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Cost of living, pay and housing

26.31° N · 98.66° W · GEOID 4877336

West Alto Bonito

Starr County, Texas · part of the Rio Grande City, TX metro

Limited data population under 5,000, core figures borrowed from county or metro: median_gross_rent, median_home_value

TexasWest Alto Bonito, TXWest Alto BonitoWest Alto Bonito

The short answer

West Alto Bonito is home to 822 people. Median household income is $40,896 a year and median rent is $726 a month, 21.3% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). Rent pressure is lighter than in most places. The median home is valued at $95,100, about 2.3x annual median household income.

Median gross rent
$726
47% below the median place
Median household income
$40,896
49% below the median place
Median home value
$95,100
70% below the median place
Unemployment
10.4%
113% above the median place

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

What stands out about West Alto Bonito

  • 60% of residents were born outside the US, more than in 99% of the 1,842 places under 10,000 people we track. It is the highest of 389 Texas places.
  • Only 0% of workers mostly work from home, fewer than in 99% of places its size. It is the lowest of 351 Texas places.
  • 44.9% of residents live below the poverty line, more than in 99% of places its size. It is the 2nd-highest of 373 Texas places.
  • Household income has grown -2.5% a year across the last five survey releases, slower than in 98% of places its size.
  • Households average 3.43 people, larger than in 96% of places its size.
01

Moving to West Alto Bonito

Starr County loses about 5.0 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in1,278
Moved out1,559
Net−281

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Within Texas, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within TexasOther states

Income per tax return

Arrivals$37K
Leavers$40K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of Starr County; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
0.0% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 0.0% from another state.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into Starr County report $36,700 a year in income on average; those leaving, $39,700, so leavers earn more than newcomers.
Income you would need
$29,000 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $726 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $1,473 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $95,100.
Getting to work
23 minutes each way on average; 0.0% work from home.
If it is close but not quite
Waynesboro, GA matches it on character. Compare the two
Moved here in the past year1
0.0%
below the median place (median 5.7%)
Moved from another state1
0.0%
below the median place (median 2.0%)
Income of households moving in5
$36,746
48% below the median place
All 5 moving measures
MeasureWest Alto BonitoAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year10.0%below (median 5.7%)
Moved from another state10.0%below (median 2.0%)
Net movers per 1,000 people5County figure-5.0below (median -0.6)
Income of households moving in5County figure$36,74648% below
Income of households moving out5County figure$39,74743% below
02

What it costs to live here

Vacant homes is 0.0%, below the median place (median 7.1%).

West Alto Bonito21.3%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$29,040
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
21.3%
4% above the median place
Home price to income
2.3x
39% below the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
21%
comfortably under the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$32,300
a year, prices not adjusted
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in West Alto Bonito, $726 a month. It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in West Alto Bonito.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to West Alto Bonito? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Vacant homes1
0.0%
below the median place (median 7.1%)
Property tax paid (median)1
$554
83% below the median place
Property tax rate1
0.6%
36% below the median place
All 14 cost and housing measures
MeasureWest Alto BonitoAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1County figure$72647% below
Rent to income121.3%4% above
Property tax rate10.6%36% below
Home price to income12.3x39% below
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms2County figure$1,01437% below
Property tax paid (median)1$55483% below
Median home value1County figure$95,10070% below
Home prices, 1-year change3County figure21.3%above (median 3.2%)
Home prices, 5-year change3County figure71.1%38% above
Homeownership174.2%12% above
Renters paying 30%+1County figure55.8%10% above
Owner costs with a mortgage1County figure$1,47321% below
Vacant homes10.0%below (median 7.1%)
Median year built119941% above
03

Work and pay

Works from home is 0.0%, below the median place (median 12.4%).

Works from home1
0.0%
below the median place (median 12.4%)
Commutes by transit1
0.0%
below the median place (median 0.8%)
Poverty rate1
44.9%
317% above the median place
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasureWest Alto BonitoAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$40,89649% below
Income per person1$14,64563% below
Unemployment1County figure10.4%113% above
Average annual pay4County figure$41,87737% below
Pay growth, 1 year4County figure5.3%43% above
Jobs4County figure15,05290% below
Poverty rate144.9%317% above
Mean commute1County figure23 min9% below
Works from home10.0%below (median 12.4%)
Commutes by transit10.0%below (median 0.8%)
04

Who lives here

Born abroad is 60.1%, above the median place (median 8.8%).

