Located in the Texas Rio Grande Valley, 70 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, McAllen is one of the most populous cities in Texas, with over 140,000 residents.
But in winter, the population grows exponentially as thousands of visitors are drawn to McAllen’s subtropical climate and exceptionally mild winters.
Over 18 million people visit McAllen each year. Many of these visitors are eco-tourists, birders and nature photographers. In fact, people from all over the world visit the “City of Palms” for the opportunity to spot over 540 bird species and over 330 butterfly species.
McAllen is rated as one of the best cities in America to buy a house, one of the cities with the lowest cost of living in the country and one of the safest cities. The affordability plus the nearly year-round great weather have made McAllen one of the most desirable locations in South Texas to live and grow — especially for retirees. Since 1990, the city of McAllen has grown at an average rate of 22% each year.
McAllen is only eight miles from the U.S.-Mexico border, resulting in a vibrant multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and multi-national community. Residents and visitors alike enjoy a wealth of festivals, live music venues, shows, art galleries, museums, parks, historic areas, restaurants and shopping.