The median household income is $25K, and 37% of residents live below the poverty line. Overall it grades C−, ranked 410th of 640 in Texas. It is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 82% of U.S. towns. Its weakest subject is health: residents are less healthy than 97% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates. 37% of residents live below the poverty line in Roma, where Texas’ towns sit at 12% and U.S. towns at 9.6%. Roma's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) trails 100% of U.S. towns. Roma has 2 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them Roma Historic District and Roma-San Pedro International Bridge.

StrongestA⁻WalkabilityWeakestD⁻Jobs & income D⁻Health

What makes Roma stand out

Where Roma beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.

WalkabilityA⁻

More walkable than 82% of U.S. towns

6.6% of workers walk, bike or ride transit

EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.

Roma Historic District

History

Established in 1821

2 places on the National Register

A history going back 205 years.

31 measures vs. Texas

3 better6 too close to call22 worse

Widest gap	Roma	TX
More uninsured adults	44.9%	19.1%

Worth knowing · HealthD⁻

Trails TX on 22 of 31 CDC measures, beats it on 3

Less healthyHealthier

CDC PLACES 2025 estimates.

A growing town

Roma has grown 19% since 2010

9,765 counted in 2010 and 11,561 in 2020; an estimated 11,543 in 2025.

Growth has leveled off: within 1% of 2020, after 18.4% in the decade before.

9,7652010

11,5612020

11,5432025 est.

U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025

How Roma grades

Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Texas), ordered by how far Roma is from typical.

How grading works

Jobs & incomeD⁻Open →HealthStarr County Memorial Hospital 9.1 miles awayD⁻Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7.7 of 20; 20.2% of households have no carA⁻Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 38% of U.S. communities; cold waves tops the listBOpen →Cost of livingTypical home $94K, 2.5 years of the Rio Grande City area’s $38K median household incomeC⁺Open →SchoolsBOpen →SafetyB⁻Open →

Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.

Outdoors6 miles of trails; 0% conserved landCOpen →HistoryEstablished 1821; 2 places on the National RegisterB⁻Open →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, 100° summer afternoons–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 28.0; 16% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Roma Historic District · National Register of Historic Places

Roma’s story

205 years in pictures

Roma Historic District is a National Historic Landmark, the National Register’s top tier. Its founding year, 1821, comes before those of 98% of the Texas towns we grade with a known year.

Census counts: 1,414 in 1940, 11,561 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2000 and 2 maps from 1956 on.

2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.

1821Roma is established

Explore the history →

Getting set up

Moving to Roma: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Roma, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →

PowerMagic Valley Electric Coop10.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA

WaterCity of Roma water system5 health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA

Internet6 providers97% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC

Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Roma’s trash rules yet

SchoolsRoma Independent School DistrictWhich school depends on your addressNCES

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.gov

Who runs elections hereStarr County Early Voting ClerkStarr County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, May 2022

ZIP code7858478584 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 Roma.

Roma has more 90° days than nearly all U.S. towns, is healthier than towns with similar incomes and has homes that are cheap against local pay.

OutdoorsC

Conserved land covers 0.5% of Roma

5.9 miles of trail in 3 parks and preserves. Roma’s trail density is 1.0 miles per square mile. The biggest park or preserve is Roma Municipal Park, at 21 acres.

#70for trails in TX

	Roma	Texas towns	U.S. towns
Miles of trail per square mile	1.0 miles per square mile	0.3	0.4
Conserved land	0.5%	1.9%	4.3%

0.5%

conserved · 21 of 3,830 acres

5.9 mi

of trails · 1 per sq mi

Biggest places to walk	Trails	Acres
1. Roma Municipal Park	0.3 mi	21
2. Roma Community Park	—	2
3. Bicentennial Plaza	—	1

Full pageRoma’s outdoors pageOpen the page

Trail map5.9 miles of trail, mapped Pick a walk0.3 miles of trail · Roma Municipal Park Conserved land0.5% conserved · 21 acres protected Questions“Where can I hike in Roma?”

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

SchoolsB

Roma’s schools rank ahead of 56% of Texas districts

Its public schools are run by Roma ISD. Two of its 3 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.

