Falfurrias is a ranching community with rural charm
Falfurrias is a South Texas rancher's town with a lot of open land halfway between Laredo and Corpus Christi. The city, founded in 1904 to support what was then one of the state's largest cattle ranches, is the county seat and trading center of Brooks County. “Falfurrias is very attractive for people who want to move from big cities to a small town,” says Juan Chavez, a McAllen local and real estate salesperson for Capstone Realty. “That’s the main attraction of Falfurrias.” With low-cost housing, local parks and highways that run throughout the county, Falfurrias is a rural community that embraces the peace and quiet of the Texas countryside.
Country-style diners, boutiques and an H-E-B
Most restaurants are located along St. Mary’s Street. Strickland’s Restaurant is a country-style diner with Mexican food, sandwiches and barbecue plates, while the Texas Grub Wagon serves seafood, steaks and wings on an open-air patio. Rebecca’s offers breakfast tacos and brunch plates, and there are fast-food chains including Whataburger, Dairy Queen and Stars Drive-In. There are also a few local boutiques, department stores and an H-E-B supermarket.
Low-cost living with large lot sizes
Falfurrias has one of the lowest living costs not just in Texas, but in the nation. The median sale price is $165,000, which is well below the state median of $325,000. Roads with cracked pavements and potholes lead to older homes fronted by broken sidewalks and patchy lawns, plus wooden and chain-link fences. “It’s popular with the retirement population,” Chavez says. “A lot of people try to renew the houses that are already there.” Fixer-upper properties range from 7,000 to 1,300 square feet with about quarter-acre lots, costing between $13,000 and $60,000. Traditional homes and cabanas are more common in this community, ranging from 1- to 15-acre lots and prices of $129,000 to $265,000.
Wild game, golfing and Little League
There are many parks and playgrounds around town, along with local wildlife such as quail, wild hogs and whitetail deer. “There’s a lot of people who like to hunt,” Chavez says. “Most of the people I sell to like hunting ranches.” The Mary & Ed Lasater Park has climbing structures and a basketball court, while Tony Lemus Park has a skate park and tennis courts. Little League games are held at the Falfurrias Baseball Fields, and residents can play across 18 holes at the Ed Rachal Memorial Complex.
Four schools in Brooks County ISD
Falfurrias has two elementary schools, Lasater and Falfurrias, which respectively earn B-minus and C-minus grades on Niche. Falfurrias Junior High has a 13-to-1 student-teacher ratio and earns a C. Falfurrias High School has a Gifted and Talented program and earns a B.
A border patrol checkpoint and two highways
The town’s biggest employer is the Falfurrias Border Patrol Station, where over 300 agents process around 10,000 vehicles a day. State Highway 285 is north of the checkpoint and runs around 35 miles west to Hebbronville or 22 miles east to Riviera. U.S. Route 281 leads around 77 miles south to McAllen or 37 miles north to State Highway 44, which provides a straight route around 96 miles west to Laredo or 50 miles east to Corpus Christi. The closest 24-hour emergency room is the CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital, around 36 miles northeast in Kingsville.
