Mercedes Hotel, 1917
Mercedes’s story
120 years in pictures
Census counts: 1,209 in 1910, 16,258 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1900 and 4 maps from 1956 on.
- 1906Mercedes is settled
Photo: Akissforme · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
17,915
2025 Census estimate · +10.2% since 2020
Typical home
$137K
+0.1% in a year
Household income
$47K
median
Median age
33.2
years
Jobs based here
4,763
Balanced
TownGrade
D−
#626 of 640 in TX
Is Mercedes a good place to live?
Mercedes earns a D−, 626th among Texas's 640 graded towns, mostly because of health and safety. CDC estimates put its residents' health behind 89% of the country. It reports more crime per resident than 88% of U.S. towns, including 62 violent crimes reported to the FBI in 2025. 29% of residents live below the poverty line in Mercedes, above both the Texas town median (12%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). Mercedes's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) trails 99% of U.S. towns. Mercedes Sports Complex & Walking Trail, at 39 acres with 1.5 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve.
How Mercedes grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Texas), ordered by how far Mercedes is from typical.
HealthKnapp Medical Center 4.1 miles awayDOpen →SafetyDOpen →Jobs & income$47K median household income; 4,763 jobs based hereC−Open →Hazard riskhurricanes tops the listCOpen →SchoolsCOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.4 of 20; 9.8% of households have no car; 1.2% of workers walk, bike or ride transitCOpen →Cost of livingB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors3 miles of trails; 0% conserved landCOpen →History10 notable people born hereDOpen →Civic life1.2 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 market121 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 33.2; 16% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Mercedes: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Mercedes, and how to reach them.
PowerOncorEIAHIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of Mercedes water system1 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet7 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpFrom the town’s siteTrash and recycling rulesTown site
SchoolsMercedes Independent School DistrictWeslaco Independent School District2 districts serve Mercedes; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
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 code7857078570 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 Mercedes.
Mercedes is healthier than towns with similar incomes, has homes that are cheap against local pay and has milder winter nights than nearly all U.S. towns.
HousingCost of living grade B−
The typical home in Mercedes is valued at about $137K
At 2.5 years of the McAllen metro’s $54K median household income, the typical home (about $137K) costs less against local pay than in 83% of Texas towns; that ratio is one input to its B− for cost of living. Home values rose 36% in five years, to about $137K, against 10% across Texas.
The typical Mercedes home is worth about $137,000, about the same as a year ago, 54% below the Texas typical home. The median rent in Mercedes is $812 a month.
$137KZillow home value
| Mercedes | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $812 a month | $1,208 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 63% | 69% | 73% |
Typical home value
Mercedes$137K
Texas$296K
Market temperature
121
days on market
97.2%
sale-to-list price
+0.1%
value change, 1 year
7
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
SchoolsC
Public schools in Mercedes fall behind 72% of Texas districts
Its public schools are run by Mercedes ISD. Three of its 16 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
28%of TX districts it outscoresCSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travis ElLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 478 | D |
| Mercedes H SLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 903 | D− |
| South Texas Isd Science AcademyTop results in townGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 840 | A+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within TX on state tests and graduation
HealthD
Mercedes earns a D for health
Against the 4,629 U.S. towns with household incomes like Mercedes’s, it is less healthy than 65%, so its D isn’t only a matter of income.
36% of Mercedes adults say their health is fair or poor. Mercedes beats the Texas average on 2 of 31 CDC measures and trails it on 18. 20% of Mercedes adults have diabetes.
11%healthier than U.S. townsDHealth Grade
| Mercedes | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 36% | 24% | 19% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 13% | 12% |
| Food insecurity (CDC PLACES) | 34% | 20% | 14% |
| No health insurance, 18–64 (CDC PLACES) | 38% | 18% | 8.1% |
31 measures vs. Texas
2 better11 too close to call18 worse
| What stands out | Mercedes | TX |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 5.3% | 6.1% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 77% | 74.1% |
| More uninsured adults | 38.1% | 19.1% |
Knapp Medical Center
4.1 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
16th
percentile among TX towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
SafetyD
Mercedes earns a D for safety
Reported crimes fell from 667 to 386 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.
Mercedes’ property crime rate is 18.1 per 1,000 residents. Mercedes reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 88% report less. Mercedes’ violent crime rate is 3.5 per 1,000 residents.
