If you are thinking about visiting McAllen and have some qualms about the safety of the city, we got you covered.
We are going to deep dive into crime rates, crime statistics, crime maps, crime graphs and talk to the residents of the city to give you a better understanding of how safe McAllen really is.
What is McAllen, TX crime rate?
In 2020, McAllen had a crime rate of 86.49 per 100,000 people, which is 78% less than the national average. It’s property crime rate of 1,962.59 per 100,000 people is on par with the national average.
McAllen’s crime rate breakdown
Violent Crime Rate
In 2020, McAllen reported 123 violent crimes: 3 homicides, 43 rapes, 23 robberies and 54 aggravated assaults.
Year over year violent crime has decreased by 12.1%.
You have a 1 in 1,156 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime in McAllen.
Here’s a graph showing you how violent crime has trended over the last 11 years in McAllen:
Violent crime in McAllen has been steadily declining over the last 11 years.
*Violent crimes includes; homicides, rape, robbery and aggravated assaults and the violent crime rate is calculated by dividing the number of reported crimes by the total population; the result is multiplied by 100,000.
Murder Rate
In 2020, McAllen reported 3 murders and had a murder rate of 2.11 per 100,000 people.
Year over year murders has decreased by 24%
McAllen’s murder rate is 57% less than the national average and 54% less than the state average.
McAllen murder rate is similar to San Diego, El Paso and Austin.
Here’s a graph showing you how homicides has trended over the last 11 years in McAllen:
Property Crime Rate
In 2020 McAllen reported 2,791 property crimes and had a property crime rate of 1,497.43 per 100,000 people.
In 2020 McAllen reported 139 burglaries, 2,603 larcenies and 49 motor vehicle thefts.
Year over year property crime in McAllen has decreased by 22.4%.
You have a 1 in 51 chance of becoming a victim of property crime in McAllen.
Here’s a graph showing you how violent crime has trended over the last 11 years in McAllen:
Property crime in McAllen has been steadily declining over the last 11 years.
*Property crimes include; burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson and property crime rate is calculated by dividing the number of reported crimes by the total population; the result is multiplied by 100,000.
How are McAllen’s crime rates calculated?
Crime rate is calculated by dividing the number of reported crimes by the total population; the result is multiplied by 100,000.
For example, in 2020 there were 3 murders in McAllen and the population was 142,210. This equals a murder rate of 2.11 per 100,000 residents.
McAllen’s crime rate vs other cities in Texas
Here’e how McAllen’s crime rate compared to other cities in Texas. McAllen has one of the lowest crime rates in all of Texas.
McAllen, TX vs The Most Dangerous Cities in the United States
Here’s a list of the top 19 most dangerous cities in the United States ranked by violent crime rates. McAllen’s violent crime rate is 28 times less than Memphis, the most dangerous city on the list.
McAllen, TX Crime Stats (2020)
Here’s a breakdown of all the crimes in the city for 2020 compared to 2020:
In 2020, McAllen reported 2914 total crimes, which is a 22% decrease over 2019.
In 2020, McAllen reported 123 violent crimes, which is a 12.1% decrease over 2019.
In 2020, McAllen reported 3 murders, which is a 200% increase over 2019.
In 2020, McAllen reported 2,791 property crimes, which is a 22.4% decrease over 2019.
Is Downtown McAllen safe?
Downtown McAllen is generally a safe area to visit day and night. The downtown area is very walkable and there are plenty of good options for restaurants, bars and shopping.
Is the public transportation in McAllen safe?
The public transportation system in McAllen is handled by the McAllen Metro and it offers many routes that interweave throughout the entire city. The Metro is generally a safe method of transportation to get around the city during commuting hours (7am -7pm)
Is McAllen safe at night?
McAllen is generally a very safe area to visit at night. We recommend that you take some precautions at night in regards to staying in well populated places, not straying off the beaten path and not walking by yourself at night.
What do residents of McAllen say about it’s safety?
"McAllen is a pretty safe place. Probably the biggest worry is petty theft. Most of the violence occurs because people that put themselves in dumb situations. For example, dealing in drugs and cheating on spouses."
"Mcallen is very safe. The south side used to be the ‘rough’ area, but not anymore."
"Sometimes downtown gets a little rowdy, but overall crime rate here is very low."
"I lived in McAllen most of my life. It’s a beautiful small city that is growing rapidly. With that being said, I have never felt unsafe while living here and I hope it stays that way."
"The biggest danger in McAllen will be your waistline from all the awesome Mexican food that is available here."
"McAllen is a wonderful. It is nice and clean and very safe. I wish it would always be kept this way."
Tips to stay safe while visiting McAllen, TX
Always be aware of your surroundings. When walking around time, don’t listen to music and don’t bury yourself in your headphones.
Don’t leave valuables in your car or in plain sight in your car.
Avoid walking through desolate and unlit areas at night. Stay in well populated places.
Don’t give out detailed information about where you are staying to strangers.
Is McAllen, TX safe?
Many people think that McAllen is dangerous because of the proximity to Mexico, however that couldn’t be further from the truth. Looking at the crime rates and crime statistics you can see that McAllen is a very safe city. It is one of the safest cities in the Texas and it’s crime rate is one of the lowest in the nation for a city of its size.
Here’s a scale to give you some perspective on McAllen’s crime rate:
Facts about McAllen, TX
The population of McAllen in 2020 was 142,210.
The city covers a land area of 62.31 square miles.
The median age in the city is 32.2 years old.
76.4% of residents 25 and older is a high school graduate. 30.3% of residents 25 and older has a bachelors degree or higher.
The median income for a household in the city was $46,804. The per capita income for the city was $23,246.
23% of the population live below the poverty line.
The median home value in McAllen is $240,000 in 2022.
In 2022, the average rent for a McAllen 2-bedroom apartment is $975.
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