McAllen
City in Hidalgo County, Texas
McAllen is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas, with 142,210 residents (2020 Census). It sits at 121 ft (37 m) above sea level. The nearest town is Palmhurst, 3.8 miles NW.
- 142,210residents (2020 Census)
- 121 ftelevation · 37 m
- 62.4 sq miland area · 161.5 km²
- 2,280 / sq mipopulation density
- 78501main ZIP code (5 in total)
About McAllen
McAllen is a city in the U.S. state of Texas. It is located at the southern tip of the state in the Rio Grande Valley, on the Mexican border. The city limits extend south to the Rio Grande, across from the Mexican city of Reynosa. As of the 2025 census estimate, McAllen's population was 150,640, making it the most populous city in Hidalgo County, the second most populous city in the Rio Grande Valley, and the 23rd-most populous city in Texas. The city anchors the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission metropolitan area, the fifth largest metropolitan area in the state of Texas, with 921,549 residents as of 2025. The binational Reynosa–McAllen metropolitan area counts a population of more than 1.5 million.
From its settlement in 1904, the area around McAllen was largely rural and agricultural in character, but the latter half of the 20th century had steady growth, which has continued in the 21st century in the metropolitan area. The introduction of the maquiladora economy and the North American Free Trade Association led to an increase in cross-border trading with Mexico.
Text: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
McAllen weather: 7-day forecast
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Live webcams in McAllen
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Living in McAllen
- Median household income
- $61,579
- Median home value
- $190,400
- Median rent
- $1,049/mo
- Median age
- 33.5
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Map of McAllen
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Open in Google Maps ›McAllen, TX population
McAllen had 142,210 residents in the 2020 Census.
| 2020 Census | 142,210 |
|---|---|
| Density | 2,280 per sq mi (880 per km²) |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census.
McAllen at a glance
| State | Texas (TX) |
|---|---|
| County | Hidalgo County |
| Type | City |
| Population | 142,210 (2020) |
| Land area | 62.37 sq mi (161.5 km²) |
| Water area | 0.38 sq mi (0.98 km²) |
| Elevation | 121 ft (37 m) |
| Coordinates | 26.2250° N, 98.2461° W |
| ZIP codes | 78501, 78503, 78504, 78539, 78577 |
| Official website | mcallen.net |
| Census code (GEOID) | 4845384 |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Gazetteer, ZCTA), USGS GNIS, Wikidata.
Towns near McAllen
- Palmhurst3.8 mi NW
- Mission5.1 mi W
- Pharr5.3 mi SE
- Lopezville5.9 mi E
- Alton6.0 mi NW
- San Juan6.3 mi E
- West Sharyland6.7 mi NW
- Granjeno7.0 mi SW
- North Alamo7.4 mi E
- La Homa7.9 mi NW
- Hidalgo8.0 mi S
- Murillo8.1 mi E
Straight-line distance between town centers.
Frequently asked questions about McAllen
What county is McAllen in?
McAllen is in Hidalgo County, Texas.
What is the population of McAllen, TX?
142,210 people lived in McAllen at the 2020 Census.
What is the ZIP code of McAllen, TX?
The main ZIP code is 78501. Other ZIP codes: 78503, 78504, 78539, 78577.
What is the elevation of McAllen?
121 feet (37 m) above sea level.
What towns are near McAllen?
Palmhurst (3.8 mi), Mission (5.1 mi), Pharr (5.3 mi), Lopezville (5.9 mi), Alton (6.0 mi).
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