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Living in
Rio Grande City.
About
Life in Rio Grande City
Living in Rio Grande City means embracing life in the Rio Grande Valley as the county seat of Starr County—a tight-knit Latino community of about 15,300 people where housing is genuinely affordable and the pace of life moves slower than the sprawling metros nearby. The cost of living here is one of the real draws: median home values hover around $113,400 and rent averages $767 a month, which gives your paycheck actual breathing room compared to most of Texas. That said, the job market is lean—unemployment sits at 9.5%, well above the national average—so unless you're remote, tied to county government work, or have established roots in the area, employment can be a real challenge; most people commute west to McAllen for better opportunities.
Rio Grande City at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
29.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
30.8%
Foreign-Born
24.0%
Broadband Internet
85.3%
of households
Population Growth
+1.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics24.0% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Rio Grande City: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Rio Grande City, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (93.2%), and 87.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
31.6%
of residents
65 and Older
10.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
50.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
15.5%
of households
Married Couples
48.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.29
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 45% below TX average
Rent, home values, and income in Rio Grande City
In Rio Grande City, rent runs 45% below the TX average, and home values are 60% below the TX average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
41.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
25.6%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$1,404
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
69.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1991
median year built
Vacant Homes
12.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $148,384 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 5.3 pts above TX average
Unemployment in Rio Grande City
Unemployment in Starr County, which includes Rio Grande City, is 5.3 percentage points higher than the TX average.
Unemployment rate
Rio Grande City: Starr County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Starr County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Rio Grande City Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute19.3 min avg
How Rio Grande City residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Rio Grande City, most residents drive alone to work (80%), and 81% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 39 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 49% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Rio Grande City runs 49% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
166.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,682.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Rio Grande City Police Department
Natural DisastersDrought most common — 15 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
84.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Starr County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Starr County, which includes Rio Grande City, the most common type is drought, with 15 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | Drought | None reported |
| 2024 | 7 | Heat | $150,000 |
| 2023 | 31 | Drought | $45,000 |
| 2022 | 25 | Drought | $205,000 |
| 2021 | 30 | Drought | $105,000 |
| 2020 | 25 | Drought | $32.5M |
| 2019 | 10 | Drought | None reported |
| 2018 | 9 | Frost/Freeze | $3.1M |
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
Starr County, county-wide
Air Quality52 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Hidalgo County, TX (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 40 miles from Rio Grande City) 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
Nearest EPA monitor county: Hidalgo County, TX (40 mi away)
Climate99°F summers, 47°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Rio Grande City has hot summers (avg high 99°F) and warm winters (avg low 47°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
88°/63°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
99°/75°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
87°/63°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
73°/47°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
22.5"
Annual Snowfall
0.1"
Hot Days/Year
187
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
6
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
59
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 71°F | 45°F | 0.78" |
| Feb | 76°F | 50°F | 0.95" |
| Mar | 82°F | 56°F | 1.25" |
| Apr | 89°F | 63°F | 1.02" |
| May | 94°F | 70°F | 2.85" |
| Jun | 98°F | 74°F | 2.76" |
| Jul | 99°F | 75°F | 2.04" |
| Aug | 99°F | 75°F | 1.34" |
| Sep | 94°F | 71°F | 5.12" |
| Oct | 88°F | 63°F | 2.46" |
| Nov | 79°F | 54°F | 1.10" |
| Dec | 72°F | 47°F | 0.80" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Rio Grande City
Rio Grande City has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
29.5%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Starr County Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
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.
Education13.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Rio Grande City
Rio Grande City's student/teacher ratio is 13.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 18.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
18.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.1:1
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, 88 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Rio Grande City
Rio Grande City has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park (88 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park
National Historical Park
88 mi awayPublic Libraries in Rio Grande City
Rio Grande City Public Library
591 E 3rd St, Rio Grande City
Cities Near Rio Grande City
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Rio Grande City?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Rio Grande City FAQ
Is Rio Grande City, Texas affordable?⌄
Rio Grande City's median rent is $767/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $44,577/year. Median home value is $113,200.
Is Rio Grande City, Texas safe?⌄
Rio Grande City's violent crime rate was 167 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1682 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Rio Grande City, Texas?⌄
Starr County, which includes Rio Grande City, has an unemployment rate of 9.5%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Rio Grande City, Texas?⌄
The cost of living in Rio Grande City is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $767/month and median household income is $44,577/year. The median home value is $113,200. About 42% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Rio Grande City, Texas?⌄
The average commute in Rio Grande City is 19 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