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CITY · 1990 CENSUS

Harlingen

Texas · 48,735 residents · 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 $20,858. Population has fallen 15% since 2000, a loss of 8,829 residents. Median home value is $42,200. The poverty rate of 29.9% is well above the national figure.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Younger
median age 29.8
US median: 33.0
Less educated
15% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
48,735
−15%vs 2000
vs 57,564 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
29.8
−6%vs 2000
vs 31.8 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
46K53K60K67K74K1990201020202024Harlingen
202472K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 59.1%(4,416)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 98.8%(4,281)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 149%(4,374)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 198.9%(4,333)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 246.6%(3,215)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3415.6%(7,609)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4413%(6,317)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 548%(3,923)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 648%(3,896)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 747.1%(3,466)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 844.8%(2,324)
US avg: 4%
85 and over1.2%(581)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$20,858
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $30,296 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$9,183
−34%vs 2000
vs $13,886 in 2000
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
29.9%
+5.0 ptsvs 2000
vs 24.9% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$42,200
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $54,600 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$332
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $455 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
59.0%
−2.1 ptsvs 2000
vs 61.1% in 2000
41.0% rent
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%
1990
White, non-Hispanic80.4%(39,190)
Black0.9%(416)
Hispanic / Latino70.6%(34,391)
Asian0.2%(119)
Other18.5%(9,010)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican75%(54,038)
Puerto Rican0.7%(539)
Spaniard0.3%(247)
Cuban0.3%(207)
Salvadoran0.2%(178)
Guatemalan0.2%(153)
Venezuelan0.2%(124)
Nicaraguan0.1%(77)
Honduran0.1%(66)
Argentine0.1%(59)
+ 6 more hispanic origin groups with data
Ecuadorian0.1%(40)
Colombian0%(21)
Peruvian0%(16)
Dominican0%(12)
Asian origin
Asian Indian0.5%(333)
Filipino0.2%(120)
Japanese0.2%(110)
Vietnamese0.1%(90)
Chinese0.1%(40)
Korean0%(25)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0.1%(82)
Ancestry
German4.7%(3,368)
English4.6%(3,318)
American2.5%(1,793)
Irish2.2%(1,586)
Italian1.2%(849)
Swedish0.7%(488)
French0.5%(393)
Scottish0.5%(330)
Dutch0.3%(190)
Czech0.2%(178)
Scotch-Irish0.2%(172)
+ 27 more ancestry groups with data
Swiss0.2%(158)
Polish0.2%(156)
British0.2%(144)
Portuguese0.2%(122)
Canadian0.2%(115)
Norwegian0.2%(115)
Arab0.1%(75)
Danish0.1%(72)
Hungarian0.1%(54)
Welsh0.1%(52)
Iranian0%(36)
Ukrainian0%(35)
Syrian0%(31)
Bulgarian0%(28)
Nigerian0%(28)
Turkish0%(26)
Slovak0%(23)
Lebanese0%(14)
Brazilian0%(14)
Finnish0%(11)
Romanian0%(10)
Russian0%(10)
Serbian0%(9)
Slovene0%(9)
Greek0%(8)
RANKED:Largest Mexican population · Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest Irish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
14.8%
−2.0 ptsvs 2000
vs 16.8% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
59.3%
−6.9 ptsvs 2000
vs 66.2% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
4.7%
−1.2 ptsvs 2000
vs 5.9% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
15.3 min
+24%vs 2000
vs 12.4 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married39.4%(10,611)
Married48.6%(13,106)
Widowed3.4%(918)
Divorced8.6%(2,325)
Women 15+
Never married32.5%(8,994)
Married45.8%(12,654)
Widowed8.9%(2,446)
Divorced12.8%(3,538)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Compare Harlingen to nearby cities

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Income$43,639+109%
Home value$85,300+102%
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HARLINGEN VS
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HARLINGEN VS
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Income$61,938+197%
Home value$152,200+261%
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HARLINGEN VS
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Home value$140,000+232%
Population44,203−39%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Harlingen, Texas?

Harlingen, Texas has about 48,735 residents according to the 1990 Census.

What is the median household income in Harlingen, Texas?

The typical household in Harlingen, Texas earns about $20,858 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 $42,200, and the typical rent is about $332 a month.

How educated are people in Harlingen, Texas?

About 14.8% 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 29.9% of people in Harlingen, Texas live below the federal poverty line.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →