
1,164
per 100k, Texas 2,086
Property crimes per 100,000 people in Mission by yearTexas1,16420212022202320242025

Property crimes per 100,000 people by year.

Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer, Mission Police Department, 2025. Rates count reported crimes only and cover the area this police department serves.

Schools in Mission

Mission has 31 public school campuses with a 2025 state rating inside the city, and 77% of them earn an A or B. Most students here are served by Sharyland ISD and Idea Public Schools.

Top-rated campuses include Sharyland Advanced Academic Academy, Idea North Mission College Preparatory and Sharyland High School. The average rating score across all campuses is 84 out of 100, against a Texas median of 81.

Texas districts usually assign students by attendance zone rather than the closest campus, so check the zone for a specific address with the district before you sign a lease or buy.

Schools grade
63
of 100 vs Texas cities
Average rating
84
Texas median 81

Ratings are the 2025 Texas Education Agency A to F accountability ratings. Always check which school serves a specific address with the district.

Top-rated schools

  • ASharyland Advanced Academic AcademyHigh, Sharyland ISD98 of 100
  • AIdea North Mission College PreparatoryOther, Idea Public Schools94 of 100
  • ASharyland High SchoolHigh, Sharyland ISD94 of 100
  • AB L Gray Junior HighMiddle, Sharyland ISD92 of 100
  • ARuben Hinojosa ElementaryElementary, Sharyland ISD92 of 100

Best neighborhoods in Mission

We grade 17 areas inside Mission. The top three are Shary Springs Subdivision (A+), Orchards at Shary Road (A) and East Mission (A-). If price matters most, Fairview has the lowest median rent among areas graded C or better, at $730 a month. Sharyland Plantation is the priciest, at $2,630. Use the map to color the city by any grade, or the sliders to rank areas by what you care about.

Loading map

    Rank Mission neighborhoods your way

    What matters to you?

    Move a slider and the list re-ranks right away.

    Most
    A lot
    Most
    A lot
    A lot
    A lot
    Some
    A lot
    Some
    A little

    The grade is our overall grade. Fit shows how well each one matches your sliders, from 0 to 100, against the others in this list.

    17 Mission neighborhoods, ranked by your priorities
    1. 1A+Shary Springs Subdivision1,602 people, median rent $1,060, home $367,000100fit
    2. 2AOrchards at Shary Road4,683 people, median rent $940, home $257,00094fit
    3. 3A-East Mission4,921 people, median rent $1,090, home $232,00088fit
    4. 4B+Las Villas Del Rio4,556 people, median rent $1,380, home $269,00081fit
    5. 5BNortheast Mission7,760 people, median rent $1,120, home $232,00075fit
    6. 6BHilda Colonia Number 23,437 people, median rent $930, home $158,00069fit
    7. 7BFairview8,541 people, median rent $730, home $135,00063fit
    8. 8C+Sharyland Plantation7,155 people, median rent $2,630, home $286,00056fit
    9. 9B-Central Mission23,104 people, median rent $840, home $124,00050fit
    10. 10C+Montecruz5,854 people, median rent $1,510, home $204,00044fit
    11. 11CHolland Estates2,691 people, median rent $780, home $130,00038fit
    12. 12C-Northwest Mission1,409 people, median rent $830, home $122,00031fit
    13. 13CSouth Mission833 people, median rent $2,520, home $66,00025fit
    14. 14C-Basham Number 7 Colonia513 people, median rent $940, home $145,00019fit
    15. 15C-West Mission4,015 people, median rent $1,230, home $180,00013fit
    All 17 Mission neighborhoods, A to Z

    Daily life in Mission

    Everyday places mapped inside Mission, from Overture Maps. Well-known spots include Bentsen Palm Park, Bentsen Palm Community Park, Mission Nature Park.

    The average one-way commute is 21 minutes, 23% shorter than the Texas average. 10% of workers work from home. Fewer than 3% walk, bike or take transit to work, so plan on driving for almost everything.

    Downtown McAllen is about 5 miles away in a straight line. Many people who live in Mission work elsewhere in the metro, so test the drive at rush hour before you commit.

    The median household income is $60,767, income per person is $28,304, unemployment is 7.8% and 29% of adults hold a bachelor's degree.

