From crossroads to produce, everything to know about this border boomtown

There’s a city in deep South Texas that sits along the border that serves as a bridge between two cultures — both literally and figuratively. 

Though Pharr may be only the fifth-largest city in the Rio Grande Valley, it plays an outsized role in the Texas economy thanks to the billions of dollars in binational trade that cross the United States–Mexico border and pass through its city limits every year. Founded in 1909 by Lousiana sugarcane grower, Henry N. Pharr, the city has often served as the backdrop for national politics, and as the home of quirky, family-friendly community celebrations. If you’ve never visited, then here’s everything you need to know about Pharr.

Pharr is perhaps best known for its two biggest pieces of public infrastructure: the Pharr Interchange, where Interstate 69-C and Interstate 2 meet; and the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge. As many as 250,000 vehicles travel along I2 and I69-C, according to Texas Contractor, a traffic and highway trade publication. And about two-thirds of the nation’s fresh produce enters the country through the Pharr international bridge. In all, the border crossing generates more than $36 billion in binational trade revenue each year, Pharr officials previously told MySA.

But Pharr is known for more than just traffic and trade. The city also hosts signature community events every year, like the Pharr Avocado Festival and a New Year’s Eve ball drop similar to the one that occurs at Times Square in New York City.

With a population of about 81,142 people, according to 2024 estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, Pharr is the fifth-largest city in the Valley. That figure represents a modest 1.8% increase since the 2020 Census.

Census data show the median household income is about $54,000, which is about 34% lower than the national average. Further, 27%, or about one-in-four, Pharr residents live at the poverty line — a rate that is double the state average.

As of December 2025, the median value of a home in Pharr was about $161,323, which is a 2.6% decrease compared to the previous year, according to Zillow’s Home Values Index. While home values in other Valley cities have remained relatively stable over the last few years, Pharr valuations have been on a steady rise. Zillow’s data show that have gone up about 92% since 2017, when the average home value was about $87,000.

Still, buying a home in Pharr is a bargain compared not only to the rest of Texas, but the country as a whole. Zillow data show that at $294,444,Texas’ median home values are 55% more expensive than Pharr. And Pharr home values clock in at 45% compared to the national average of $375,275.

According to Zillow’s Rental Manager tool, the average cost of rent in Pharr is $1,195 per month. That’s 40% lower than the national average of $1,995 per month. A studio apartment averages $795 per month in Pharr, while a slightly more spacious one-bedroom averages $875. Meanwhile, families looking to rent three- or four-bedroom apartments can expect to pay between $1,300 to $1,853 per month, on average, while rental houses can go for as much as $3,000 per month.

Niche.com, a website that ranks the quality of life metrics of hundreds of cities across the country, gives Pharr’s schools an overall rating of B-minus “based on ethnic and economic diversity.”

The largest public school system is the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District (PSJA), which serves three Valley cities. PSJA serves more than 29,000 students from pre-K through 12th grade across 44 campuses. Other school systems include the South Texas Independent School District, a regional magnet school district; and charters like IDEA Public Schools and Vanguard Academy.

• Mayor Ambrosio “Amos” Hernandez
• Commissioner Place 1 Michael Pacheco
• Commissioner Place 2 Roberto “Bobby” Carrillo
• Commissioner Place 3 Ramiro Caballero
• Commissioner Place 4 Daniel Chavez
• Commissioner Place 5 Ricardo Medina
• Commissioner Place 6 Itza Flores

According to PowerOutage.com, the average cost of electricity in Pharr is about 12.14 cents per kilowatt hour. That’s one-third cheaper than the national average of 16.58 cents per kWh. A household that uses about 1,213 kWh of electricity per month can expect to pay about $150 per month.
Pharr provides water and sewer service on a tiered fee schedule that takes into account the size of connection, type of customer (residential or commercial), and usage. A household that consumes an average of 5,000 gallons of water and wastewater service can expect their monthly bills to be about $56 per month, based on a fee schedule on the city’s website. Pharr also offers discounted rates for its oldest residents. Discounted senior rates mean that same usage will result in a bill of about $30 per month.

The city of Pharr touts a number of locally owned and chain eateries that visitors should try and even highlights them in a YouTube series called “Se Antoja Pharr,” or “Pharr is Tempting.” Among them are local longtime favorites like Junction Cafe, which has been open on the city’s main drag, Cage Boulevard, since 1939. Others include Mexican restaurant, Las Margaritas; Lupita’s Tamales; El Itacate, which serves Mexican and Salvadoran cuisine; and Big Daddy’s Burgers. Pharr is also home to one of the last 38 Luby’s cafeterias still in existence.