CountyScore

Hidalgo County

Texas · TX

#249 in Texas
50.3
County Score

County Report Card

About Hidalgo County, Texas

Solid Performer Above National Average

Hidalgo County's composite score of 62.5 surpasses the national median of 50.0, positioning it in the upper-middle range of American counties. This strength rests almost entirely on its exceptional housing affordability.

Slightly Below Texas Average

Hidalgo scores 62.5 compared to Texas's state average of 66.8, placing it in the middle tier of Texas counties. The gap reflects income challenges that offset its housing cost advantages.

Exceptional Housing Affordability

Hidalgo's cost score of 81.0 is exceptional, with a median home value of just $124,000 and rent averaging $925/month—among the lowest in this group. For renters and first-time homebuyers, this county offers unmatched housing value.

Income Constraints and Tax Burden

The income score of 17.5 is the lowest in this analysis, with median household income at $52,281, indicating limited wage opportunities and economic development. The effective tax rate of 1.764% is also the highest, further straining household budgets.

For Price-Conscious Families

Hidalgo suits low-to-moderate income families, immigrant communities, and anyone seeking the absolute lowest housing costs in Texas. Success here depends on finding stable, flexible income sources and accepting lower earning potential.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax52.7Cost81SafetyComing SoonHealth34.4SchoolsComing SoonIncome17.5Risk1WaterComing Soon
🏛52.7
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠81
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼17.5
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤34.4
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡1
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Hidalgo County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Fort Bend County
Texas
50.2
Median income: $113,409
Nassau County
New York
50.1
Median income: $143,408
Kane County
Illinois
50.6
Median income: $100,678
Bergen County
New Jersey
50.6
Median income: $123,715
Burlington County
New Jersey
49.9
Median income: $105,271

Deep Dives

Hidalgo County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Hidalgo County

via TaxByCounty

Hidalgo taxes above national average

Hidalgo County's 1.764% effective tax rate substantially exceeds the national median of 1.199%, placing it in the 76th percentile nationally. Despite modest home values averaging $124,000, residents pay $2,187 annually—slightly below the national median tax of $2,690 due to lower property values.

Second-highest rate in Texas

At 1.764%, Hidalgo County ranks second-highest among these eight counties and well above Texas's 1.276% state average. The median property tax of $2,187 sits nearly at the state median of $2,193, despite this county's much lower home valuations.

Heaviest-taxed South Texas county

Hidalgo's 1.764% rate far exceeds other South Texas options, nearly double some rural alternatives. Only Hays County (1.729%) comes close, and both are driven by different factors—Hays by rapid appreciation, Hidalgo by high tax rates on modest-valued homes.

What $124,000 home costs yearly

A median-priced Hidalgo County home generates $2,187 in annual property taxes under standard conditions, or $3,243 with a mortgage. That's approximately $182 per month—a significant burden relative to the lower home values in this South Texas county.

Challenge inflated assessments

Hidalgo County's high rate makes assessment accuracy especially critical; overvalued properties waste money fast. Request an appraisal review and file a formal challenge if your assessed value exceeds comparable recent sales in your neighborhood.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Hidalgo County

via CostByCounty

Hidalgo's rent burden crushes national norms

Hidalgo County renters dedicate 21.2% of income to rent—the highest ratio in this county set and well above the 15-16% national standard. With median income at just $52,281, housing eats into already-tight household budgets across the Rio Grande Valley.

Most unaffordable rental county in comparison

Hidalgo's 21.2% rent-to-income ratio significantly exceeds Texas's 18.1% state average, making it one of the state's least affordable counties by this metric. The mismatch reflects the Valley's lower incomes paired with rising housing demand.

High burden despite low rents

Though Hidalgo's $925 rent is among the lowest here, the county's lower median income ($52,281) means renters spend a larger share of paychecks on housing. This contrasts with wealthier counties like Hays, where higher income cushions the burden of higher rents.

One-third of income toward housing

Renters allocate 21.2% ($925) to rent, while homeowners commit 16% ($699) to mortgages—totaling 37% of the $52,281 median income combined. For a family on the Valley's lower wage scale, this leaves stretched finances for food, transportation, and savings.