Born abroad1
60.1%
above the median place (median 8.8%)
High school or higher1
52.1%
44% below the median place
Household size1
3.4
37% above the median place
All 8 people measures
MeasureWest Alto BonitoAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population18226646th largest
Median age129.923% below
Bachelor's or higher1County figure13.6%58% below
High school or higher152.1%44% below
Household size13.437% above
Born abroad160.1%above (median 8.8%)
No health insurance1County figure28.9%352% above
Homes with broadband190.4%2% below
05

Life in West Alto Bonito

9 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places, one of them a National Historic Landmark.

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars8.9 −57%
Shops19.5 −36%
Arts, recreation and fitness1.2 −71%
Doctors' offices and clinics10.7 −47%
Child care centers1.8 −22%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Restaurants and bars per 10k6
8.9
57% below the median place
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k6
1.2
71% below the median place
Shops per 10k6
19.5
36% below the median place
All 9 schools and local life measures
MeasureWest Alto BonitoAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools8County figure29222% above
Public school students8County figure16,900245% above
Students per teacher8County figure13.810% below
Restaurants and bars per 10k6County figure8.957% below
Shops per 10k6County figure19.536% below
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k6County figure1.271% below
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k6County figure10.747% below
Child care centers per 10k6County figure1.822% below
National Register listings7County figure931% below
06

Safety, weather and risk

Average temperature is 75°F, 36% above the median place.

No crime figure yet. Either the city police department did not report to the FBI for the latest year, or our monthly fetch has not reached West Alto Bonito. Larger places are fetched first.

Average temperature9
75°F
36% above the median place
July average high9
98°F
13% above the median place
January average low9
48°F
91% above the median place
All 9 weather and risk measures
MeasureWest Alto BonitoAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high9County figure98°F13% above
January average low9County figure48°F91% above
Average temperature9County figure75°F36% above
Annual precipitation9County figure21.8 in50% below
Natural hazard risk10County figure84.88% below
Hurricane risk10County figure78.811% above
Tornado risk10County figure38.253% below
Wildfire risk10County figure84.939% above
Heat wave risk10County figure81.510% below
08

West Alto Bonito in 2030: where the trends point

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median household income$40,896 (2024)$49,500$42,000 to $59,000+3.3%
Median home value$82,300 (2024)$117,000$85,000 to $161,000+6.1%

The median home would be worth 2.4 years of the median income in 2030, against 2.0 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like West Alto Bonito

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
Waynesboro, GA$746$41,620Compare
Donna, TX$806$40,438Compare
Rio Grande City, TX$767$44,577Compare
Canutillo, TX$838$40,682Compare
Canutillo, TXRio Grande City, TXDonna, TXWaynesboro, GAWest Alto Bonito, TXWest Alto BonitoWaynesboroDonnaRio Grande CityCanutilloWest Alto BonitoWaynesboroDonnaRio Grande CityCanutillo

Common questions

Is West Alto Bonito a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. 60% of residents were born outside the US, more than in 99% of the 1,842 places under 10,000 people we track. It is the highest of 389 Texas places. Only 0% of workers mostly work from home, fewer than in 99% of places its size. It is the lowest of 351 Texas places. On cost, space and class size it scores 72 out of 100 for families. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is West Alto Bonito expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 21.3% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a heavier load here than usual. The median home is valued at $95,100.

What salary do you need to live in West Alto Bonito?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $29,040 a year. Work it out from your current city.

What places are similar to West Alto Bonito?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are Waynesboro, GA, Donna, TX, Rio Grande City, TX and Canutillo, TX.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  3. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  4. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  5. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  6. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  7. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  8. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  9. 1991-2020 climate normals · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Series updated 2026-11-05Averages for 1991 to 2020 computed from NOAA's county climate series (nClimDiv).nClimDiv county series
  10. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); property tax rate (B25103, B25077); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares West Alto Bonito with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for West Alto Bonito itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/west-alto-bonito-texas

Citytistics. “West Alto Bonito, Texas.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/west-alto-bonito-texas/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.