A shopping and birding epicenter in the Rio Grande Valley
Though it was founded in 1905, what put the South Texas city of McAllen on the map less than a decade later was its flourishing agricultural industry. McAllen sits in the Rio Grande Valley, whose fertile plains made it a center for farming and where the official state fruit of Texas, the Ruby Red grapefruit, originated in 1929. And while agriculture still plays a large role, one of the main drivers of the city’s economy today is trade with Mexico, just across the Rio Grande via the McAllen–Hidalgo International Bridge. McAllen is also a major retail hub; among its many shopping centers is La Plaza Mall, the largest in the Rio Grande Valley, measuring 1.3 million square feet.
Ecotourism is gaining importance here, too. With over 400 bird species migrating through the area each year, the Rio Grande Valley is a birding mecca, attracting huge numbers of tourists. Several of the parks and nature preserves that make up the World Birding Center are a short drive from McAllen, and the city’s Quinta Mazatlán is another top birding spot. The Rio Grande Valley’s temperate climate also draws a seasonal influx of “Winter Texans” — Texas’ version of snowbirds—who come from as far away as Canada. McAllen has a permanent population of around 145,000 and is the second-largest city in the Rio Grande Valley to Brownsville, which has about 185,000 residents.
Quinta Mazatlan is a tropical garden featuring over 250 bird species located in McAllen.
Mercado Food Hall located in the McAllen city consists of over 100+ independent businesses.
Synergo is a tea and herb based business located in the city of McAllen.
Locals frequent Firemen's Park in McAllen for picnics or fishing.
1/4
North and South McAllen offer differing lifestyles and price ranges
In 2024, the median price for a single-family home in McAllen was $295,000, compared to the state’s median price of $340,000, according to The Texas Real Estate Research Center. Gema Hernandez, a broker with Fox Real Estate Pros, says that McAllen is very developed in comparison to neighboring Rio Grande Valley cities like Edinburg. Newer residential developments were mostly built within the last 10 years, like those in bustling South McAllen, near La Plaza Mall and Interstate 2. Those interested in a less densely populated area of town look to North McAllen neighborhoods like Tres Lagos and Los Lagos, which sit closer to Edinburg. These planned communities offer their own restaurants, events, clubs and golf courses. “In neighborhoods like Los Lagos, you have lower middle income and then you have the nice $2 million houses and above,” Hernandez says. “It’s a little bit of everything.”
Various ranch and modern style homes can be found throughout the city of McAllen.
Newer three bedroom modern brick style homes can be found in north Mcallen.
McAllen has plenty of spanish style homes with lush trees near the downtown area.
Various craftsman to contemporary style homes can be found in central McAllen.
1/4
Investments are on the horizon for McAllen
The city plans to evolve current beautification initiatives already in place to improve the overall quality of life for residents. “Environmental sustainability is important to McAllen,” says Alejandro Rios, a representative of Visit McAllen. “We launched McAllen Shines to help keep our public spaces free of litter. We have an event, Texas Recycles Day, to encourage recycling efforts, as well. We want to provide grants to help empower homebuyers to maintain their personal properties, too.”
Refresh5050 is another improvement project that provides qualifying businesses with a matching grant of up to $15,000 for storefront revitalization. “We really want to build that spirit of the community. We want to make sure that they have the help and resources they need,” Rios says.
McAllen is considered the most populous city in Hidalgo County Texas.
Gravel walking trails lined with palm trees are a common sight throughout the McAllen area.
1/2
McAllen’s parks and area preserves
The city’s 1,042 acres of green space include McAllen Nature Center, with forest trails and local wildlife, and the Quinta Mazatlán, an exotic bird sanctuary on the grounds of a preserved mansion. Approximately $30 million is being allocated towards the development of a 14-acre urban ecology center at Quinta Mazatlán, which is slated to open in 2026, in partnership with the University of Texas. The city of McAllen has several public aquatic facilities, including pools, splash pads and interactive fountains; indoor pools are also an option at one of three community centers in the city.
The monarch butterfly is a milkweek butterfly found throughout the McAllen city area.
Quinta Mazatlan is a historical Adobe mansion and birding center located in McAllen.
Rose-bellied lizard can be found throughout the McAllen city area.
Firemen's Park has a manmade lake used for fishing by McAllen residents.
1/4
Shopping, entertainment and city-wide events
McAllen is home to several major retail centers, including La Plaza, one of the largest shopping malls in South Texas with 184 stores plus dozens of chain restaurants. Downtown McAllen is a hub for community activities; at its heart is the McAllen Convention Center, an 18.5-acre complex that hosts more than 500 annual events. They include festivals like October’s Fiesta de Palmas that reflect the city’s rich cultural heritage. “We have some of the best Latino festivals with art, music and food,” Rios says. The McAllen Performing Arts Center, a venue for live theater, music and dance, is also part of the entertainment complex. The largest holiday parade in Texas takes place in McAllen, a night of illuminated floats, celebrity hosts, bands and a festival in Municipal Park.
The McAllen Public Library was located on Main Street before closing in 2011 and reopening in a much larger building north of downtown. “It used to be a Walmart, and then the city bought it, and now it has this ultra-modern design,” Rios says, noting that it’s the largest one-story library in the country. The library is a community hub and hosts a Saturday farmers market.
Mercado Food Hall has a grand selection of locally McAllen owned restaurants.
Custom cowboy hat shops and apparel are popular throughout the downtown McAllen area.
La Placita McAllen Heritage Center is located in downtown McAllen.
