McAllen, Texas Population 2023

145,909

McAllen is a city located in Hidalgo County Texas. With a 2023 population of 145,909, it is the 23rd largest city in Texas and the 202nd largest city in the United States.McAllen is currently growing at a rate of 0.85% annually and its population has increased by 2.6% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 142,210 in 2020. Spanning over 66 miles, McAllen has a population density of 2,221 people per square mile.

The average household income in McAllen is $69,053 with a poverty rate of 28.74%. The median rental costs in recent years comes to - per month, and the median house value is -. The median age in McAllen is 32.6 years, 28.8 years for males, and 36.1 years for females.

McAllen is within 80 miles of the Gulf of Mexico, and the city limits reach to the Rio Grande at the city of Reynosa, Mexico. The city’s population makes it the 22nd most populous in Texas.

Unemployment and Poverty in McAllen

More than one-quarter of the population lives below the federal poverty line. The city has struggled with high unemployment rates in recent years, but that number continues to drop. However, McAllen is still considered one of the poorest cities in the United States, and because of this, the cost of living is over 16% less than the national average.

Population Growth in McAllen, TX

Despite these struggles, however, the city’s population only continues to grow. A population of 150 in 1910 exploded to over 5,000 in 1920. By 1940, this figure had more than doubled. In 2000, the city’s population surpassed 100,000 and has only continued to grow larger. Recent estimates show that the population is up 9.5% since the last census in 2010, indicating that this city is continuing to experience rapid growth that is showing no signs of slowing down.

McAllen Demographics

According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of McAllen was:

  • White: 65.03%
  • Other race: 19.26%
  • Two or more races: 11.46%
  • Asian: 2.78%
  • Black or African American: 1.07%
  • Native American: 0.28%
  • Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.12%
The current population of McAllen, Texas is 145,909 based on our projections of the latest US Census estimates.The last official US Census in 2020 recorded the population at 142,210.

McAllen, Texas Population 2023

McAllen Metro Area Population by Year

Population by Race

White

Other race

Two or more races

Asian

Black or African American

Native American

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

McAllen Population by Race

McAllen Population Pyramid 2023

McAllen Median Age

32.6

Total

28.8

Male

36.1

Female

McAllen Adults

There are 100,954 adults, (18,119 of whom are seniors) in McAllen.

McAllen Age Dependency

72.1

Age Dependency Ratio

21.9

Old Age Dependency Ratio

50.2

Child Dependency Ratio

McAllen Sex Ratio

Female71,97250.49%
Male70,58549.51%

McAllen Population by Age

McAllen Renter vs Owner Occupied by Household Type

3.68

Average Family Size

3.12

Average Household Size

59.5%

Rate of Home Ownership

Married

Male

Female

NonFamily

owner

renter

McAllen Households and Families

Male

Female

Less Than 9th Grade

9th to 12th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Associates Degree

Bachelors Degree

Graduate Degree

McAllen Educational Attainment by Sex (over 25)

McAllen Educational Attainment by Race

High School Graduation Rate

Bachelors Rate

The highest rate of high school graduation is among white people with a rate of 85.61%.

The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among islander people with a rate of 64.58%.

McAllen Educational Attainment by Race

All

Male

Female

$31,508

Average Earnings

$39,016

Average Male

$25,582

Average Female

McAllen Earnings by Educational Attainment

McAllen Language by Age

Only English

Spanish

Other Indo-European Languages

Asian and Pacific Island Languages

Other Languages

McAllen Language

25.29% of McAllen residents speak only English, while 74.71% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 71.97% of the population.

McAllen Language

McAllen Poverty by Race

rate

28.74%

Overall Poverty Rate

20.23%

Male Poverty Rate

23.77%

Female Poverty Rate

Poverty in McAllen

The race most likely to be in poverty in McAllen is Other, with 38.55% below the poverty level.

The race least likely to be in poverty in McAllen is White, with 6.38% below the poverty level.

The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 7.79%. Among those working part-time, it was 24.71%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 26.52%.

McAllen Poverty

McAllen Poverty Rate by Education

McAllen Poverty Rate by Employment Status and Sex

McAllen Income by Household Type

Households

Families

MarriedFamilies

NonFamilies

mean

median

Income by Household Type

McAllen Marital Status

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Marriage Rates

47.3%

Overall Marriage Rate

50.3%

Male Marriage Rate

44.6%

Female Marriage Rate

McAllen Married by Age and Sex

male

female

McAllen Marriage

The age group where males are most likely to be married is 45-54, while the female age group most likely to be married is 35-44.

McAllen Marital Status by Race

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

McAllen Marital Status

Second Gulf War

First Gulf War

Vietnam

Korea

World War II

3,385

Number of Veterans

3,339

Male Veterans

46

Female Veterans

McAllen Veterans by War

McAllen Veterans by Age

count

McAllen Veterans by Race

McAllen Veterans by Education

Less Than 9th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Bachelors or Greater

7.81%

Veteran Poverty Rate

35.57%

Veteran Disability Rate

McAllen Veterans by Education

LaborForceParticipation

61.7%

Labor Force Participation

58.1%

Employment Rate

5.7%

Unemployment Rate

McAllen Employment by Age

LaborForceParticipation

McAllen Employment by Race

LaborForceParticipation

McAllen Employment by Education

Origin of Non-Citizens

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

Latin America

North America

Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.

Origin of Naturalized Citizens

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

Latin America

North America

62.27%

Born in McAllen

73.67%

Native Born

26.57%

Foreign Born

16.42%

Non Citizen

10.15%

Naturalized

Place of Birth

73.67% of McAllen residents were born in the United States, with 62.27% having been born in Texas. 16.42% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.

McAllen Place of Birth

Note: data after 2020 is projected based on recent growth

McAllen Population by Year