Small city in Hidalgo County, part of the McAllen metro

Living in Palmview, TX

C

107th of 192Texas cities of 10,000 to 50,000 people
Overall score 45 of 100
18th of 46 in the McAllen area

Palmview earns a grade of C on our index, 107th of 192 Texas cities of 10,000 to 50,000 people. It does best on cost of living and errands and things to do, and trails on education levels and health. 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 (2 of 100)
Map of Texas showing where Palmview isHoustonSan AntonioDallasAustinFort WorthPalmview
Where Palmview is in Texas.
Population
15,878+0.3% since 2020
Median rent
$67852% lower than Texas
Median home value
$113,60060% lower than Texas
Household income
$43,963Median
Average commute
20 minOne way
Violent crime
330Per 100k, 2025

What it's like to live in Palmview

Palmview sits about 8 miles from downtown McAllen, in the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission metro. 15,878 people lived here in 2025, up 0.3% from 2020. It is suburban.

Local spots people know include Lamplighter Park and Palmview Municipal Library.

The median age is 38.8, 37% of households have children, 76% of homes are owned by the people living in them and the typical household earns $43,963 a year (44% lower than the Texas median).

Pros of living in Palmview

  • Lower rent. Median rent is $678, 52% lower than the Texas median.
  • Homes are affordable for local incomes. The median home costs 2.6 times the median household income, against 3.6 times across Texas.
  • Short commutes. The average trip to work takes 20 minutes, against 27 across Texas.

Cons of living in Palmview

  • Higher poverty. 31% of people live below the poverty line, against 14% across Texas.
  • Many adults uninsured. 41% 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 183 days a year at 90°F or hotter.

Who Palmview suits

  • FamiliesA reasonable fit: violent crime is 15% lower than the Texas rate. Compared with similar Texas places, it beats 53% for families.
  • Young professionalsA reasonable fit: household income is 44% lower than the Texas median, with 91 restaurants and 4 cafes in town. Compared with similar Texas places, it beats 56% for young professionals.
  • RetireesA reasonable fit: 41% of working-age adults are uninsured and violent crime is 15% lower than the Texas rate. Compared with similar Texas places, it beats 51% for retirees.
  • Remote workersNot the best fit: 83% of homes have broadband and the median rent of $678 is 52% lower than the Texas median. Compared with similar Texas places, it beats 35% for remote workers.
  • People on a budgetA strong fit: the median rent of $678 is 52% lower than the Texas median. Compared with similar Texas places, it beats 82% for people on a budget.

Palmview report card

Ten grades, one for each part of daily life we measure. Most compare Palmview with other US cities of 10,000 to 50,000 people. Schools, safety and errands compare it with other Texas cities of 10,000 to 50,000 people.

  • Cost of living: grade A-

    Median rent $678, homes cost 2.6x income.

    86 of 100 vs US cities

  • Jobs and income: grade D-

    Median household income $43,963, 5.1% unemployed.

    11 of 100 vs US cities

  • Schools: grade B-

    2 rated campuses, 50% rated A or B.

    57 of 100 vs TX cities

  • Safety: grade C-

    330 violent crimes per 100k, 1,157 property crimes per 100k.

    36 of 100 vs TX cities

  • Errands and things to do: grade B

    11 grocery stores, 91 restaurants, 3 parks mapped in town.

    71 of 100 vs TX cities

  • Getting around: grade C+

    Average commute 20 min, 9.7% work from home.

    53 of 100 vs US cities

  • Education levels: grade F

    13% have a bachelor’s degree.

    2 of 100 vs US cities

  • Health: grade F

    41% of adults uninsured.

    3 of 100 vs US cities

  • Home ownership: grade C-

    76% of homes owner-occupied.

    36 of 100 vs US cities

  • Internet access: grade F

    83% of homes have broadband.

