McAllen-Edinburg-Mission receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission
Brownsville-Harlingen
Opportunity
36 · Bottom 14%
vs26 · Bottom 5%
Growth
76 · Top 10%
vs65 · Top 26%
Climate
70 · Top 38%
vs76 · Top 15%
Physical resilience
23 · Bottom 12%
vs21 · Bottom 10%
Housing affordability
93 · Bottom 45%
vs94 · Bottom 47%
Access
75 · Bottom 47%
vs88 · Top 28%
Economic stability
27 · Bottom 18%
vs23 · Bottom 14%
Measured values
| Metric | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission | Brownsville-Harlingen | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 891,977 | 426,120 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $54,338 | $52,601 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $23,117 | $24,089 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 568/sq mi | 478/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $140,900 | $136,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $957 | $912 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 67.5% | 65.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 7.0% | 7.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.1% | -0.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.6% | 22.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 26.7% | 24.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 6,844 | 2,631 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 7.7 | 6.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -8.1% | 0.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 98°F | 92°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 49°F | 52°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 23.6" | 23.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 35 mi | 14 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 23.5 min | 22.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 30.5 | 32.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission
Elevated or high exposure: cold wave, hurricane, hail.
Brownsville-Harlingen
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission
57
Your Score
55
Area Score
Brownsville-Harlingen
56
Your Score
52
Area Score
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Full profiles: McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX Metro Area · Brownsville-Harlingen, TX Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology