Visalia vs McAllen: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of Visalia, CA and McAllen, TX, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricVisalia, CAMcAllen, TX
Population141,466142,722
Median household income$75,658$56,326
Median home value$316,600$158,700
Median rent (/mo)$1,289$955

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.

Comparing Visalia, CA and McAllen, TX comes down to what you value most. McAllen has the lower median home value, and McAllen has the lower median rent.

Visalia has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to live in Visalia or McAllen?
By median home value, McAllen is the cheaper of the two ($158,700 vs $316,600). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Visalia or McAllen?
Median household income is $75,658 in Visalia versus $56,326 in McAllen, per the US Census Bureau.

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