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Living in
Alamo.
About
Life in Alamo
This Rio Grande Valley city of about 20,000 people offers genuinely affordable housing and a tight-knit community, but it's a place where you need to understand the full trade-offs before committing. Housing costs won't shock you—median home values around $145,100 and rents near $811 a month are well below national averages—which attracts both retirees looking to stretch their dollars and families seeking affordability. The median household income sits at $57,096, and while the job market exists (unemployment is at a reasonable 6.3%), this isn't a hub for high-paying careers; most employment centers around agriculture (the area is known for vegetable farming and citrus groves) and retail, which means your commute might take you to nearby McAllen or Edinburg where better-paying jobs cluster.
Alamo at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
29.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
25.3%
Foreign-Born
21.6%
Broadband Internet
87.9%
of households
Population Growth
+5.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics21.6% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Alamo: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Alamo, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (90.8%), and 66.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
31.6%
of residents
65 and Older
15.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
41.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
20.4%
of households
Married Couples
49.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.35
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 42% below TX average
Rent, home values, and income in Alamo
In Alamo, rent runs 42% below the TX average, and home values are 49% below the TX average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
49.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
30.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
85.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,481
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
74.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1997
median year built
Vacant Homes
21.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $169,907 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 2.1 pts above TX average
Unemployment in Alamo
Unemployment in Hidalgo County, which includes Alamo, is 2.1 percentage points higher than the TX average.
Unemployment rate
Alamo: Hidalgo County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Hidalgo County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Alamo is about 2% of Hidalgo County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Alamo Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute24 min avg
How Alamo residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Alamo, most residents drive alone to work (79%), and 69% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 7 mi
McAllen Miller International Airport (MFE)
Small hub568k passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 98% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Alamo runs 98% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
653.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,929.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Alamo Police Department
Natural DisastersDrought most common — 18 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
99.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Hidalgo County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Hidalgo County, which includes Alamo, the most common type is drought, with 18 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 18 | Drought | $53.1M |
| 2024 | 19 | Heat | $3,000 |
| 2023 | 32 | Drought | $2.1M |
| 2022 | 17 | Frost/Freeze | $140,000 |
| 2021 | 33 | Drought | $528,240 |
| 2020 | 40 | Drought | $370.2M |
| 2019 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $30.2M |
| 2018 | 12 | Frost/Freeze | $51.1M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Hidalgo County, county-wide
Alamo is about 2% of Hidalgo County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality52 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Hidalgo County, which includes Alamo, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
52
Good Days
162
per year
Moderate Days
199
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Hidalgo County, county-wide
Alamo is about 2% of Hidalgo County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate99°F summers, 55°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Alamo has hot summers (avg high 99°F) and warm winters (avg low 55°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
88°/68°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
99°/79°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
88°/68°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
75°/55°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
27.4"
Annual Snowfall
0.1"
Hot Days/Year
177
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
1
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
62
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 73°F | 53°F | 0.77" |
| Feb | 77°F | 57°F | 0.72" |
| Mar | 83°F | 63°F | 1.38" |
| Apr | 88°F | 68°F | 1.43" |
| May | 93°F | 74°F | 2.03" |
| Jun | 97°F | 78°F | 3.05" |
| Jul | 99°F | 79°F | 2.03" |
| Aug | 100°F | 79°F | 1.81" |
| Sep | 94°F | 76°F | 4.61" |
| Oct | 89°F | 69°F | 2.10" |
| Nov | 80°F | 60°F | 1.17" |
| Dec | 74°F | 54°F | 1.06" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Alamo
Uninsured
26.2%
of residents
No hospitals inside Alamo's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Rio Grande Regional Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.6 mi away · Mcallen
South Texas Health System
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7 mi away · Edinburg
Doctors Hosptal at Renaissance
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.3 mi away · Edinburg
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Alamo
Alamo's student/teacher ratio is 15.6:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 18.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
12
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
18.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Alamo (within 15 miles)
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
9.4 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 28,666 students · in-state tuition $9,993 · 56% graduate · median earnings $52,947 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 15,856 students · in-state tuition $4,920 · 32% graduate · median earnings $39,609 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park, 42 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Alamo
Alamo has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park (42 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park
National Historical Park
42 mi awayPadre Island National Seashore
National Seashore
76 mi awayPublic Libraries in Alamo
Sergeant Fernando De La Rosa Memorial Library
416 N Tower Rd, Alamo
Cities Near Alamo
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Alamo?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Alamo FAQ
Is Alamo, Texas affordable?⌄
Alamo's median rent is $811/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $57,096/year. Median home value is $145,100.
Is Alamo, Texas safe?⌄
Alamo's violent crime rate was 654 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2929 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Alamo, Texas?⌄
Hidalgo County, which includes Alamo, has an unemployment rate of 6.3%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Alamo, Texas?⌄
The cost of living in Alamo is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $811/month and median household income is $57,096/year. The median home value is $145,100. About 49% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Alamo, Texas?⌄
The average commute in Alamo is 24 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from