Donna TX - Nov 15 1916, 1916
Donna’s story
118 years in pictures
Census counts: 1,579 in 1920, 16,797 in 2020. The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 1916 and 3 maps from 1914 on.
- 1908Donna is settled
Population
16,698
2025 Census estimate · −0.7% since 2020
Typical home
$148K
+2.9% in a year
Household income
$40K
median
Median age
28.2
years
Jobs based here
6,406
Balanced
TownGrade
D−
#628 of 640 in TX
Is Donna a good place to live?
Donna grades D− overall, 628th among Texas's 640 graded towns, mostly because of safety and health. Its police reported 321 violent crimes reported to the FBI in 2025, a higher rate per resident than 99% of U.S. towns. CDC estimates put its residents' health behind 97% of the country. One bright spot: a typical home costs about $148K, 2.7 years of the McAllen metro’s $54K median household income. 41% of residents live below the poverty line in Donna, where Texas’ towns sit at 12% and U.S. towns at 9.6%. Donna's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) trails 100% of U.S. towns. No town among the 488 in Texas we compare has a higher violent crime rate than Donna.
How Donna grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Texas), ordered by how far Donna is from typical.
SafetyMore crime per resident than almost any U.S. townD−Open →HealthKnapp Medical Center 3.5 miles awayD−Open →SchoolsC−Open →Jobs & income$40K median household incomeC−Open →Hazard riskcold waves tops the listCOpen →Cost of livingBOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7.6 of 20; 11.1% of households have no car; 0.9% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors3 miles of trails; 0% conserved landCOpen →History1 notable person born hereDOpen →Civic life0.4 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsD−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateMild winters, 98° summer afternoons–Open →Housing market$148K typical home, up 2.9% in a year–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 28.2; 14% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Donna: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Donna, and how to reach them.
PowerOncorEIAHIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of Donna water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet8 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpBy addressTown’s hauler · day by addressTown site
Register to voteIn personTexas has no online registration; you can register in person until 30 days before Election Day or by mail (postmarked 30 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereHidalgo County Early Voting ClerkHidalgo County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025
ZIP code7853778537 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Donna.
Donna has homes that are cheap against local pay and has milder winter nights than nearly all U.S. towns, but it reports violent crime at 5 times the Texas rate.
SafetyD−
Donna stands out in Texas and nationally, with property crime higher than most
Violent crime runs at 19 per 1,000 residents, 5 times the Texas rate; the Safety Grade counts each violent crime four times, so this weighs most on its D−. Reported crimes rose from 845 to 1,075 over the last three FBI years, a rise beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.
The property crime rate in Donna is 44.6 per 1,000 residents. Donna reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 99% report less.
1%of U.S. towns report more crimeD−Safety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Donna19
Texas3.5
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Donna44.6
Texas18.1
U.S.15.5
1st
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
1st
percentile among TX towns
321
violent crimes reported in 2025
754
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
SchoolsC−
On state tests, Donna’s schools trail 80% of Texas districts
Its public schools are run by Donna ISD. Two of its 15 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
20%of TX districts it outscoresC−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veterans MiddleLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 866 | D− |
| Donna H SLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 1,992 | D |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within TX on state tests and graduation
HealthD−
More of Donna’s adults say their health is fair or poor than in the typical Texas or U.S. town
43% of Donna adults say their health is fair or poor. Donna beats the Texas average on 3 of 31 CDC measures and trails it on 24. 21% of Donna adults report frequent physical distress.
3%healthier than U.S. townsD−Health Grade
| Donna | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 43% | 24% | 19% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 48% | 37% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 13% | 12% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 15% | 14% |
31 measures vs. Texas
3 better4 too close to call24 worse
| What stands out | Donna | TX |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 5.1% | 6.1% |
| Fewer binge drinkers | 14.5% | 17% |
| More uninsured adults | 43.8% | 19.1% |
Knapp Medical Center
3.5 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
4th
percentile among TX towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
HousingCost of living grade B
Donna’s grade for cost of living is a B
At 2.7 years of the McAllen metro’s $54K median household income, the typical home (about $148K) costs less against local pay than in 78% of Texas towns; that ratio is one input to its B for cost of living. Values rose 2.9% in the past year while the Texas typical home fell 1.5%.
Donna’s median rent is $806 a month. The typical Donna home is worth about $148,000, 50% below the Texas typical home. 58% of households own their home in Donna.
