The McAllen metro is home to 880,921 people (up 3.7% over five years), with a median household income of $52,281. Typical rent of $1,119/month works out to 25.7% of the median household income — near the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of McAllen's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 27.7% |
| Retail trade | 12.3% |
| Construction | 9.5% |
| Professional & management | 9.0% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 8.9% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 25.7% of median income leave moderate headroom; underwrite rent growth conservatively. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the McAllen market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,119/month suggests a household income around $45,000/year. The metro's median household income is $52,281.
By workforce share: Education & health care (27.7%), Retail trade (12.3%), Construction (9.5%) (Census ACS 5-year).