    Grocery stores
    24
    Pharmacies
    17
    Restaurants
    323
    Cafes
    35
    Bars
    13
    Parks
    48
    Gyms
    53
    Hospitals and urgent care
    11
    Childcare
    33
    Libraries
    1

    Jobs, income and education

    MeasureHereTexasUS
    Median household income23% lower than Texas$60,767$78,476$80,734
    Income per person31% lower than Texas$28,304$40,752$44,673
    Unemployment rate2 points higher than Texas7.8%5.3%5.2%
    People below the poverty line6 points higher than Texas19%14%12%
    Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher4 points lower than Texas29%34%36%
    Adults with a high school diploma or higher9 points lower than Texas77%86%90%
    Adults 18 to 64 without health insurance12 points higher than Texas32%20%11%
    Homes with broadband internetAbout the same as Texas90%91%91%

    Getting to work

    MeasureHereTexasUS
    Average commute23% lower than Texas21 min27 min26 min
    Workers who work from home4 points lower than Texas10%14%15%
    Workers who work from home10%
    Workers who take transit0.1%
    Workers who walk1.2%
    Workers who bike0%

    Who lives in Mission

    Under 1828%
    18 to 3422%
    35 to 6434%
    65 and over15%

    Median age 34.9 years. 41% of households have children.

    Race and ethnicity
    White8.9%
    Hispanic or Latino88%
    Black1.2%
    Asian1.6%
    Other or more than one race0.4%

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

    Weather in Mission

    Mission has a hot Texas climate. July highs average 99°F and January lows about 53°F. There are about 177 days a year at 90°F or above, and about 22 inches of rain a year.

    Average monthly high and low temperatures in Mission50°70°90°73J77F83M88A93M97J98J100A94S89O80N74DRain

    Average daily high and low by month, °F, with rain below. NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals from Mcallen Miller Intl Ap, 5 mi away. Orange months average 90°F or more.

    Natural hazard risk

    FEMA's National Risk Index says river flooding risk is low, hurricane risk is very high, tornado risk is moderate and hail risk is very high. Even in lower-risk areas, check the FEMA flood map for the exact address before you buy.

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

    Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025, Census tract level averaged for the city. Check the FEMA flood map for any address before you buy.

    Places near Mission

    Nearby, Palmview South gets a B-, Palmview gets a C and Palmhurst gets an A-. Each is graded against Texas places of its own size, so a small town and a big city can both earn an A.

    1. B-Palmview SouthTown, 1,819 people3 mi
    2. CPalmviewSmall city, 15,921 people4 mi
    3. A-PalmhurstTown, 2,601 people4 mi
    4. C+West SharylandTown, 1,664 people5 mi
    5. C-AbramTown, 1,741 people5 mi
    6. B-PerezvilleTown, 2,237 people5 mi

    Mission in the McAllen area

    How it ranks among 46 places in the metro.

    1. 1A-Palmhurst2,601 people4 mito downtown
    2. 2B+McAllen145,385 people0 mito downtown
    3. 3B+Hidalgo14,498 people8 mito downtown
    4. 4BMission87,038 people5 mito downtown
    5. 5B-Llano Grande2,283 people18 mito downtown
    6. 6B-Penitas6,444 people12 mito downtown
    7. 7B-Pharr80,333 people5 mito downtown

    See all of the best suburbs of mcallen

    Living in Mission: common questions

    Is Mission, TX a good place to live?

    Mission gets an overall grade of B and ranks 27th of 75 Texas cities of 50,000+ people. It does best on cost of living and safety, and trails on jobs and income and education levels. It is a strong pick for people on a budget.

    How much does it cost to live in Mission?

    Median rent in Mission is $950 a month, 32% lower than the Texas median. The median home is worth $175,700, 38% lower than the Texas median. A median home costs 2.9x the median household income, compared with 3.6x across Texas. With 20% down at a 7.28% rate, the monthly payment on a median home is about $1,224, including property tax.

    Is Mission safe?

    In 2025, Mission Police Department reported 134 violent crimes per 100,000 people, 65% lower than the Texas rate. Property crime was 1,164 per 100,000, 44% lower than the Texas rate.

    Are the schools good in Mission?

    We found 31 rated public school campuses inside Mission. 77% are rated A or B by the Texas Education Agency. Its schools score is 63 of 100 compared with other Texas cities of 50,000+ people.

    What are the best neighborhoods in Mission?

    Based on our scores, the top-rated areas in Mission are Shary Springs Subdivision, Orchards at Shary Road and East Mission. We score 17 areas in the city.

    Does Mission flood?

    FEMA rates river flooding risk in Mission as low, and coastal flooding as not rated. Hazards rated high or very high here: hurricanes, heat waves and hail. Always check the flood map for a specific address before you buy.

    What is the weather like in Mission?

    Summers in Mission peak at about 99°F in July, and January nights fall to about 53°F. Expect around 177 days a year at 90°F or hotter, and 22 inches of rain.

    How long is the commute in Mission?

    The average one-way commute is 21 min, 23% lower than the Texas average. About 10% of workers work from home. It is about 5 miles from downtown McAllen.

    Sources: US Census Bureau 2020-2024 ACS 5-year and 2025 population estimates, CDC PLACES 2025, Texas Education Agency 2025 ratings, FBI Crime Data Explorer, FEMA National Risk Index, NOAA climate normals, HUD fair market rents, Overture Maps. Updated 2026-10-04. How we grade.