56%of TX districts it outscoresBSchool Grade

School	Level	Students	Letter
Roma MiddleLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8	Grades 6–8	776	D
Florence J Scott ElTop results in townGrades PK–5	Grades PK–5	550	A

Full pageRoma’s schools pageOpen the page

The districtsROMA ISD Vs. the neighborsBehind its graded neighbor Every school3 schools · Roma Middle Questions“Are Roma’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts · graded within TX on state tests and graduation

HealthD⁻

Roma stands out in Texas and nationally: a larger share of its adults say their health is fair or poor

Against the 202 U.S. towns with household incomes like Roma’s, it is healthier than 50%, so its D− isn’t only a matter of income.

45% of Roma adults say their health is fair or poor. Of the 641 Texas towns we compare, none has a higher share of adults who report frequent physical distress than Roma. 19% of Roma adults report frequent mental distress.

3%healthier than U.S. townsD⁻Health Grade

	Roma	Texas towns	U.S. towns
Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES)	45%	24%	19%
Diabetes (CDC PLACES)	25%	13%	12%
Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES)	23%	15%	14%
Get no exercise (CDC PLACES)	52%	30%	25%

31 measures vs. Texas

3 better6 too close to call22 worse

What stands out	Roma	TX
Fewer binge drinkers	12.4%	17%
Fewer adults who have had cancer	5.1%	6.1%
More uninsured adults	44.9%	19.1%

Starr County Memorial Hospital

9.1 mi away · emergency room

3 of 3

care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health

4th

percentile among TX towns

Full pageRoma’s health reportOpen the page

Everyday habitsMore adults who get no exercise Hospitals & doctors nearby9.1 miles to an ER · Starr County Memorial Hospital How adults are doingMore adults in fair or poor health Every CDC estimateBetter than TX on 3 of 31

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Work & commuteJobs & income grade D⁻

In Roma, the median household income runs lower than in the typical Texas or U.S. town

Among 642 Texas towns, just 3 have a lower median household income than Roma. 22% of working residents work locally in Roma. Since 2013, Roma has added 371 jobs, to 2,103 in 2023.

22%work in town

	Roma	Texas towns	U.S. towns
Median household income	$25,000	$69,000	$80,000
Working residents who work in town	22%	8.3%	8%
Average trip to work	26 minutes	25 minutes	25 minutes

Where working residents work

In Roma22%

Rio Grande City11%

McAllen8%

Edinburg5%

Laredo4%

49 mi

median commute distance

2,103

jobs based in Roma

A commuter town

jobs vs. working residents

A−

Walkability grade: more walkable than 82% of U.S. towns

Full pageRoma’s work & commute pageOpen the page

The jobs here2,103 jobs based here · A commuter town Where people work22% work in Roma Commute times26 minutes · The average commute How far they goHalf commute less than 49 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

Climate

In Roma, expect mild winters and hot summers

The Falcon Dam weather station, 13 miles away, records that about 195 days a year reach 90°, more than in 100% of U.S. towns. January nights average 47.9°, milder than in 98% of U.S. towns; July afternoons average 99.3°.

Roma has warm winters and hot summers, with very little rain. The July high in Roma is 99°F. Snow is almost unheard of.

100°summer high

	Roma	Texas towns	U.S. towns
July high	99°F	95°F	85°F
January low	48°F	37°F	22°F

Typical low → high °F

Winter50–73°

Spring65–89°

Summer76–99°

Fall65–87°

+1.4°

vs. the 20th-century average

100°

typical summer high

Full pageRoma’s climate pageOpen the page

A year of weatherJuly highs 99°, January lows 48°Rain & snow20″ of rain a year · Snow is almost unheard of Heating & coolingMostly a cooling bill Then and now+1.4° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B

Cold waves leads a low hazard risk in Roma

Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 62% of U.S. communities. Since 2007, 10 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Roma.

38risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

Cold wavesInland flooding

paid flood claims since 2007

federal disasters paid out here

Full pageRoma’s hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesLow risk Flood claims10 paid flood claims · Since 2007 Past disasters5 federal disasters · Paid out in Roma Get ready2.5 events a year, on average · Ready for cold waves

FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

SafetyB⁻

Roma is safer than 53% of U.S. towns, by crime per resident

At 17.3 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, it reports less crime than 65% of Texas’s graded towns.

53%of U.S. towns report more crimeB⁻Safety Grade

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Roma2

Texas3.5

U.S.3.3

Property crime per 1,000 residents

Roma8.9

Texas18.1

U.S.15.5

53rd

percentile among U.S. towns we grade

65th

percentile among TX towns

violent crimes reported in 2025

104

property crimes reported in 2025

Full pageRoma’s safety reportOpen the page

Violent crime by type2 violent crimes per 1,000 Crime over the yearsSteady since 2023 Vs. the neighbors5 bordering towns Questions“Is Roma, TX safe?”

