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Living in
San Benito.
About
Life in San Benito
San Benito is a small city in Texas's Rio Grande Valley, between Harlingen and Brownsville, and it's among the most affordable places in the country to buy. The median home value is $85,300, about 74% below the national median, and rent averages $839 a month. Incomes are low too, with a median household income of $43,639 and poverty around 30%.
San Benito at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
33.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
29.7%
Foreign-Born
17.6%
Broadband Internet
80.9%
of households
Population Growth
0.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics17.6% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in San Benito: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In San Benito, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (94.5%), and 66.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
27.5%
of residents
65 and Older
15.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
36.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
24.7%
of households
Married Couples
44.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.93
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 40% below TX average
Rent, home values, and income in San Benito
In San Benito, rent runs 40% below the TX average, and home values are 70% below the TX average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
51.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
26.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
86.0
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,286
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
66.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1987
median year built
Vacant Homes
10.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $158,982 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 2.6 pts above TX average
Unemployment in San Benito
Unemployment in San Benito is 2.6 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 San Benito Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute17.5 min avg
How San Benito residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In San Benito, most residents drive alone to work (72%), and 85% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 7 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 38% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in San Benito runs 38% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
202.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,487.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
San Benito 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 San Benito, 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 San Benito, 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
San Benito 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
26.1"
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" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in San Benito
Uninsured
27.0%
of residents
No hospitals inside San Benito's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Palms Behavioral Health
Psychiatric · 2.9 mi away · Harlingen
Vhs Harlingen Hospital Company Llc
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.5 mi away · Harlingen
Rio Grande State Center
Psychiatric · 4.5 mi away · Harlingen
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 San Benito
San Benito's student/teacher ratio is 15.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 14.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
21
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
14.2%
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
Parks & Recreationclosest: Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park, 13 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for San Benito
San Benito has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park (13 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park
National Historical Park
13 mi awayPadre Island National Seashore
National Seashore
66 mi awayPublic Libraries in San Benito
San Benito Public Library
101 W Rose St, San Benito
Cities Near San Benito
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to San Benito?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
San Benito FAQ
Is San Benito, Texas affordable?⌄
San Benito's median rent is $839/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $43,639/year. Median home value is $85,300.
Is San Benito, Texas safe?⌄
San Benito's violent crime rate was 203 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2488 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in San Benito, Texas?⌄
San Benito has an unemployment rate of 6.8%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in San Benito, Texas?⌄
The cost of living in San Benito is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $839/month and median household income is $43,639/year. The median home value is $85,300. About 52% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in San Benito, Texas?⌄
The average commute in San Benito 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