United States › Texas › Harlingen CITY
Harlingen Texas · 72,467 residents (2025 est.) · 40.1 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
With 72,087 people, Harlingen is a city in Texas. The median age is 33.4, younger than the US median of 38.9. 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. 25.1% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $140,600. Households here earn about 32% less than in Texas as a whole.
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 from 57,564 in 2000
72,467 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1,797 / sq mi
+14%since 2009
from 1,580 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 31.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
46K 53K 60K 67K 74K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Harlingen Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $53,645
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,296 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $13,886 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 19.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 24.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.507 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 3.6%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.8%
Transportation & warehousing 1.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.5%
Education & health services 1.3%
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$140,600
+41%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $54,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$928
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $455 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 61.1% in 2000
43.9% rent
from 19.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.80 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 25.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 35.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 2.3 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 25%(14,410)
Hispanic / Latino 72.8%(41,881)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 13.9%(10,021)
Hispanic / Latino 82.3%(59,314)
from 50 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 6 more hispanic origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 27 more ancestry groups with data from 16.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 66.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 5.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 12.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 84.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 10.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 10.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 5.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 49.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 73.4% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 16.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 35.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 14.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 10.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 10.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 29.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 63.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 86.0% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 91.1% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 47.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 51.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 39.4%(10,611)
Women 15+
Never married 32.5%(8,994)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 29.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 35.4% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 11.1% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 15.9% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 28.7% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 3.1% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 45.3% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 40.7% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 16%(525)
Gulf War (1990s) 18.6%(611)
Share of the 3,279 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Harlingen Head to head
Compare Harlingen to nearby cities HARLINGEN VS
San Benito
Income $43,639 −19%
Home value $85,300 −39%
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HARLINGEN VS
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HARLINGEN VS
Los Fresnos
Income $61,938 +15%
Home value $152,200 +8%
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HARLINGEN VS
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Income $59,551 +11%
Home value $140,000 same
Population 44,203 −39%
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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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