Hey, It's a a mid-size city city with about 144K people. With a population of 144K, McAllen is a mid-size city. Homes are going for about $173,800 on average. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. The suburbs are where most families end up. Should I be concerned? The food scene here is surprisingly good. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. The suburbs are where most families end up.
17 upvotes
26 Replies
Mason Kim
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a pharmacist who relocated here from Baltimore about 1 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and quality of life.
Pros I've experienced:
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Decent public transit for the size
- Good airport with direct flights
Cons that are real:
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Financially, we've found it tough compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are reasonable, gas is pretty good.
Socially, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. No regrets on my end..
40 upvotes
Cooper Clark
We moved here with our family and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Schools in Downtown area are challenging. Kids love it here.
40 upvotes
Ruby Foster
Came here for my partner's job and stayed because it exceeded my expectations. The walkability is honestly underrated and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
39 upvotes
Wesley Ruiz
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Eastside for 5 years. Moved from Austin for weather. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is underrated. We bought in 2016 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
real estate is strong here. manufacturing is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are pricey for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's been a really good experience overall. The outdoor scene is pretty good - we have national forests within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Eastside schools are decent. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Nightlife is limited. Limited shopping options. And school system can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 9/10. Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
39 upvotes
Naomi Nguyen
not my experience at all
36 upvotes
Dominic Thompson
Hot take but it was the best decision I ever made. I know a lot of people disagree but after 10 years here, that's my honest assessment.
32 upvotes
Liam P.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want outdoor recreation, then yeah this place is great. But if weather matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
32 upvotes
oakland_carson
hard disagree but ok
31 upvotes
Jacob Davis
wish I knew this sooner
30 upvotes
Gabriel Hill
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 14 years ago from Austin and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Cedar Grove. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in marketing. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like Indian.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
29 upvotes
Ezekiel Harris
Can confirm, been here 6 years.
27 upvotes
Theodore
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want outdoor recreation, then yeah this place is great. But if outdoor recreation matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
24 upvotes
Jacob A.
same here
22 upvotes
Hailey Long
haha yep pretty much
21 upvotes
Cooper Lewis
bump
19 upvotes
Denise R.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value outdoor recreation, you'll love it. The cost of living is genuinely solid and I've found I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. My neighborhood (Fairview) is established and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Miami, be prepared for the culture shock. dating scene is completely different here. And Road conditions need improvement.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
18 upvotes
Alice Sanders
I work in construction here and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The job market for my field is underrated. Definitely worth checking out..
18 upvotes
Jameson Cruz
Came here for school and stayed because it's been a really good experience overall. The healthcare is honestly hit or miss and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
17 upvotes
Mia Ross
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem hit or miss.
I've been here 14 years and I have mixed feelings honestly. The thing nobody mentions is weather. It's reasonable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the community vibe is legit. And if you're into biking, this place is surprisingly good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Highland side vs the North side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
13 upvotes
Ellie Phillips
Hot take but it's exactly what I was looking for. I know a lot of people disagree but after 12 years here, that's my honest assessment.
13 upvotes
Santiago Rodriguez
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 6 years ago from Boston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Sunset. It's challenging for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in hospitality. If you're in marketing you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like Thai.
Hope this helps!.
13 upvotes
Scott M.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value school system, you'll love it. The community vibe is genuinely improving and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. My neighborhood (Greenfield) is established and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Minneapolis, be prepared for the culture shock. walkability is completely different here. And Chain restaurants dominate.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
11 upvotes
Reagan Martinez
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a accountant who relocated here from Seattle about 6 years ago. The main reasons were weather and cost of living.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
Cons that are real:
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
- Limited shopping options
Financially, we've found it decent compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are developing, gas is tough.
Socially, it's improved dramatically in recent years. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
2 upvotes
desert_riley39
I'm a project manager and I've found I have mixed feelings honestly. The community is challenging and there's always something going on.
2 upvotes
Sebastian Cooper
yeah no that's not right
2 upvotes
Samuel
As someone who grew up here, I genuinely enjoy living here. A lot has changed in the past few years though. cost of living used to be much developing but now it's excellent.
All Countries
