Town in Cameron County, part of the Brownsville metro

Living in Palm Valley, TX

A-

102nd of 745Texas towns of 1,000 to 10,000 people
Overall score 85 of 100
2nd of 21 in the Brownsville area

Palm Valley gets an overall grade of A- and ranks 102nd of 745 Texas towns of 1,000 to 10,000 people. It does best on internet access and safety, and trails on getting around and errands and things to do. It is a strong pick for families and remote workers.

  • Good for families
  • Good for remote workers
  • Low crime
  • Well connected
  • Getting around scores low (11 of 100)
  • Hurricane risk is very high
Map of Texas showing where Palm Valley isHoustonSan AntonioDallasAustinFort WorthPalm Valley
Where Palm Valley is in Texas.
Population
1,340-4.8% since 2020
Median rent
$1,3404% lower than Texas
Median home value
$275,0003% lower than Texas
Household income
$99,438Median
Average commute
28 minOne way
Violent crime
0Per 100k, 2025

What it's like to live in Palm Valley

Palm Valley sits about 23 miles from downtown Brownsville, in the Brownsville-Harlingen metro. 1,340 people lived here in 2025, down 4.8% from 2020. It is suburban.

The median age is 39.5, 40% of households have children, 81% of homes are owned by the people living in them and the typical household earns $99,438 a year (27% higher than the Texas median).

Pros of living in Palm Valley

  • Low violent crime. 0 violent crimes per 100,000 people in 2025, 100% lower than the Texas rate.
  • High incomes. The median household earns $99,438, 27% higher than the Texas median.

Cons of living in Palm Valley

  • Errands mean a drive. Compared with similar Texas places, fewer homes here are within a mile of a grocery store, pharmacy, park or clinic.
  • Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of hurricanes as very high here.
  • Long, hot summers. Expect about 151 days a year at 90°F or hotter.

Who Palm Valley suits

  • FamiliesA reasonable fit: violent crime is 100% lower than the Texas rate. Compared with similar Texas places, it beats 85% for families.
  • Young professionalsA reasonable fit: household income is 27% higher than the Texas median, with 1 restaurant and 0 cafes in town. Compared with similar Texas places, it beats 53% for young professionals.
  • RetireesA reasonable fit: 22% of working-age adults are uninsured and violent crime is 100% lower than the Texas rate. Compared with similar Texas places, it beats 75% for retirees.
  • Remote workersA reasonable fit: 98% of homes have broadband and the median rent of $1,340 is 4% lower than the Texas median. Compared with similar Texas places, it beats 87% for remote workers.
  • People on a budgetA reasonable fit: the median rent of $1,340 is 4% lower than the Texas median. Compared with similar Texas places, it beats 71% for people on a budget.

Palm Valley report card

Ten grades, one for each part of daily life we measure. Most compare Palm Valley with other US towns of 1,000 to 10,000 people. Schools, safety and errands compare it with other Texas towns of 1,000 to 10,000 people.

  • Cost of living: grade B

    Median rent $1,340, homes cost 2.8x income.

    66 of 100 vs US towns

  • Jobs and income: grade A-

    Median household income $99,438, 4.2% unemployed.

    82 of 100 vs US towns

  • Schools: grade B+

    Not enough data.

    74 of 100 vs TX towns

  • Safety: grade A-

    0 violent crimes per 100k, 448 property crimes per 100k.

    85 of 100 vs TX towns

  • Errands and things to do: grade D

    0 grocery stores, 1 restaurant, 0 parks mapped in town.

    21 of 100 vs TX towns

  • Getting around: grade D-

    Average commute 28 min, 13% work from home.

    11 of 100 vs US towns

  • Education levels: grade B-

    42% have a bachelor’s degree.

    62 of 100 vs US towns

  • Health: grade D+

    22% of adults uninsured.

    30 of 100 vs US towns

  • Home ownership: grade B

    81% of homes owner-occupied.

    68 of 100 vs US towns

  • Internet access: grade A

    98% of homes have broadband.

    91 of 100 vs US towns

Where Palm Valley stands out compared with Texas

Better than Texas

  • Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent: 17%35 points lower than Texas (52%)
  • Homes owned by the people living in them: 81%18 points higher than Texas (63%)
  • People below the poverty line: 2.5%11 points lower than Texas (14%)

Worse than Texas

  • Adults 18 to 64 without health insurance: 22%3 points higher than Texas (20%)
  • Workers who walk, bike or take transit: 0%3 points lower than Texas (2.6%)
  • Average commute: 28 min3% higher than Texas (27 min)

Cost of living in Palm Valley

Rent is the cost most newcomers feel first. The median rent in Palm Valley is $1,340 a month, 4% lower than the Texas median of $1,403. To keep that rent at 30% of income, a household needs to earn about $54,000 a year. Right now 17% of renters here pay more than 30% of their income on rent.

HUD sets fair market rents for this area at $884 for a one-bedroom, $1,042 for a two-bedroom and $1,393 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 $275,000, about the same as the Texas median. With 20% down and a 30-year loan at 7.28%, the monthly payment comes to about $1,505 before tax, or $1,853 with property tax. That is $513 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 property taxes are among the highest in the country. The median homeowner in Palm Valley pays $4,176 a year, about the same as the Texas median of $4,232. Budget for it, along with homeowners insurance, which our numbers do not include.