$148KZillow home value
| Donna | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 58% | 69% | 73% |
| Median rent | $806 a month | $1,208 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Donna$148K
Texas$296K
+2.9%
value change, 1 year
4
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
OutdoorsC
Donna has set aside 0.5% of its land for conservation
3.2 miles of trail in 5 parks and preserves.
#226for trails in TX
| Donna | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 0.5% | 1.9% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.4 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
0.5%
conserved · 27 of 5,297 acres
3.2 mi
of trails · 0.4 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Donna City Square Park | 0.4 mi | 3 |
| 2. Altas Palmas Park | 0.3 mi | 8 |
| 3. Boyce Memorial Park | — | 4 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Climate
Donna has mild winters and hot summers
January nights average 50.4°, milder than in 99% of U.S. towns; July afternoons average 96.9°.
Donna has warm winters and hot summers. Snow is almost unheard of.
98°summer high
| Donna | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| January low | 50°F | 37°F | 22°F |
| July high | 97°F | 95°F | 85°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter52–74°
Spring66–87°
Summer76–97°
Fall66–87°
+1.2°
vs. the 20th-century average
98°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C−
About one in seven working residents works right in Donna
Donna has about as many jobs (6,406) as working residents, but only 909 people both live and work here. Jobs based here grew from 4,757 in 2013 to 6,406.
Most working residents leave Donna for work: only 15% work in town. Since 2013, Donna has added 1,649 jobs, to 6,406 in 2023. The top destinations are McAllen (17%), Weslaco (9%) and Edinburg (8%).
15%work in town
| Donna | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $40,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
| Work from home | 4.6% | 9.7% | 11% |
| Working residents who work in town | 15% | 8.3% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Donna15%
McAllen17%
Weslaco9%
Edinburg8%
Pharr7%
11 mi
median commute distance
6,406
jobs based in Donna
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
C+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 43% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C
High risk in Donna, with cold waves at the top
54 flood insurance claims have been filed here, and 12 properties have flooded more than once.
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 60% of U.S. communities. Since 1985, 54 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Donna.
60risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Cold wavesHurricanesInland flooding
54
paid flood claims since 1985
10
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Nearby attractions
All 11 attractions →Robert and Janet Vackar Stadium and 8 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Donna. Close and well known come first.
10 mi Stadium & arenaRobert and Janet Vackar Stadium
10 mi Stadium & arenaBert Ogden Arena
14 mi Stadium & arenaPayne Arena
39 mi LandmarkFort Brown
38 mi Zoo & aquariumGladys Porter Zoo
35 mi National Historical ParkPalo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park169K visitors a year
10 mi Stadium & arenaBert Ogden Arena14 mi Stadium & arenaPayne Arena39 mi LandmarkFort Brown38 mi Zoo & aquariumGladys Porter Zoo35 mi National Historical ParkPalo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park169K visitors a yearSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Bert Ogden Arena: Wikidude10000, CC0 · Payne Arena: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0 · Fort Brown: Pi3.124, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Gladys Porter Zoo: Jc161991, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park: Schmorleitz, CC BY-SA 3.0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Donna
20pages on Donna
The big questions
SchoolsC−Behind 80% of TX districts · 15 schoolsSafetyD−19 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthD−Better than TX on 3 of 31 CDC measuresCost of livingB$148K typical home · up 2.9% in a yearWork & commuteC−$40K median household income · 6,406 jobs hereNatural hazardsCFEMA risk higher than 60% of U.S. communities · cold waves
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
2 within 15 miles of the center of Donna
The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyUniversity or college · Public · Edinburg13.2 mi$9,987 in-state tuitionSouth Texas CollegeCommunity college · Public · McAllen14.1 mi$4,920 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 Donna residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Texas.
About Donna
City in Texas, United States of America
Donna is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. Donna is part of the McAllen–Edinburg–Mission and Reynosa–McAllen metropolitan areas. The population was 16,797 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 8.3 sq mi
- Elevation
- 92 ft
- ZIP code
- 78537
- Area code
- 956
Donna’s neighbors
2 towns share a border with Donna.
ScissorsMidway SouthDonna
How the neighbors grade
| Town | TX rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donna | #628 | D− | B | D− | C− | D− |
| Scissors | #497 | D | A+ | — | C− | D− |
| Midway South | — | — | A− | — | C | D− |
Midway South has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Scissors and Midway South report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Donna with a neighbor →
Questions about Donna
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Donna, TX a good place to live?
Donna grades D− overall, better than 2% of U.S. towns and #628 of 640 in Texas. It grades D− for health, D− for safety and C− for schools. Safety is its weak spot, with a D−.
Is Donna, TX expensive?
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B.