12%of U.S. towns report more crimeDSafety Grade
| Mercedes | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 18.1 per 1,000 residents | 10.7 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 3.5 per 1,000 residents | 1.9 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Mercedes3.5
Texas3.5
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Mercedes18.1
Texas18.1
U.S.15.5
12th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
9th
percentile among TX towns
62
violent crimes reported in 2025
324
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
#294for trails in TX
| Mercedes | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 0.5% | 1.9% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.2 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
0.5%
conserved · 35 of 7,570 acres
2.8 mi
of trails · 0.2 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Mercedes Sports Complex & Walking Trail | 1.5 mi | 39 |
| 2. H.E.B. Park | 0.5 mi | 13 |
| 3. Kennedy Park | 0.3 mi | 19 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Climate
A typical January night in Mercedes is milder than in most of Texas or the rest of the country
January nights average 50.6°, milder than in 99% of U.S. towns; July afternoons average 96.5°.
Mercedes has warm winters and hot summers. Snow is almost unheard of.
98°summer high
| Mercedes | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| January low | 51°F | 37°F | 22°F |
| July high | 97°F | 95°F | 85°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter52–73°
Spring66–86°
Summer76–97°
Fall66–87°
+1.3°
vs. the 20th-century average
98°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C
Hurricanes leads a high hazard risk in Mercedes
241 flood insurance claims have been filed here, and 46 properties have flooded more than once.
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 65% of U.S. communities. Since 1978, 241 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Mercedes.
65risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
HurricanesCold wavesInland flooding
241
paid flood claims since 1978
10
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C−
Mercedes has 0.8 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out
The average commute for its 5,845 working residents takes 18.6 minutes, against 26.7 across Texas.
The top destinations are Weslaco (16%), McAllen (11%) and Harlingen (10%).
12%work in town
| Mercedes | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 19 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $47,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
| Work from home | 9.5% | 9.7% | 11% |
Where working residents work
In Mercedes12%
Weslaco16%
McAllen11%
Harlingen10%
Edinburg6%
16 mi
median commute distance
4,763
jobs based in Mercedes
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
C
Walkability grade: more walkable than 34% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
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 Mercedes. Close and well known come first.
16 mi Stadium & arenaRobert and Janet Vackar Stadium
17 mi Stadium & arenaBert Ogden Arena
32 mi LandmarkFort Brown
31 mi Zoo & aquariumGladys Porter Zoo
21 mi Stadium & arenaPayne Arena
28 mi National Historical ParkPalo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park169K visitors a year
17 mi Stadium & arenaBert Ogden Arena32 mi LandmarkFort Brown31 mi Zoo & aquariumGladys Porter Zoo21 mi Stadium & arenaPayne Arena28 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 · Fort Brown: Pi3.124, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Gladys Porter Zoo: Jc161991, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Payne Arena: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0 · Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park: Schmorleitz, CC BY-SA 3.0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Mercedes
20pages on Mercedes
The big questions
SchoolsCBehind 72% of TX districts · 16 schoolsSafetyD3.5 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthDBetter than TX on 2 of 31 CDC measuresCost of livingB−$137K typical home · up 0.1% in a yearWork & commuteC−$47K median household income · 4,763 jobs hereNatural hazardsCFEMA risk higher than 65% of U.S. communities · hurricanes
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Mercedes; the nearest are
The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyUniversity or college · Public · Edinburg19.3 mi$9,987 in-state tuitionTexas Southmost CollegeCommunity college · Public · Brownsville31.5 mi$3,148 in-state tuition
About 5 of every 100 Mercedes residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Texas.
Famous people from Mercedes
10 notable people were born in Mercedes.
J
Jeff WentworthAmerican politician in Texas · born 1940C
Charlie VaughanAmerican baseball player · born 1947K
Keith WrightAmerican football player · born 1956
About Mercedes
City in Texas, United States
Mercedes is a U.S. city in Hidalgo County, Texas. As of the 2020 census, Mercedes had a population of 16,258. It is part of the McAllen–Edinburg–Mission and Reynosa–McAllen metropolitan areas.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1907
- Area
- 12 sq mi
- Elevation
- 69 ft
- ZIP code
- 78570
- Area code
- 956
Mercedes’s neighbors
2 towns share a border with Mercedes.
HeidelbergWeslacoMercedes
How the neighbors grade
| Town | TX rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes | #626 | D− | B− | D | C | D |
| Heidelberg | — | — | A+ | — | D | D− |
| Weslaco | #608 | D− | C | D | C+ | C− |
Heidelberg has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Heidelberg reports no FBI crime data of its own. Compare Mercedes with a neighbor →
Questions about Mercedes
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Mercedes, TX a good place to live?
Mercedes grades D− overall, better than 2% of U.S. towns and #626 of 640 in Texas. It grades D for health, D for safety and C for schools. Health is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Mercedes, TX expensive?
That is 2.5 years of the area's median household income ($54,338 across the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B−.
What is Mercedes, TX known for?
10 notable people were born here, including Kika de la Garza and Rolando Hinojosa.