Cheapest homes, but tightest budgets

Hidalgo offers the lowest home prices ($124,000) and rents ($925) in this set, but income constraints mean housing remains the toughest affordability challenge. Relocate here only with secure income sources, as local wage levels make housing disproportionately costly.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Hidalgo County

via IncomeByCounty

Hidalgo County significantly below national average

Hidalgo County's median household income of $52,281 trails the U.S. median of $74,755 by $22,474—a gap of 30.1%. The county faces economic headwinds compared to national norms, though it remains part of a broader lower-income region in South Texas.

Among Texas's lowest-income counties

Hidalgo County's median household income of $52,281 falls 19.3% below Texas's state average of $64,737, with a per capita income of $22,005 trailing the state average of $33,197 by 33.7%. These figures reflect persistent poverty and limited wage growth across the Rio Grande Valley.

Economic challenges region-wide

Hidalgo County's $52,281 median income ranks it among the lowest in this sample, significantly trailing even Hill County ($63,147) and Hockley County ($54,810). As the Valley's largest county, Hidalgo faces structural employment and income challenges that shape household financial capacity.

Housing costs strain household budgets

Hidalgo County's rent-to-income ratio of 21.2% is the highest in this sample, meaning housing consumes more than 1 in 5 dollars of gross income for a median household. At $124,000, median home values are affordable in absolute terms but represent a heavy burden relative to income.

Community resources support financial resilience

Hidalgo County households should seek out nonprofit credit counseling, matched savings programs, and employer benefits to build financial security from modest income bases. Prioritizing emergency savings and low-cost investment vehicles can help households weather economic volatility and build generational wealth.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Hidalgo County

via HealthByCounty

Hidalgo County faces major health disparities

Hidalgo County's 77.3-year life expectancy falls 3 years short of the U.S. average despite having a large, young population. Critically, 37.3% report poor or fair health—the highest rate in this dataset—and 30.2% lack insurance, creating a crisis of health access.

Texas's most uninsured county here

Hidalgo County's 30.2% uninsured rate is the highest among these Texas counties and far exceeds the state average of 19.8%, meaning nearly one in three residents lack coverage. Life expectancy of 77.3 years trails the state average by 3 years, reflecting these access barriers.

Hidalgo stands apart in challenge

Hidalgo County's 37.3% poor/fair health rate dwarfs Henderson County's 21.7% and far exceeds any peer in this comparison. The 30.2% uninsured rate makes Hidalgo's health challenge distinctly severe, requiring targeted intervention.

Poverty and coverage collide in Hidalgo

Hidalgo County has 46 primary care providers per 100,000 residents and 91 mental health providers per 100,000, but the 30.2% uninsured rate means many cannot afford to see them. The county's 37.3% poor/fair health rate—double national averages—signals that economic hardship and lack of coverage are driving poor outcomes.

Coverage can change your family's health

If you're uninsured in Hidalgo County, Medicaid and marketplace subsidies are designed for households with limited income. Call 211 or visit healthcare.gov to find plans—coverage is often free or very low cost and can prevent costly emergencies.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Hidalgo County

via RiskByCounty

Hidalgo faces exceptionally high national risk

Hidalgo County's composite risk score of 99.01 ranks it as "Relatively High" and among the most at-risk counties in the entire United States. This exceptional exposure reflects the Rio Grande Valley's vulnerability to hurricanes, floods, and multiple other hazards.

Highest-risk county in all of Texas

Hidalgo County's score of 99.01 is the absolute highest in Texas and more than double the state average of 49.00. The county's southern location along the Gulf Coast and Mexican border creates unmatched exposure to hurricanes, storm surge, and flooding.

Dramatically riskier than surrounding counties

Hidalgo County's 99.01 score far exceeds all other Texas counties; the next-closest is Hays County at 90.55. Its unique geographic position at the southern tip of Texas creates hazard exposures unmatched elsewhere in the state.

Hurricanes and floods dominate your profile

Hurricane risk reaches 99.50—the highest possible exposure in the state—while flood risk stands at 96.44, creating a severe coastal weather double threat. Tornado risk of 95.99 and earthquake risk of 79.01 complete an exceptionally hazardous profile.

Comprehensive coverage is non-negotiable

Hidalgo residents must carry homeowners insurance, separate flood insurance, and wind/hail coverage to address the county's extreme exposure to hurricanes and flooding. Given the 99+ risk scores for both hurricanes and floods, adequate insurance is essential for financial recovery after major events.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.