Rows tagged local are specific to Mercedes (Census ACS); state rows are state averages; metro-area rows are inherited from McAllen, TX. Home value is ACS owner-reported (not a Zillow sale price).
School score: 4/10 (district Mercedes ISD · NCES EDFacts)
Cost of living
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Cost-of-living index (US=100)
86.1
metro-area
#5 of 200 metros
Grocery index (US=100)
92.9
metro-area
#1 of 200 metros
Big Mac price (est.)
$4.90
metro-area
#5 of 200 metros
Median household income
$43,243
local
#3120 of 3,220 cities
Median wage (all occupations)
$25,084
local
#3151 of 3,220 cities
Who lives here
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Median age
30.3 years
metro-area
#4 of 200 metros
Bachelor's degree or higher (25+)
20.3%
metro-area
#194 of 200 metros
Foreign-born residents
26.0%
metro-area
#8 of 200 metros
Homes that are owner-occupied
67.6%
metro-area
#82 of 200 metros
Economy
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Unemployment rate
8.32%
local
#2890 of 3,220 cities
Population growth (5-yr)
-1.4%
local
#2600 of 3,220 cities
Housing — what your money buys
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Median home price
$102,100
local
#65 of 3,220 cities
Home price ÷ income (affordability)
2.4×
local
#171 of 3,220 cities
1-yr home appreciation
+0.6%
metro-area
#122 of 200 metros
Price per square foot
$49
local
#31 of 3,220 cities
Typical home size (implied)
2,101 sqft
Median rent (monthly)
$625
local
#18 of 3,220 cities
Homes for sale (inventory)
3,650
Median days on market
79
metro-area
#200 of 200 metros
Taxes
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Total tax burden (est. % of income)
8.6%
state
#9 of 200 metros
Combined sales tax
8.20%
state
#116 of 200 metros
State income tax (top rate)
None
Capital gains tax
None
state
#1 of 200 metros
High earners
No special surtax
Social Security in retirement
Not taxed — has no state income tax, so Social Security is untaxed along with everything else
Effective property tax rate
1.85%
local
#2668 of 3,220 cities
Median property tax paid
$1,885
local
#583 of 3,220 cities
Health & childcare
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Life expectancy at birth
77.3 years
metro-area
#77 of 200 metros
Healthcare (annual, single adult)
$6,800
state
#93 of 200 metros
Uninsured (share of residents)
30.2%
metro-area
#198 of 200 metros
Primary care providers per 100k
46
metro-area
#189 of 200 metros
Childcare (annual, infant, center)
$9,500
state
#37 of 200 metros
Vehicles & commute
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Annual registration
$75
state
#46 of 200 metros
Vehicle property tax (annual)
None
state
#1 of 200 metros
Emissions testing
Required
Emissions detail
Required in major metro counties (Travis, Harris, Dallas, Tarrant, etc.)
DMV & license offices
4
Avg commute to work
20 min
local
#271 of 3,220 cities
Commute by driving alone
75.8%
metro-area
#108 of 200 metros
Solo drivers commuting 30+ min
26.4%
metro-area
#51 of 200 metros
Utilities & fuel
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Electricity
17.0¢/kWh
state
#90 of 200 metros
Avg monthly electric bill
$153
state
#90 of 200 metros
Gasoline
$3.00/gal
state
#24 of 200 metros
Natural gas (avg monthly bill)
$52
state
#23 of 200 metros
Water & sewer (avg monthly bill)
$134
state
#142 of 200 metros
Home internet (avg monthly bill)
$83
state
#135 of 200 metros
Insurance
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Home insurance (annual)
$3,600
state
#164 of 200 metros
Auto insurance (annual)
$2,100
state
#126 of 200 metros
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Main natural hazards
Notable hazards: hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes, wildfire — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed.
FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk)
99.0 — Relatively High
metro-area
#184 of 200 metros
Flood insurance (annual, NFIP)
$900
state
#152 of 200 metros
Earthquake insurance (annual)
$100
state
#1 of 200 metros
Climate & air quality
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner)
54
metro-area
#168 of 200 metros
Cooling degree-days (AC load)
3,000
metro-area
#162 of 200 metros
Homes with air conditioning (state)
95%
state
#27 of 200 metros
Heating degree-days (heat load)
1,800
metro-area
#27 of 200 metros
Days per year ≥ 90°F
163
metro-area
#199 of 200 metros
Days per year ≥ 100°F
26
metro-area
#195 of 200 metros
Avg summer high (state)
96°F
metro-area
#181 of 200 metros
Avg winter low
38°F
metro-area
#46 of 200 metros
Annual precipitation
32.4"
metro-area
#50 of 200 metros
Annual snowfall
0.0"
metro-area
#1 of 200 metros
Sunshine (% of possible)
67%
metro-area
#45 of 200 metros
Plant hardiness zone
8b
Frost window
02-25 → 12-01
Safety
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Violent crime (per 100k, state avg)
430
state
#111 of 200 metros
Property crime (per 100k, state avg)
2,400
state
#131 of 200 metros
Local amenities & recreation
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Grocery stores
120
metro-area
#5 of 200 metros
Parks
60
Hiking areas
15
Golf courses
15
Shooting ranges
4
Lakes
4
Permits
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Building permit difficulty (1–5)
2
state
#1 of 200 metros
Permit detail
Generally easy; rural areas minimal, major cities moderate
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.