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C

Is McAllen, Texas Safe?

Population 150,640 · Safer than 35% of US cities

Stable· 2023 FBI UCR data

McAllen, Texas sits below average for US cities. The C grade comes from a 213.7 crime rate per 1,000 and violent crime below the national average. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,416 per 100K.

McAllen Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricMcAllenTexas AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate265.8315.6363.8
Property Crime Rate1871.02077.31,832.3
Murder Rate5.0--5.7
Assault Rate157.0--268.2
Theft Rate1416.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate340.0--318.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report + Census Bureau population estimates.

Overall SafetyC

213.7 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC+

266/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC

1871/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for McAllen

Violent crime in McAllen is below the national average. The rate of 265.8 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1871.0 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,416 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

McAllen Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder5
088% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault157
059% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery41
065% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary216
080% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,416
01.0x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft340
01.1x national avgAvg: 318.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. Vertical marker = national average.

How McAllen Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

McAllen
265.8
State
315.6
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

McAllen
1871.0
State
2077.3
National
1832.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. National averages from 2023 FBI UCR data.

Frequently Asked Questions About McAllen Safety

Is McAllen safe?
Not especially. McAllen earns a C with a crime rate of 213.7 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in McAllen?
213.7 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 265.8 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1871.0 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is McAllen safe for tourists?
Stick to well-traveled areas and you'll be fine. McAllen has a C grade, so it's not the safest destination, but tourist areas generally see less violent crime than the citywide average suggests.
What are the safest neighborhoods in McAllen?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in McAllen generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the McAllen police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in McAllen?
Crime rates have held steady in McAllen, without significant movement in either direction. The city maintains its C grade.
How does McAllen compare to other cities in Texas?
Below average for the state. McAllen ranks behind about 67% of Texas cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.0x the national rate.
How safe is McAllen to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is below the national average, which is encouraging. Rates have been stable.
How bad is crime in McAllen?
Mixed. Violent crime is below the national average, and property crime is close to the national average. It's not great, but it's not the worst either, landing at the 35th percentile nationally.
What is the violent crime rate in McAllen?
265.8 per 100,000, which is 27% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (157), robbery (41), and murder (5.0) per 100,000.

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View all Texas city safety grades

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2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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