Mercedes, Texas Demographics & Population 2026

Name: Mercedes, Texas Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

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High PovertyPoverty rate of 28.6% is well above the state average

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Very AffordableHome value to income ratio of 2.4x is exceptionally low

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Mercedes, Texas had a total population of 16,733, the 191st largest city in Texas, with a median household income of $46,904, which is 40% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 28.6%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Key Takeaways

Household income is 40% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (28.6%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x.

Mercedes Quick Facts

Population 16,733

Median Household Income $46,904

Median Home Value $111,800

Poverty Rate 28.6%

Unemployment Rate 6.8%

Median Age 33.2 years

Homeownership Rate 62.8%

Affordability Ratio 2.4x

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 15.4%

High School Graduation Rate 72.4%

Diversity Index 15/100

Population 16,733 191st of 1,795

Median Income $46,904 bottom 20%

Poverty Rate 28.6% 130% higher than national

Median Home Value $111,800 bottom 30%

How Mercedes Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	16,449	16,733	+1.7%
Median household income	$41,753	$46,904	+12.3%
Median home value	$107,700	$111,800	+3.8%

How Mercedes Compares

Median Household Income

Mercedes

$46,904

$78,476

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Mercedes

$111,800

$283,800

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 27.8%

$25K-$50K 24.5%

$50K-$100K 25.5%

$100K+ 22.2%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

8.9%

$10K-$15K

10.8%

$15K-$20K

5.0%

$20K-$25K

3.1%

$25K-$30K

7.3%

$30K-$35K

5.9%

$35K-$40K

5.1%

$40K-$45K

3.0%

$45K-$50K

3.3%

$50K-$60K

5.5%

$60K-$75K

9.1%

$75K-$100K

10.9%

$100K-$125K

7.9%

$125K-$150K

6.9%

$150K-$200K

5.8%

$200K+

1.6%

Employment

6.8% Unemployment Rate State: 5.3%|National: 5.2%

56.6% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 62.8%

Renter 37.2%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.4x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $812/mo 20.8% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

31.5%

18-34

20.3%

35-54

25.6%

55-74

14.7%

75+

7.9%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 67 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Mercedes Rankings in Texas

#191 Population of 1,795

#1270 Median Income of 1,546

#996 Education of 1,795

#1117 Home Value of 1,542

Explore Texas Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Other Cities in Hidalgo County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
McAllen	145,385	$61,579	20.0%	$190,400
Edinburg	104,550	$59,466	26.0%	$189,600
Mission	87,038	$60,767	19.4%	$175,700
Pharr	80,333	$52,814	27.6%	$121,900
Weslaco	42,229	$59,551	23.2%	$140,000
San Juan	36,149	$56,562	22.4%	$126,700
Alamo	20,255	$57,096	25.3%	$145,100
Alton	20,214	$52,715	27.5%	$156,300
Donna	16,833	$40,438	40.7%	$86,100
Palmview	15,921	$43,963	30.8%	$113,600

Cities Similar to Mercedes

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
Aldine	17,167	$44,455	$103,200	5.9%	30.3%
Mount Pleasant	16,136	$50,515	$170,700	12.5%	18.3%
Alice	17,707	$48,676	$131,100	14.1%	31.4%
Donna	16,833	$40,438	$86,100	13.7%	40.7%
Palmview	15,921	$43,963	$113,600	13.0%	30.8%

Population Overview

Mercedes is a small city located in Texas, within Hidalgo County. The total population is 16,733. It ranks as the 191st most populous out of 1,795 Census-designated places in Texas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Mercedes is 33.2 years. This is 7% lower than the state median of 35.6 years. With 31.5% of the population under 18, Mercedes has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Mercedes is $46,904. This is 40% lower than the state median of $78,476. It is also 42% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 28.6%. This is 108% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 6.8%. This is 28% higher than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $111,800. Housing costs are 61% lower than the state median of $283,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Mercedes is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 62.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

Mercedes has a predominantly Hispanic or Latino population, comprising 92.1% of all residents. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 7.1%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (7.1%) is well below the state average of 39.1%. The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 11.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (92.1% vs 39.7%). The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 5.5%.

Education

15.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 54% lower than the state rate of 33.8%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 72.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Mercedes, Texas is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Texas state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,795 Census-designated places in Texas. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Mercedes, Texas?

Mercedes, Texas has a population of 16,733 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Mercedes, TX?

The median household income in Mercedes is $46,904, which is 42% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Mercedes, TX?

The poverty rate in Mercedes is 28.6%. This means approximately 4,791 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Mercedes, Texas?

Mercedes's population is 7.1% White, 0.4% Black, 92.1% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.1% Asian.

What is the median home value in Mercedes, TX?

The median home value in Mercedes is $111,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.4x.

How educated is Mercedes, Texas?

15.4% of adults (25+) in Mercedes hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 4.6% hold a graduate or professional degree.