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Living in
Donna.
About
Life in Donna
Life in Donna centers around affordability, family, and proximity to the Rio Grande Valley's broader opportunities—though you'll need to accept some genuine trade-offs. Housing costs are genuinely low, with median home values around $86,100 and median rent at $806 a month, which makes homeownership accessible for people priced out of most Texas metros; this is the biggest financial advantage the city offers. The median household income sits at $40,438, reflecting an economy where many residents work in agriculture, retail, and services across the wider McAllen-Edinburg metropolitan area—you're about 11 miles from McAllen's job market via I-2, a commute most locals say is manageable at roughly 26 minutes on average, though you'll definitely need a car.
Donna at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
28.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
40.7%
Foreign-Born
18.5%
Broadband Internet
81.1%
of households
Population Growth
-0.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics18.5% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Donna: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Donna, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (92.6%), and 73.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
39.0%
of residents
65 and Older
14.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
44.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
22.6%
of households
Married Couples
45.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.42
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 43% below TX average
Rent, home values, and income in Donna
In Donna, rent runs 43% below the TX average, and home values are 70% below the TX average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
49.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
30.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
85.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,401
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
57.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1989
median year built
Vacant Homes
16.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $147,708 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 2.1 pts above TX average
Unemployment in Donna
Unemployment in Hidalgo County, which includes Donna, is 2.1 percentage points higher than the TX average.
Unemployment rate
Donna: Hidalgo County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Hidalgo County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Donna is about 2% of Hidalgo County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Donna Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute24.6 min avg
How Donna residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Donna, most residents drive alone to work (79%), and 70% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 12 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 477% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Donna runs 477% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
1,900.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
4,493
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Donna 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 Donna, 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
Donna 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 Donna, 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
Donna is about 2% of Hidalgo County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate96°F summers, 52°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Donna has hot summers (avg high 96°F) and warm winters (avg low 52°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
86°/66°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
96°/76°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
86°/66°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
73°/52°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
25.7"
Annual Snowfall
0.2"
Hot Days/Year
160
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
1
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
57
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 71°F | 50°F | 1.02" |
| Feb | 75°F | 54°F | 0.95" |
| Mar | 81°F | 60°F | 1.45" |
| Apr | 86°F | 65°F | 1.46" |
| May | 90°F | 72°F | 2.61" |
| Jun | 95°F | 76°F | 2.79" |
| Jul | 96°F | 77°F | 2.24" |
| Aug | 97°F | 76°F | 1.87" |
| Sep | 92°F | 73°F | 5.64" |
| Oct | 87°F | 66°F | 2.84" |
| Nov | 80°F | 58°F | 1.61" |
| Dec | 72°F | 52°F | 1.25" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Donna
Uninsured
20.5%
of residents
No hospitals inside Donna's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Knapp Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.8 mi away · Weslaco
Rio Grande Regional Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10.8 mi away · Mcallen
South Texas Health System
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11.3 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.
Education15.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Donna
Donna's student/teacher ratio is 15.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 13.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
15
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
13.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Donna (within 15 miles)
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
13.2 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, 38 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Donna
Donna has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park (38 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park
National Historical Park
38 mi awayPadre Island National Seashore
National Seashore
76 mi awayPublic Libraries in Donna
Donna Public Library
301 S Main St, Donna
Cities Near Donna
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Donna?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Donna FAQ
Is Donna, Texas affordable?⌄
Donna's median rent is $806/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $40,438/year. Median home value is $86,100.
Is Donna, Texas safe?⌄
Donna's violent crime rate was 1900 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 4493 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Donna, Texas?⌄
Hidalgo County, which includes Donna, has an unemployment rate of 6.3%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Donna, Texas?⌄
The cost of living in Donna is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $806/month and median household income is $40,438/year. The median home value is $86,100. About 49% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Donna, Texas?⌄
The average commute in Donna is 25 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