Downtown McAllen has a thriving population of 144,000 as of 2023.
1/4
McAllen ISD has its very own award-winning mariachi band
The McAllen Independent School District has over 32 campuses across Hidalgo County and earns an A-minus from Niche. The district’s student-teacher ratio is 15-to-1. “Our cultural offerings are very bolstered in our schools,” Acosta says. “We now have a mariachi group, which performed at Carnegie Hall.” The area also has many private school options, including Montessori schools, Episcopal schools and Catholic schools. For higher education, the South Texas College Pecan Campus is a local community school offering two-year programs.
The Bulldog is the official mascot of Hidalgo County's McAllen High School.
La Joya High School hosts grades 9th to 12th in the La Joya, Tx area.
La Joya Palmview High School hosts grades 9th to 12th grade in the La Joya area.
Ann Richards Middle School hosts grades 6th thru 8th grade in the Mission, Tx area.
1/4
Getting in and around the city of McAllen
McAllen is roughly 8 miles from Mexico via the McAllen-Hidalgo International Bridge, a border entry point controlled by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The city is 60 miles west of Brownsville, and 20 miles farther east is South Padre Island and other beachfront areas along the Gulf of Mexico. McAllen’s main throughways include Interstate 2 and I-690. Although most of the population drives or carpools to work, the city has a public bus system, Metro McAllen. McAllen International Airport, 2 miles from downtown, offers select flights through American Airlines, Aeromexico, Volaris, United, Delta and Allegiant. Hospitals include Mission Regional Medical Center and South Texas Health System McAllen.
McAllen's crime, weather and environmental concerns
The McAllen Police Department reported a 2% decrease in violent crime and a 2.5% decrease in property crime from 2022 to 2023. Border cities are often heavily policed, which can result in lower rates of crime than larger cities such as Fort Worth.
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, Hidalgo County is at a higher risk of loss and hardship after a natural disaster than other areas in the country. Future natural disasters that the county could face are flooding or severe cold weather/snowstorms.
Written By
Corrine Fizer
Photography Contributed By
Mauricio Atilano
Video By
Francesco Basti
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Joe Aguilar Jr.,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
On average, homes in McAllen, TX sell after 77 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in McAllen, TX over the last 12 months is $365,495, down 8% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
This stunning property is tucked away in a highly desirable neighborhood, offering style and convenience. From the moment you arrive, you’ll notice the beautiful curb appeal and modern finishes that set this home apart. Step inside to a bright, open-concept floor plan designed for both family living and entertaining. The spacious living area flows seamlessly into the dining space and chef’s
Updated 4-bedroom, 2-bath home on a secluded .51-acre lot in McAllen, offering modern upgrades and flexible living. This remodeled property features new flooring, fresh paint, and updated kitchen and bathroom countertops for a clean, contemporary feel. One of the full bathrooms is a convenient Jack-and-Jill, providing shared access between bedrooms. The garage has been fully enclosed and equipped
MUST SEE! Located in a cozy cul-de-sac, this home offers low traffic and the perfect setting for peaceful evening walks. We love affordable housing, and this property delivers both comfort and value. Inside, you’ll find a spacious layout with a thoughtful floor plan designed for everyday living—featuring plenty of closet space, high ceilings, a dishwasher, a generous indoor laundry room, and a
This half acre Estate in the exclusive Vineyards Estate gated community is awaiting your arrival! 3446 living sq ft, custom-built stone estate features 4 spacious bedrooms and 3 luxurious baths, and beautifully landscaped grounds. This one-story home offers an amazing community and a brand-new roof and ALL NEW DOUBLE BLACK WINDOWS. Inside the chef’s kitchen is a culinary delight, complete with a
New construction home built in 2024 featuring 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and approximately 1,415 square feet of living area. This home offers a functional split-bedroom layout, modern finishes, and energy-efficient construction. Conveniently located near Ware Rd. and Trenton, with quick access to schools, shopping, and major roadways. Property is available through Seller Financing or For Lease
Gorgeous Renovated Home in the Heart of McAllen in an established neighborhood with Alley Access! This Home features 4 Bedrooms and 3 Bathrooms plus a Bonus Room with a total living square feet of 2,464 (Seller), A spacious 2 car garage (506 sq. ft. per HCAD), sitting on a lot of 8,360 square feet (HCAD). The home has an open concept and split bedroom floor plan. The countertops are a combination
AVAILABLE NOW! Apply NOW - Vida Subdivision - A must-see unit with an open layout, modern flooring, Granite Countertops, modern lighting fixtures including recessed lighting throughout the unit, Custom Cabinets with Brush Nickel Hardware. Vaulted ceilings with a fan in living and bedrooms. All bedrooms come with double chrome closet rods, the master bathroom has a glass walk-in shower and custom
BRAND-NEW! AVAILABLE NOW!- EL DORADO AT THOUSAND OAKS SUBDIVISION-A must see unit with an open layout, modern flooring, Granite Countertops, modern lighting fixtures including recessed lighting throughout the unit, modern sleek two-toned cabinets. Vaulted ceilings with a fan in Living room and bedrooms. All bedrooms come with double chrome closet rods, master bathroom has a glass walk-in
AVAILABLE TO MOVE IN! -HEIGHTS AT MCCOLL APTS- GATED SUBDIVISION- This apartment is located in a gated community, providing a secure and safe environment for residents. Inside, you'll find stainless steel appliances, a full-size washer and dryer, and a private patio. The spacious living room and bedrooms include ceiling fans and master bathroom walk-in shower. Property Features:Gated
Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