Typical rent by apartment size

Fair market rent by bedroom count in Palm ValleyStudio$8271 bedroom$8842 bedrooms$1,0423 bedrooms$1,3934 bedrooms$1,496
HUD fair market rent for FY2027, Brownsville-Harlingen, TX MSA. This is what a typical, modest unit rents for, including utilities.
MeasureHereTexasUS
Median rent4% lower than Texas$1,340$1,403$1,413
Median home value3% lower than Texas$275,000$283,800$332,700
Home value to income24% lower than Texas2.8x3.6x4.1x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent35 points lower than Texas17%52%51%
Median property tax per yearAbout the same as Texas$4,176$4,232$3,119
Homes owned by the people living in them18 points higher than Texas81%63%65%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Texas198019921980

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$1,853
Mortgage payment
$1,505
Property tax
$348
Median rent, for comparison
$1,340

Based on a $275,000 home in Palm Valley, 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 Palm Valley safe?

In 2025, Palm Valley Police Department reported 0 violent crimes and 6 property crimes. That works out to 0 violent crimes per 100,000 people, 100% lower than the Texas rate of 387, and 448 property crimes per 100,000, 79% lower than the state rate.

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 Palm Valley by yearTexas0202320242025

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

Violent crime
0
per 100k, Texas 387
Property crime
448
per 100k, Texas 2,086
Property crimes per 100,000 people in Palm Valley by yearTexas448202320242025

Property crimes per 100,000 people by year.

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

Daily life in Palm Valley

Everyday places mapped inside Palm Valley, from Overture Maps.

The average one-way commute is 28 minutes, about the same as the Texas average. 13% of workers work from home. Fewer than 3% walk, bike or take transit to work, so plan on driving for almost everything.

Downtown Brownsville is about 23 miles away in a straight line. Many people who live in Palm Valley work elsewhere in the metro, so test the drive at rush hour before you commit.

The median household income is $99,438, income per person is $52,509, unemployment is 4.2% and 42% of adults hold a bachelor's degree.

Grocery stores
0
Pharmacies
0
Restaurants
1
Cafes
0
Bars
0
Parks
0
Gyms
0
Hospitals and urgent care
0
Childcare
0
Libraries
0

Jobs, income and education

MeasureHereTexasUS
Median household income27% higher than Texas$99,438$78,476$80,734
Income per person29% higher than Texas$52,509$40,752$44,673
Unemployment rate1 points lower than Texas4.2%5.3%5.2%
People below the poverty line11 points lower than Texas2.5%14%12%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher8 points higher than Texas42%34%36%
Adults with a high school diploma or higher4 points higher than Texas90%86%90%
Adults 18 to 64 without health insurance3 points higher than Texas22%20%11%
Homes with broadband internet6 points higher than Texas98%91%91%

Getting to work

MeasureHereTexasUS
Average commute3% higher than Texas28 min27 min26 min
Workers who work from home1 points lower than Texas13%14%15%
Workers who work from home13%
Workers who take transit0%
Workers who walk0%
Workers who bike0%

Who lives in Palm Valley

Under 1826%
18 to 3415%
35 to 6436%
65 and over23%

Median age 39.5 years. 40% of households have children.

Race and ethnicity
White34%
Hispanic or Latino52%
Black3.1%
Asian7.5%
Other or more than one race3.0%

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

Weather in Palm Valley

Palm Valley has a hot Texas climate. July highs average 97°F and January lows about 51°F. There are about 151 days a year at 90°F or above, and about 28 inches of rain a year.

Average monthly high and low temperatures in Palm Valley50°70°90°72J76F81M86A91M95J97J98A93S88O80N73DRain

Average daily high and low by month, °F, with rain below. NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals from Harlingen, 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 high. Even in lower-risk areas, check the FEMA flood map for the exact address before you buy.

  • River floodingLow
  • Coastal floodingVery low
  • HurricanesVery high
  • TornadoesModerate
  • HailHigh
  • Heat wavesHigh
  • WildfiresModerate
  • Winter stormsModerate
  • Strong windModerate

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 Palm Valley

Nearby, Primera gets a B+, Combes gets a B- and Harlingen gets a C+. 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+PrimeraTown, 5,344 people2 mi
  2. B-CombesTown, 3,178 people3 mi
  3. C+HarlingenCity, 72,087 people5 mi
  4. D-Santa RosaTown, 3,215 people6 mi
  5. C-La FeriaTown, 6,891 people6 mi
  6. C-HeidelbergTown, 2,215 people9 mi

Palm Valley in the Brownsville area

How it ranks among 21 places in the metro.

  1. 1A-South Point1,054 people10 mito downtown
  2. 2A-Palm Valley2,155 people23 mito downtown
  3. 3A-Rancho Viejo2,849 people7 mito downtown
  4. 4A-Rice Tracts1,384 people11 mito downtown
  5. 5B+Laguna Vista3,673 people13 mito downtown

See all of the best suburbs of brownsville

Living in Palm Valley: common questions

Is Palm Valley, TX a good place to live?

Palm Valley gets an overall grade of A- and ranks 102nd of 745 Texas towns of 1,000 to 10,000 people. It does best on internet access and safety, and trails on getting around and errands and things to do. It is a strong pick for families and remote workers.

How much does it cost to live in Palm Valley?

Median rent in Palm Valley is $1,340 a month, 4% lower than the Texas median. The median home is worth $275,000, 3% lower than the Texas median. A median home costs 2.8x 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 $1,853, including property tax.

Is Palm Valley safe?

In 2025, Palm Valley Police Department reported 0 violent crimes per 100,000 people, 100% lower than the Texas rate. Property crime was 448 per 100,000, 79% lower than the Texas rate.

Does Palm Valley flood?

FEMA rates river flooding risk in Palm Valley as low, and coastal flooding as very low. 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 Palm Valley?

Summers in Palm Valley peak at about 97°F in July, and January nights fall to about 51°F. Expect around 151 days a year at 90°F or hotter, and 28 inches of rain.

How long is the commute in Palm Valley?

The average one-way commute is 28 min, 3% higher than the Texas average. About 13% of workers work from home. It is about 23 miles from downtown Brownsville.

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.