Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Harlingen, TX Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

72,087

Median Agei

33.4

Race & Ethnicityi

Hispanic/Latino

82.3%59,314

White

13.9%10,021

Black

1.5%1,112

Asian

1%732

Two or More

0.7%534

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.2%146

Other

0.2%140

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0.1%88

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

5.3%2,422

High School Diploma

22.5%10,278

Some College (<1 yr)

6.8%3,096

Some College (1+ yr)

13.4%6,124

Associate's Degree

9.3%4,252

Bachelor's Degree

14.4%6,592

Master's Degree

5.4%2,475

Professional Degree

2.2%999

Doctorate

0.6%254

HS or Higher

79.7%

BA or Higher

22.6%

Graduate+

8.1%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$140,600

Median Renti

$928

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

56.1%14,586

Renter-Occupied

43.9%11,421

Total Units

29,595

Homeownership

56.1%

Vacancy Rate

12.1%

Rent Distribution

Under $500

1,132

$500–$750

1,858

$750–$1,000

3,091

$1,000–$1,250

2,329

$1,250–$1,500

880

$1,500–$2,000

768

$2,000+

488

Year Built

2020 or later

1.6%485

2010–2019

8.7%2,561

2000–2009

17.6%5,220

1990–1999

17.8%5,265

1980–1989

18%5,331

1970–1979

12.8%3,797

1960–1969

7.8%2,302

1950–1959

8.6%2,546

1940–1949

3.8%1,139

1939 or earlier

3.2%949

Heating Fuel

Electricity

88.5%23,010

Utility Gas

9.3%2,414

Bottled/LP Gas

1.1%288

No Fuel

0.7%179

Solar

0.3%85

Wood

0.1%27

Other

0%4

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$53,645

Mean Household Incomei

$72,228

Per Capita Incomei

$26,512

Poverty Ratei

24.8%

Unemploymenti

5.2%

Labor Forcei

31,059

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

1,393

Residentsi

3,123

Avg. Tenant Renti

$396/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

12 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing319 homes97% occupied$400/mo rent

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers782 homes98% occupied$428/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 8292 homes98% occupied$306/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $53,645/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $16K/yr

75.9%

Very low income$16K–$27K/yr

19.7%

Low income$27K–$43K/yr

4.2%

Moderate / aboveOver $43K/yr

0.2%

Who Receives This Housing

79.1% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

95.5% of subsidized households are minority

17.9% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

40.3% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

10,55314.6%

By Region

Top Countries

Mexico

8,484

India

257

Canada

211

Guatemala

206

Philippines

107

United Kingdom

China

Korea

Workforce

Total Employed

29,311

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Veteransi

3,279(6.4% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

77.4%Insured

22.6%Uninsured