Up-and-Coming Neighborhoods in Harlingen, TX
25 neighborhoods with growth potential — still affordable, increasingly walkable, and showing improving conditions. Ranked by affordability, walkability, employment, safety, and air quality.
Up-and-Coming Neighborhoods in Harlingen, TX — Key Takeaways
Harlingen has 25 neighborhoods showing growth potential. The most affordable up-and-coming area is Rancho Alegre CDP with a median home value of $28,700. The strongest job market is in Indian Springs CDP with an unemployment rate of 0.3%.
Harlingen has a population of 71,497, a median household income of $50,367, an unemployment rate of 4.8%, and a poverty rate of 26.0%. The median home value citywide is $111,600, which is 60% below the national average of $281,900.
Data sourced from the US Census Bureau, FBI Crime Data Explorer, EPA AirNow, Walk Score, and FEMA. Last updated: March 2026.
Top 3 Up-and-Coming Neighborhoods
| # | Neighborhood | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz CDP | 94 | ||
| Rancho Alegre CDP | 85 | ||
| South La Paloma CDP | 82 | ||
4 | Santa Maria CDP | 82 | |
5 | Placedo CDP | 78 | |
6 | Indian Springs CDP | 61 | |
7 | Perezville CDP | 57 | |
8 | Muniz CDP | 56 | |
9 | Las Quintas Fronterizas CDP | 53 | |
10 | Deerwood CDP | 52 | |
11 | Ricardo CDP | 50 | |
12 | Porter Heights CDP | 50 | |
13 | East Alto Bonito CDP | 50 | |
14 | Port O'Connor CDP | 50 | |
15 | Wildwood CDP | 50 | |
16 | Ben Wheeler CDP | 50 | |
17 | Hamshire CDP | 49 | |
18 | Fannett CDP | 49 | |
19 | Pinewood Estates CDP | 47 | |
20 | Cross Mountain CDP | 46 | |
21 | Inez CDP | 46 | |
22 | Bushland CDP | 46 | |
23 | Dennis CDP | 44 | |
24 | Bear Creek Ranch CDP | 42 | |
25 | Doolittle CDP | 33 |
Rankings by Category
Top 5 up-and-coming neighborhoods in Harlingen for each growth-potential metric.
Lowest median home value
- $28,700
- $34,800
- $36,300
- $44,100
- $80,200
Lowest unemployment rate
- 0.3%
- 0.4%
- 0.7%
- 0.7%
- 1.6%
Lowest violent crime rate
- 1.5 per 1K
- 1.5 per 1K
- 1.5 per 1K
- 1.5 per 1K
- 1.5 per 1K
Lowest median rent
- $624
- $675
- $721
- $907
Highest median household income
- $214,900
- $164,679
- $135,144
- $133,272
- $118,412
Lowest poverty rate
- 0.3%
- 0.7%
- 1.2%
- 1.7%
- 2.5%
Up-and-coming neighborhoods are identified using a Growth Potential Score that evaluates five weighted categories. These areas are still affordable relative to the city average but show strong fundamentals that suggest improving conditions and future appreciation.
- Affordability vs City Average
- 30% weight
- Walkability & Transit
- 25% weight
- Job Market (Unemployment)
- 20% weight
- Safety
- 15% weight
- Environment (Air Quality)
- 10% weight
Neighborhoods that are priced below the city median home value score higher on affordability. Walkability reflects the Walk Score, indicating access to amenities on foot. A low unemployment rate signals a strong local economy. Safety is measured by violent crime rates per 1,000 residents. Air quality uses the EPA Air Quality Index (AQI), where lower values indicate cleaner air.
Data Sources: US Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR), EPA AirNow, Walk Score, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer. All data is updated on a rolling basis as new government releases become available.