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.

McAllen, TX Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

145,385

Median Agei

33.5

Race & Ethnicityi

Hispanic/Latino

87%126,523

White

8.5%12,303

Asian

2.7%3,952

Two or More

0.9%1,262

Black

0.6%906

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.2%223

Other

0.1%164

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%52

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

3.3%2,977

High School Diploma

18.1%16,401

Some College (<1 yr)

5.2%4,703

Some College (1+ yr)

14.3%12,915

Associate's Degree

6.7%6,016

Bachelor's Degree

20.9%18,889

Master's Degree

7.5%6,795

Professional Degree

2.7%2,474

Doctorate

1.3%1,201

HS or Higher

80.1%

BA or Higher

32.5%

Graduate+

11.6%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$190,400

Median Renti

$1,049

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

59.5%29,096

Renter-Occupied

40.5%19,809

Total Units

55,385

Homeownership

59.5%

Vacancy Rate

11.7%

Rent Distribution

Under $500

1,626

$500–$750

2,547

$750–$1,000

4,368

$1,000–$1,250

4,332

$1,250–$1,500

2,759

$1,500–$2,000

2,477

$2,000+

655

Year Built

2020 or later

2.7%1,521

2010–2019

15.2%8,421

2000–2009

23.9%13,229

1990–1999

15.2%8,424

1980–1989

17.6%9,741

1970–1979

15.2%8,420

1960–1969

4.9%2,703

1950–1959

2.4%1,354

1940–1949

1.1%605

1939 or earlier

1.7%967

Heating Fuel

Electricity

91.6%44,782

Utility Gas

6.4%3,151

No Fuel

1.2%578

Bottled/LP Gas

0.4%206

Solar

0.3%152

Other

0.1%36

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$61,579

Mean Household Incomei

$89,575

Per Capita Incomei

$30,885

Poverty Ratei

19.8%

Unemploymenti

5.9%

Labor Forcei

67,694

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

1,908

Residentsi

4,062

Avg. Tenant Renti

$378/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

33 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing89 homes98% occupied$391/mo rent

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers1,341 homes93% occupied$384/mo rent

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

Project Based Section 8399 homes93% occupied$357/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

202/PRAC1 homes

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $61,579/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $18K/yr

79.2%

Very low income$18K–$31K/yr

17.1%

Low income$31K–$49K/yr

3.6%

Moderate / aboveOver $49K/yr

0.1%

Who Receives This Housing

76.6% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

97.1% of subsidized households are minority

17.4% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

45.2% 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

38,15226.2%

By Region

Top Countries

Mexico

32,378

Philippines

1,363

Korea

386

India

269

Guatemala

148

China

United Kingdom

Poland

Workforce

Total Employed

63,463

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Veteransi

3,582(3.4% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

75.9%Insured

24.1%Uninsured