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Living in
Weslaco.
About
Life in Weslaco
If you're considering a move to Weslaco, understand that you're choosing a place shaped by cross-border trade, a strong Latino community, and a location that functions as part of the broader Rio Grande Valley economy—most residents commute to nearby McAllen or Harlingen for work. The cost of living is genuinely affordable: median home values sit around $140,000 and median household income is roughly $60,000, though that $6 unemployment rate suggests tighter job markets locally. Summers here are intense and long—expect regular 90°F+ temperatures from May through September, with heat index values consistently climbing past 100°F, and the season stretches from February through October when temperatures can spike above 100°F.
Weslaco at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
31.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
23.2%
Foreign-Born
16.3%
Broadband Internet
88.8%
of households
Population Growth
+10.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics16.3% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Weslaco: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Weslaco, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (91.0%), and 68.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
30.2%
of residents
65 and Older
14.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
41.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
22.8%
of households
Married Couples
47.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.94
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 31% below TX average
Rent, home values, and income in Weslaco
In Weslaco, rent runs 31% below the TX average, and home values are 51% below the TX average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
43.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
85.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,378
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
56.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1995
median year built
Vacant Homes
18.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $174,841 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 2.9 pts above TX average
Unemployment in Weslaco
Unemployment in Weslaco is 2.9 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 Weslaco Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute23.9 min avg
How Weslaco residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Weslaco, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 75% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 15 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.
Safetyabout average for violent crime
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Weslaco is close to the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
331
per 100,000 residents
About average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,674.8
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Weslaco 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 Weslaco, 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
Weslaco is about 5% 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 Weslaco, 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
Weslaco is about 5% 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
Weslaco 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" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 5.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Weslaco
Weslaco has 1 hospital, averaging 5.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
22.9%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
5.0 / 5
Knapp Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
South Texas Health System
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 14.1 mi away · Edinburg
Rio Grande Regional Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 14.8 mi away · Mcallen
Doctors Hosptal at Renaissance
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 14.9 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.
Education17.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Weslaco
Weslaco's student/teacher ratio is 17.0:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 23.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
23
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
23.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.0:1
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, 34 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Weslaco
Weslaco has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park (34 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park
National Historical Park
34 mi awayPadre Island National Seashore
National Seashore
73 mi awayPublic Libraries in Weslaco
Mayor Joe V Sanchez Public Library
525 S Kansas Ave, Weslaco
Cities Near Weslaco
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Weslaco?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Weslaco FAQ
Is Weslaco, Texas affordable?⌄
Weslaco's median rent is $967/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $59,551/year. Median home value is $140,000.
Is Weslaco, Texas safe?⌄
Weslaco's violent crime rate was 331 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2675 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Weslaco, Texas?⌄
Weslaco has an unemployment rate of 7.1%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Weslaco, Texas?⌄
The cost of living in Weslaco is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $967/month and median household income is $59,551/year. The median home value is $140,000. About 44% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Weslaco, Texas?⌄
The average commute in Weslaco 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