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police

HousingCost of living grade C⁺

A home in Roma sells for about $121K at the median

At 2.5 years of the Rio Grande City area’s $38K median household income, the typical home costs less against local pay than in 83% of Texas towns; that ratio is one input to its C+ for cost of living. 75.6% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, against 51.7% across Texas.

$121Kmedian sale price

homes sold in May

Full pageRoma’s housing & cost-of-living pageOpen the page

Prices over the yearsPrices over the years Years of income to buyA typical home costs 4.9 years of income Rents$563 a month · Median rent Vs. the neighborsBehind its graded neighbor

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Roma

18pages on Roma

The big questions

SchoolsBBeat 56% of TX districts · 3 schools SafetyB⁻2 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthD⁻Better than TX on 3 of 31 CDC measures Cost of livingC⁺Work & commuteD⁻$25K median household income · 2,103 jobs here Natural hazardsBFEMA risk higher than 38% of U.S. communities · cold waves

Out and about

OutdoorsC6 mi of trails · 0% conserved land PlacesLibraryD⁻Rio Grande City Public Library Colleges

The story

HistoryB⁻Established 1821 · 2 on the National Register Town Hall & politicsOne full-time town employee per 113 residents Climate100° summer highs

Day to day

News2 recent stories about Roma WeatherHandbookZIP code 78584 Town SquareNeighbors

After high school

Colleges nearby

None within 15 miles of Roma; the nearest are

South Texas CollegeCommunity college · Public · McAllen48.2 mi$4,920 in-state tuition The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyUniversity or college · Public · Edinburg51.8 mi$9,987 in-state tuition Texas Southmost CollegeCommunity college · Public · Brownsville100.1 mi$3,148 in-state tuition

About 6 of every 100 Roma residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Texas.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

About Roma

City in Texas, United States

Official town website ↗

Roma is a city in Starr County, Texas, United States. Its population was 11,561 at the 2020 census. The city is located along the Rio Grande, across from Ciudad Miguel Alemán in Tamaulipas, Mexico. The city is also popularly known as Roma-Los Saenz, since the incorporated city also took the area known as Los Saenz. It serves as a port of entry from Mexico into the U.S. via the Roma–Ciudad Miguel Alemán International Bridge.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Established: 1936
Area: 4.2 sq mi
Elevation: 213 ft
ZIP code: 78584
Area code: 706

Roma’s neighbors

5 towns share a border with Roma.

Explore the map →

RamosMoraidaEscobaresPenaEvergreenRoma

Ramos

Moraida

Escobares

Pena

Evergreen

How the neighbors grade

Town	TX rank	Overall	Cost	Safety	Schools	Health
Roma	#410	C⁻	C⁺	B⁻	B	D⁻
Ramos	—	—	—	—	—	—
Moraida	—	—	—	—	—	—
Escobares	#584	D⁻	C⁺	—	B	D⁻
Pena	—	—	—	—	—	—
Evergreen	—	—	—	—	—	—

Escobares reports no FBI crime data of its own. Ramos, Moraida, Pena and Evergreen aren’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Roma with a neighbor →

Questions about Roma

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Roma, TX a good place to live?

Roma grades C− overall, better than 18% of U.S. towns and #410 of 640 in Texas. It grades D− for health, B− for safety and B for schools. Jobs & income is its weak spot, with a D−.

Is Roma, TX expensive?

The typical home is worth about $94,000, 68% below the Texas typical home. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C+.

Post to Roma

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RomaTX

What should you know before moving to Roma?

What makes Roma stand out

Roma has grown 19% since 2010

How Roma grades

205 years in pictures

Moving to Roma: who provides what

The data

Conserved land covers 0.5% of Roma

Roma’s schools rank ahead of 56% of Texas districts

Roma stands out in Texas and nationally: a larger share of its adults say their health is fair or poor

In Roma, the median household income runs lower than in the typical Texas or U.S. town

Where working residents work

In Roma, expect mild winters and hot summers

Typical low → high °F

Cold waves leads a low hazard risk in Roma

Roma is safer than 53% of U.S. towns, by crime per resident

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Property crime per 1,000 residents

A home in Roma sells for about $121K at the median

Everything we know about Roma

Colleges nearby

About Roma

Roma’s neighbors

Questions about Roma