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Living in
Harlingen.
About
Life in Harlingen
If you're considering Harlingen, know upfront that summers are genuinely hot and humid with temperatures staying warm through the night, and September brings heavy rainfall—it's the trade-off for a much lower cost of living than most of the country. The median home value hovers around $140,600 with median rent at $928, and a median household income of about $54,000 puts basic expenses within reach for many working families. The job market is moderate with 5.2% unemployment, anchored by healthcare, education, and the port and rail operations that make Harlingen a logistics hub for cross-border trade with Mexico.
Harlingen at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
33.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
25.1%
Foreign-Born
14.6%
Broadband Internet
84.8%
of households
Population Growth
+0.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics14.6% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Harlingen: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Harlingen, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (80.4%), and 51.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
28.8%
of residents
65 and Older
16.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
34.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
25.5%
of households
Married Couples
43.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.73
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 34% below TX average
Rent, home values, and income in Harlingen
In Harlingen, rent runs 34% below the TX average, and home values are 50% below the TX average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
42.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
22.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
86.0
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,059
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
56.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1988
median year built
Vacant Homes
12.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $197,004 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.9 pts above TX average
Unemployment in Harlingen
Unemployment in Harlingen is 0.9 percentage points higher than the TX average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Harlingen Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute17.9 min avg
How Harlingen residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Harlingen, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 81% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 4 mi
Valley International Airport (HRL)
Small hub597k 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 30% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Harlingen runs 30% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
231.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,298
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Harlingen Police Department
Natural DisastersDrought most common — 20 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
97.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Cameron County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Cameron County, which includes Harlingen, the most common type is drought, with 20 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $105.0M |
| 2024 | 23 | Heat | $3.1M |
| 2023 | 47 | Heat | $2.6M |
| 2022 | 12 | Frost/Freeze | $11,000 |
| 2021 | 26 | Drought | $138,380 |
| 2020 | 23 | Drought | $122.2M |
| 2019 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $32.0M |
| 2018 | 10 | Frost/Freeze | $61.2M |
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
Cameron County, county-wide
Air Quality57 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Cameron County, which includes Harlingen, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
57
Good Days
109
per year
Moderate Days
248
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Cameron County, county-wide
Climate97°F summers, 53°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Harlingen has hot summers (avg high 97°F) and warm winters (avg low 53°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
86°/66°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
97°/77°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
87°/66°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
74°/53°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
26.6"
Annual Snowfall
0.1"
Hot Days/Year
151
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
1
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
77
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 72°F | 51°F | 1.22" |
| Feb | 76°F | 55°F | 1.19" |
| Mar | 81°F | 60°F | 1.49" |
| Apr | 86°F | 66°F | 2.29" |
| May | 91°F | 72°F | 2.73" |
| Jun | 95°F | 76°F | 2.37" |
| Jul | 97°F | 77°F | 2.44" |
| Aug | 98°F | 77°F | 2.07" |
| Sep | 93°F | 74°F | 5.76" |
| Oct | 88°F | 67°F | 3.06" |
| Nov | 80°F | 59°F | 2.00" |
| Dec | 73°F | 53°F | 1.58" |
Healthcare4 hospitals, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Harlingen
Harlingen has 4 hospitals, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
4
within city limits
Uninsured
22.6%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Harlingen Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Vhs Harlingen Hospital Company Llc
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Rio Grande State Center
Psychiatric
Palms Behavioral Health
Psychiatric
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.
Education14.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Harlingen
Harlingen's student/teacher ratio is 14.0:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 22.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
38
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
22.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park, 19 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Harlingen
Harlingen has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park (19 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park
National Historical Park
19 mi awayPadre Island National Seashore
National Seashore
63 mi awayPublic Libraries in Harlingen
Harlingen Public Library
410 76 Dr, Harlingen
Cities Near Harlingen
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Harlingen?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Harlingen FAQ
Is Harlingen, Texas affordable?⌄
Harlingen's median rent is $928/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $53,645/year. Median home value is $140,600.
Is Harlingen, Texas safe?⌄
Harlingen's violent crime rate was 231 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2298 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Harlingen, Texas?⌄
Harlingen has an unemployment rate of 5.1%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Harlingen, Texas?⌄
The cost of living in Harlingen is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $928/month and median household income is $53,645/year. The median home value is $140,600. About 43% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Harlingen, Texas?⌄
The average commute in Harlingen is 18 minutes, which is shorter than 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