What are the schools like in Pharr, TX?

Pharr is served primarily by PHARR-SAN JUAN-ALAMO ISD. The district operates 27 elementary schools, 8 middle schools, and 7 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.3:1.

What is the median household income in Pharr?

The median household income in Pharr, TX is $45,016 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.1%.

What is the weather like in Pharr, TX?

Pharr has an average high temperature of 72.8°F in January and 98.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 22.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.1 inches.

Pharr, TX Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Pharr, TX affordable or expensive?

Pharr's cost of living index is 86, where 100 represents the national average. This means Pharr is 14% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $98,300 and the median rent is $926 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Pharr, TX?

Pharr has a violent crime rate of 222.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1136.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Pharr, TX a Good Place to Live?

Pharr is a mid-sized city of 79,434 in Texas, with a median household income of $45,016 and a 6.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is 14% below the national average.

Strengths: Pharr stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Pharr is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Pharr city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 85.6

Pharr's overall cost of living index is 85.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Pharr costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.

Metric	Pharr, TX	National Avg
Median Home Value	$98,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$926	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	58.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$45,016	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Pharr's violent crime rate is 222.1 per 100,000 residents — 42% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

222.1 /100k

Property Crime

1136.4 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Pharr is served primarily by PHARR-SAN JUAN-ALAMO ISD. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Pharr, TX	National Avg
School District	PHARR-SAN JUAN-ALAMO ISD	—
Elementary Schools	27	—
Middle Schools	8	—
High Schools	7	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	17.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	69.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Pharr sees average highs of 72.8°F in January and 98.5°F in July, with 22.2 inches of annual precipitation and 0.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Pharr, TX
Average High — January	72.8°F
Average High — July	98.5°F
Annual Precipitation	22.2"
Annual Snowfall	0.1"

Demographics

Metric	Pharr, TX	National Avg
Population	79,434	—
Median Age	29.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	21.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	57.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.5%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	41.7%	18.9%
Asian	0.1%	6.3%
Under 18	33.2%	22.2%
65 and over	10.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

San Juan, TX 3 mi Alamo, TX 5 mi North Alamo, TX 5 mi South Alamo, TX 5 mi McAllen, TX 5 mi

ZIP Codes in Pharr

Pharr, TX is covered by 1 ZIP code:

78577

Pharr vs Other Cities

Pharr, TX vs San Juan, TX Pharr, TX vs Alamo, TX Pharr, TX vs North Alamo, TX Pharr, TX vs South Alamo, TX Pharr, TX vs McAllen, TX

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pharr, TX affordable or expensive?

Pharr's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average. That makes Pharr roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $98,300 and median rent is $926/month.

What is the crime rate in Pharr, TX?

Pharr's violent crime rate is 222.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1136.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Pharr?

Public schools in Pharr are operated by PHARR-SAN JUAN-ALAMO ISD. The district has 27 elementary, 8 middle, and 7 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.3:1. 17.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Pharr, TX a good place to live?

Pharr, TX has a population of 79,434, a median household income of $45,016, and an unemployment rate of 6.1%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Pharr?

Pharr averages 72.8°F in January and 98.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 22.2 inches with about 0.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Pharr?

Pharr, TX is covered by 1 ZIP code: 78577.

What is the population of Pharr?

The population of Pharr, Texas is 79,434 with a median age of 29.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Pharr?

Key numbers for living in Pharr: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $98,300, median household income $45,016, crime index 57 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Pharr side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.