Neighborhood in Rio Grande City, Starr County

Living in Central Rio Grande City, Rio Grande City

D+

3rd of 3areas in Rio Grande City
Overall score 29 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Rio Grande City overall: C-

Central Rio Grande City covers part of Rio Grande City, TX, home to about 8,600 people. It gets a D+, in the bottom third of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 3rd of 3 areas we score in Rio Grande City. It does best on cost of living and worst on jobs and income.

  • Affordable
  • Short commutes
  • Jobs and income scores low (5 of 100)
  • Education levels scores low (12 of 100)

Closest everyday places

Grocery store0.4 mi
Pharmacy1.2 mi
Park0.6 mi
Cafe1.2 mi
Restaurant0.3 mi
Gym0.7 mi
Hospital or urgent care0.9 mi
Childcare0.7 mi
Library0.8 mi

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

Population
8,620
Median rent
$710
Median home value
$89,000
Household income
$38,600
Average commute
18 min
Homes owned
69%
Loading map

What it's like to live in Central Rio Grande City

Central Rio Grande City is an area in Rio Grande City with about 8,600 residents, homes built around 1989, mostly owner-occupied (69%) and 43% of households with children.

It grades D+ against every neighborhood in Texas and ranks 3rd of 3 areas in Rio Grande City, which grades C- overall.

Pros of living in Central Rio Grande City

  • Groceries close by. The nearest grocery store is about 0.4 miles from the middle of the neighborhood.

Cons of living in Central Rio Grande City

No clear weak spots in our data.

Central Rio Grande City report card

Each grade compares Central Rio Grande City 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 $710, homes cost 2.3x income.

    81 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Jobs and income: grade F

    Median household income $38,600, 9.7% unemployed.

    5 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Schools: grade C-

    Nearby schools average 79 of 100 on the state rating.

    39 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Safety: no grade

    Citywide, 167 violent crimes per 100k, 1,682 property crimes per 100k.

    No score vs TX areas

  • Errands and things to do: grade C

    Some everyday stores and services within a mile of homes.

    41 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Getting around: grade B+

    Average commute 18 min, 5.7% work from home.

    79 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Education levels: grade D-

    17% have a bachelor’s degree.

    12 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Health: grade F

    41% of adults uninsured.

    6 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Home ownership: grade D

    69% of homes owner-occupied.

    23 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Internet access: grade D

    82% of homes have broadband.

    18 of 100 vs TX areas

Central Rio Grande City compared with Rio Grande City

Better than Rio Grande City

  • Home value to income: 2.3x9% lower than Rio Grande City (2.5x)
  • Median rent: $7107% lower than Rio Grande City ($767)
  • Average commute: 18 min6% lower than Rio Grande City (19 min)

Worse than Rio Grande City

  • Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent: 60%7 points higher than Rio Grande City (53%)
  • Median household income: $38,60013% lower than Rio Grande City ($44,577)
  • People below the poverty line: 35%4 points higher than Rio Grande City (31%)

Closest public schools

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

  • FAlberto and Celia Barrera ElementaryElementary, Rio Grande City Grulla ISD0.3 mi
  • BVeterans MiddleMiddle, Rio Grande City Grulla ISD2.1 mi
  • BRio Grande City High SchoolHigh, Rio Grande City Grulla ISD3.7 mi

Cost of living in Central Rio Grande City

Median rent in Central Rio Grande City is $710 a month, 7% lower than the Rio Grande City median. A household would need about $28,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.

The median home is worth $89,000, 21% lower than the Rio Grande City median, which means a monthly payment of about $606 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.

MeasureHereRio Grande CityTexas
Median rent7% lower than Rio Grande City$710$767$1,403
Median home value21% lower than Rio Grande City$89,000$113,200$283,800
Home value to income9% lower than Rio Grande City2.3x2.5x3.6x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent7 points higher than Rio Grande City60%53%52%
Homes owned by the people living in themAbout the same as Rio Grande City69%69%63%
Vacant homes4 points higher than Rio Grande City16%12%9.4%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Rio Grande City198919911992

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$606
Mortgage payment
$487
Property tax
$118
Median rent, for comparison
$710

Based on a $89,000 home in Central Rio Grande City, 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

MeasureHereRio Grande CityTexas
Median household income13% lower than Rio Grande City$38,600$44,577$78,476
Unemployment rate3 points higher than Rio Grande City9.7%6.8%5.3%
People below the poverty line4 points higher than Rio Grande City35%31%14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher2 points lower than Rio Grande City17%19%34%
Average commute6% lower than Rio Grande City18 min19 min27 min
Workers who work from home2 points lower than Rio Grande City5.7%7.3%14%
Workers who walk, bike or take transitAbout the same as Rio Grande City1.0%1.1%2.6%
Homes with broadband internet3 points lower than Rio Grande City82%85%91%

Natural hazard risk

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

  • River floodingHigh
  • HurricanesHigh
  • TornadoesModerate
  • HailHigh
  • Heat wavesHigh
  • WildfiresHigh
  • Winter stormsModerate
  • Strong windLow

Who lives in Central Rio Grande City

Under 1825%
18 to 3430%
35 to 6434%
65 and over12%
Race and ethnicity
White4.1%
Hispanic or Latino95%
Black0.6%
Asian0.0%
Other or more than one race0.7%

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

Other neighborhoods in Rio Grande City

  1. 1B+West Rio Grande CityMedian rent $900
  2. 2CSoutheast Rio Grande CityMedian rent $800

Similar neighborhoods in other cities

Areas elsewhere in Texas with the closest mix of grades.

  1. D+Central San BenitoSan Benito
  2. D+Ft. Concho EastSan Angelo
  3. C-Mackenzie ParkLubbock

Questions about Central Rio Grande City

Is Central Rio Grande City a good place to live?

Central Rio Grande City covers part of Rio Grande City, TX, home to about 8,600 people. It gets a D+, in the bottom third of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 3rd of 3 areas we score in Rio Grande City. It does best on cost of living and worst on jobs and income.

How much does it cost to live in Central Rio Grande City?

Median rent in Central Rio Grande City is $710 a month, 7% lower than the Rio Grande City median. The median home is worth $89,000, 21% lower than the Rio Grande City median. A median home costs 2.3x the median household income, compared with 2.5x across Rio Grande City.

What schools serve Central Rio Grande City?

The closest rated public schools are Alberto and Celia Barrera Elementary (elementary, rated F), Veterans Middle (middle, rated B) and Rio Grande City High School (high, rated B). School zones can differ from the closest school, so check with the district.

This area groups 9 Census block groups in this part of Rio Grande City 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.