The typical owner-occupied home in Harlingen is worth about $140,600, 50% below the Texas median of $283,800 and 58% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $2,059 a year in property taxes, about 1.46% of their home's value, close to the Texas rate of 1.49%. The median household earns $53,645 a year, so the median home costs 2.6 times the median income (3.6 times for Texas). 56% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 42% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Harlingen at a glance
| Harlingen | Texas | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $140,600 | $283,800 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $2,059 | $4,232 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 1.46% | 1.49% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $53,645 | $78,476 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 56% | 63% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 42% | 56% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,378 | $2,106 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 19.4% | 21.7% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $928 | $1,403 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 28.7% | 30.9% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1988 | 1992 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 12.1% | 9.4% | 10.1% |
| Population | 72,087 | 30,188,424 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Harlingen
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Harlingen home of $140,600 with 20% down costs about $986 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,221, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $42,270 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 22% of the median Harlingen household income of $53,645; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $178,000.
The median rent here is $928 a month, so owning the median home costs about $58 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $28,120 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $112,480 |
| Principal and interest | $757 |
| Property taxes (1.46% a year) | $171 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $59 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $986 |
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| Down payment | $4,921 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $138,053 |
| Principal and interest | $929 |
| Property taxes (1.46% a year) | $171 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $59 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $62 |
| Total per month | $1,221 |
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Questions about home buying in Harlingen
What is the median home value in Harlingen?
About $140,600 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Harlingen?
Homeowners pay a median $2,059 a year, which is about 1.46% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Harlingen?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $986 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $42,270 a year.
More about Harlingen
- Mortgage Refinance in Harlingen
- Debt Relief in Harlingen
- Home Equity Loans in Harlingen
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data