    5 of 100 vs US cities

Where Palmview stands out compared with Texas

Better than Texas

  • Median rent: $67852% lower than Texas ($1,403)
  • Homes owned by the people living in them: 76%14 points higher than Texas (63%)
  • Home value to income: 2.6x29% lower than Texas (3.6x)

Worse than Texas

  • Adults 18 to 64 without health insurance: 41%21 points higher than Texas (20%)
  • Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher: 13%21 points lower than Texas (34%)
  • Median household income: $43,96344% lower than Texas ($78,476)

Cost of living in Palmview

Palmview renters pay a median of $678 a month, 52% lower than the statewide median. The usual rule is to spend no more than 30% of income on rent, which means earning around $27,000 a year for a median unit. Right now 54% 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 $113,600, 60% lower than the Texas median. With 20% down and a 30-year loan at 7.28%, the monthly payment comes to about $622 before tax, or $794 with property tax. That is $116 a month more than the median rent, a gap that can be worth it if you plan to stay a while.

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 Palmview pays $2,071 a year, 51% 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 Palmview

Typical rent by apartment size

Fair market rent by bedroom count in PalmviewStudio$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 rent52% lower than Texas$678$1,403$1,413
Median home value60% lower than Texas$113,600$283,800$332,700
Home value to income29% lower than Texas2.6x3.6x4.1x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent2 points higher than Texas54%52%51%
Median property tax per year51% lower than Texas$2,071$4,232$3,119
Homes owned by the people living in them14 points higher than Texas76%63%65%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Texas199619921980

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$794
Mortgage payment
$622
Property tax
$173
Median rent, for comparison
$678

Based on a $113,600 home in Palmview, 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 Palmview safe?

In 2025, Palmview Police Department reported 53 violent crimes and 186 property crimes. That works out to 330 violent crimes per 100,000 people, 15% lower than the Texas rate of 387, and 1,157 property crimes per 100,000, 45% lower than the state rate.

Violent crime is down about 77% 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 Palmview by yearTexas33020212022202320242025

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

Violent crime
330
per 100k, Texas 387
Property crime
1,157
per 100k, Texas 2,086
Property crimes per 100,000 people in Palmview by yearTexas1,15720212022202320242025

Property crimes per 100,000 people by year.

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

Schools in Palmview

Palmview has 2 public school campuses with a 2025 state rating inside the city, and 50% of them earn an A or B. Most students here are served by La Joya ISD.

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
57
of 100 vs Texas cities
Average rating
82
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

  • BIrene M Garcia MiddleMiddle, La Joya ISD84 of 100
  • CE B Reyna ElementaryElementary, La Joya ISD79 of 100

Best neighborhoods in Palmview

We grade 6 areas inside Palmview. The top three are Basham Number 15 Colonia (A-), Ariel Hinojosa Colonia (B-) and Central Palmview (B-). If price matters most, Central Palmview has the lowest median rent among areas graded C or better, at $440 a month. Basham Number 15 Colonia is the priciest, at $930. Use the map to color the city by any grade, or the sliders to rank areas by what you care about.

Loading map

    Rank Palmview 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.

    6 Palmview neighborhoods, ranked by your priorities
    1. 1A-Basham Number 15 Colonia1,674 people, median rent $930, home $115,000100fit
    2. 2B-Ariel Hinojosa Colonia2,867 people, median rent $820, home $106,00080fit
    3. 3B-Central Palmview1,021 people, median rent $440, home $40,00060fit
    4. 4DPalm Acres Estates Colonia3,485 people, median rent $650, home $176,00040fit
    5. 5DMata Colonia Number 23,847 people, median rent $730, home $160,00020fit
    6. 6FGoodwin Heights Number 1 Colonia2,084 people, median rent $790, home $232,0000fit
    All 6 Palmview neighborhoods, A to Z

    Daily life in Palmview

    Everyday places mapped inside Palmview, from Overture Maps. Well-known spots include Lamplighter Park, Palmview Municipal Library.

    The average one-way commute is 20 minutes, 24% 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 8 miles away in a straight line. Many people who live in Palmview work elsewhere in the metro, so test the drive at rush hour before you commit.

    The median household income is $43,963, income per person is $20,918, unemployment is 5.1% and 13% of adults hold a bachelor's degree.

    Grocery stores
    11
    Pharmacies
    5
    Restaurants
    91
    Cafes
    4
    Bars
    0
    Parks
    3
    Gyms
    8
    Hospitals and urgent care
    0
    Childcare
    15
    Libraries
    1

    Jobs, income and education

    MeasureHereTexasUS
    Median household income44% lower than Texas$43,963$78,476$80,734
    Income per person49% lower than Texas$20,918$40,752$44,673
    Unemployment rateAbout the same as Texas5.1%5.3%5.2%
    People below the poverty line17 points higher than Texas31%14%12%
    Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher21 points lower than Texas13%34%36%
    Adults with a high school diploma or higher21 points lower than Texas65%86%90%
    Adults 18 to 64 without health insurance21 points higher than Texas41%20%11%
    Homes with broadband internet8 points lower than Texas83%91%91%

    Getting to work

    MeasureHereTexasUS
    Average commute24% lower than Texas20 min27 min26 min
    Workers who work from home5 points lower than Texas9.7%14%15%
    Workers who work from home9.7%
    Workers who take transit0%
    Workers who walk0.8%
    Workers who bike0.5%

    Who lives in Palmview

    Under 1826%
    18 to 3421%
    35 to 6435%
    65 and over18%

    Median age 38.8 years. 37% of households have children.

    Race and ethnicity
    White7.5%
    Hispanic or Latino92%
    Black0%
    Asian0.1%
    Other or more than one race0.1%

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

    Weather in Palmview

    Palmview has a hot Texas climate. July highs average 95°F and January lows about 47°F. There are about 183 days a year at 90°F or above, and about 20 inches of rain a year.

    Average monthly high and low temperatures in Palmview40°60°80°100°69J74F79M85A90M95J95J97A92S86O78N71DRain

    Average daily high and low by month, °F, with rain below. NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals from La Joya, 7 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 Palmview

    Nearby, Perezville gets a B-, Palmview South gets a B- and Abram 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-PerezvilleTown, 2,237 people1 mi
    2. B-Palmview SouthTown, 1,819 people2 mi
    3. C-AbramTown, 1,741 people2 mi
    4. FDoffingTown, 5,004 people3 mi
    5. D-La HomaSmall city, 11,285 people4 mi
    6. C+West SharylandTown, 1,664 people4 mi

    Palmview 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. 15CLa Joya4,763 people14 mito downtown
    5. 16CSan Juan36,149 people6 mito downtown
    6. 17CMidway North3,594 people14 mito downtown
    7. 18CPalmview15,921 people8 mito downtown
    8. 19CMuniz1,601 people10 mito downtown
    9. 20CMidway South2,308 people15 mito downtown
    10. 21C-Alamo20,255 people9 mito downtown

    See all of the best suburbs of mcallen

    Living in Palmview: common questions

    Is Palmview, TX a good place to live?

    Palmview earns a grade of C on our index, 107th of 192 Texas cities of 10,000 to 50,000 people. It does best on cost of living and errands and things to do, and trails on education levels and health. It is a strong pick for people on a budget.

    How much does it cost to live in Palmview?

    Renters in Palmview pay a median of $678 a month, 52% lower than the Texas median. The median home is worth $113,600, 60% lower than the Texas median. A median home costs 2.6x 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 $794, including property tax.

    Is Palmview safe?

    In 2025, Palmview Police Department reported 330 violent crimes per 100,000 people, 15% lower than the Texas rate. Property crime was 1,157 per 100,000, 45% lower than the Texas rate.

    Are the schools good in Palmview?

    We found 2 rated public school campuses inside Palmview. 50% are rated A or B by the Texas Education Agency. Its schools score is 57 of 100 compared with other Texas cities of 10,000 to 50,000 people.

    What are the best neighborhoods in Palmview?

    Based on our scores, the top-rated areas in Palmview are Basham Number 15 Colonia, Ariel Hinojosa Colonia and Central Palmview. We score 6 areas in the city.

    Does Palmview flood?

    FEMA rates river flooding risk in Palmview 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 Palmview?

    Summers in Palmview peak at about 95°F in July, and January nights fall to about 47°F. Expect around 183 days a year at 90°F or hotter, and 20 inches of rain.

    How long is the commute in Palmview?

    The average one-way commute is 20 min, 24% lower than the Texas average. About 9.7% of workers work from home. It is about 8 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.