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CITY

Harlingen

Texas · 72,467 residents (2025 est.) · 40.114 sq mi
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The short version

Harlingen has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $53,645. Population has grown 25% since 2000. 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $140,600. At a median age of 33.4, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 32% less than the Texas median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 33.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
23% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 41%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
72,087
+25%since 2000
from 57,564 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,797 / sq mi
+25%since 2000
from 1,435 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
33.4
+5%since 2000
from 31.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:72,467 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
46K53K60K67K74K1990201020202024Harlingen
202472K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$53,645
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,296 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$26,512
+91%since 2000
from $13,886 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
35.6%
+16.5 ptssince 2009
from 19.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
25.1%
+0.2 ptssince 2000
from 24.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.461
−9%since 2010
from 0.507 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information10.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services6.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade6.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance4.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Retail trade4.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Public administration4%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical3.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food1.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Education & health services1.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Construction1%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.5%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$140,600
+41%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $54,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$928
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $455 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
56.1%
−5.0 ptssince 2000
from 61.1% in 2000
43.9% rent
Vacancy rate
12.1%
−7.4 ptssince 2009
from 19.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
14.9%
−10.3 ptssince 2009
from 25.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
42.7%
+7.3 ptssince 2009
from 35.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.6
+45%since 2000
from 1.8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
56
RELATED:See current rent listings in Harlingen on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic25%(14,410)
Black0.7%(425)
Hispanic / Latino72.8%(41,881)
Asian0.9%(500)
Other0%
Diversity Score50.1%(28,828)
2024
White, non-Hispanic13.9%(10,021)
Black1.5%(1,112)
Hispanic / Latino82.3%(59,314)
Asian1%(732)
Other1.3%(908)
Diversity Score37.9%(27,317)
Diversity Score
38
−24%since 2000
from 50 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
22.6%
+5.8 ptssince 2000
from 16.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
79.7%
+13.6 ptssince 2000
from 66.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.1%
+2.3 ptssince 2000
from 5.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
17.9 min
+44%since 2000
from 12.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
76.2%
−8.7 ptssince 2009
from 84.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.9%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 10.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.3%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
10.4%
+8.8 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.5%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.4%
−4.4 ptssince 2009
from 10.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.2%
−0.4 ptssince 2011
from 5.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
57.6%
+7.9 ptssince 2011
from 49.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
15.6%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 16.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
34.1%
−28.9 ptssince 2009
from 63.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.7%
+2.7 ptssince 2009
from 47.0% in 2009
Female
50.3%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 53.0% in 2009
Foreign born
14.6%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 14.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.4%
−39.3 ptssince 2009
from 45.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.4%
+4.6 ptssince 2012
from 10.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
22.6%
−48.4 ptssince 2013
from 71.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.8%
+21.4 ptssince 2017
from 63.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
47.6%
−0.3 ptssince 2016
from 47.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
51.0%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 51.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Harlingen

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Head to head

Compare Harlingen to nearby cities

HARLINGEN VS
San Benito
Income$43,639−19%
Home value$85,300−39%
Population24,980−66%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HARLINGEN VS
Mercedes
Income$46,904−13%
Home value$111,800−20%
Population17,915−75%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HARLINGEN VS
Los Fresnos
Income$61,938+15%
Home value$152,200+8%
Population8,703−88%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HARLINGEN VS
Weslaco
Income$59,551+11%
Home value$140,000same
Population44,203−39%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Harlingen, Texas?

Harlingen, Texas has about 72,087 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Harlingen, Texas?

The typical household in Harlingen, Texas earns about $53,645 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Harlingen, Texas expensive?

In Harlingen, Texas, the median home is worth about $140,600, and the typical rent is about $928 a month.

How educated are people in Harlingen, Texas?

About 22.6% of adults age 25 and over in Harlingen, Texas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Harlingen, Texas?

About 25.1% of people in Harlingen, Texas live below the federal poverty line.

Has Harlingen, Texas grown since 1990?

Yes, Harlingen, Texas has grown since 1990. The population has added about 23,352 residents, a change of about 48 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Harlingen, Texas: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy