Edinburg Ranked #14 Among U.S. Cities With Highest Property‑Tax Burden, New Study Finds
Arnoldo Mata
Edinburg, TX – Edinburg homeowners face one of the highest property tax burdens in the country, according to a new study from financial website SmartAsset released this week. The 2025 analysis ranked Edinburg No. 14 nationwide among 343 U.S. cities, based on the percentage of homeowner income spent on annual property taxes. This also makes Edinburg the Texas city with the highest property tax burden.
The report found that Edinburg residents pay a median of $4,366 annually in property taxes, which amounts to 5.32 percent of the median homeowner income of $82,044. That tax-to-income ratio places Edinburg well above many other Texas cities and among the top 15 in the nation for property tax burden.
Where the Tax Dollars Go
Like most Texas homeowners, Edinburg residents pay property taxes to multiple local taxing entities. These typically include:
- Hidalgo County – Provides law enforcement, health services, courts, and other county-level functions.
- Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District (ECISD) – The largest portion of property tax bills goes to public schools.
- City of Edinburg – Funds city services such as police, fire, sanitation, parks, libraries, and road maintenance.
- South Texas Independent School District – Funds the regional magnet schools.
- South Texas College District – Supports the operations of the regional community college.
- Hidalgo County Drainage District No. 1 – Manages flood control infrastructure across the region.
- Hidalgo County Hospital District (if applicable) – Supports indigent health care and hospital services.
Each of these entities sets its own tax rate, and together they contribute to the overall burden on property owners.
The top 20 are listed in the table below.
| Rank | City | Property taxes as a percentage of income | Median annual property taxes paid | Median income of households with a mortgage | Median monthly housing costs |
| 1 | Paterson, New Jersey | 9.8% | $9,779 | $100,227 | $2,869 |
| 2 | Bridgeport, Connecticut | 7.4% | $7,187 | $96,887 | $2,273 |
| 3 | Waterbury, Connecticut | 7.1% | $5,302 | $74,973 | $1,875 |
| 4 | Newark, New Jersey | 6.1% | $6,833 | $112,852 | $2,447 |
| 5 | Jersey City, New Jersey | 6.0% | $9,197 | $152,690 | $3,376 |
| 6 | Richmond, California | 6.0% | $7,752 | $129,155 | $2,893 |
| 7 | Aurora, Illinois | 5.8% | $6,399 | $109,738 | $1,996 |
| 8 | Allentown, Pennsylvania | 5.6% | $3,776 | $67,132 | $1,564 |
| 9 | New Haven, Connecticut | 5.6% | $6,745 | $121,153 | $2,141 |
| 10 | Stamford, Connecticut | 5.5% | $9,951 | $180,500 | $3,488 |
| 11 | Hartford, Connecticut | 5.5% | $4,451 | $80,959 | $1,984 |
| 12 | Elgin, Illinois | 5.5% | $6,595 | $120,773 | $2,020 |
| 13 | Oakland, California | 5.4% | $9,632 | $179,650 | $3,714 |
| 14 | Edinburg, Texas | 5.3% | $4,366 | $82,044 | $1,718 |
| 15 | Georgetown, Texas | 5.2% | $6,493 | $124,602 | $2,438 |
| 16 | Conroe, Texas | 5.1% | $5,866 | $114,220 | $2,453 |
| 17 | Davie town, Florida | 5.1% | $6,482 | $126,812 | $2,966 |
| 18 | Grand Prairie, Texas | 5.1% | $5,894 | $116,083 | $2,277 |
| 19 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | 5.1% | $8,719 | $172,680 | $2,586 |
| 20 | Hollywood, Florida | 5.0% | $5,410 | $108,570 | $2,652 |
Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau 1-Year American Community Survey for 2024.
Source: SmartAsset 2025Get the dataEmbed
The only other RGV cities listed in the report were McAllen and Brownsville, as shown in the table below.
| Rank | City | Property taxes as a percentage of income | Median annual property taxes paid | Median income of households with a mortgage | Median monthly housing costs |
| 89 | McAllen, Texas | 4.2% | $4,789 | $113,391 | $1,937 |
| 120 | Brownsville, Texas | 3.9% | $3,146 | $80,606 | $1,504 |
Texas Property Tax System
Texas does not collect a state income tax, which places a greater reliance on local property taxes to fund public services. According to the Texas Comptroller’s Office, the state has one of the highest effective property tax rates in the country — generally ranging from 1.60 to 1.83 percent of home value, depending on the locality.
This reliance on property taxes means that even in regions with modest home prices — like the Rio Grande Valley — residents can still experience a significant tax burden relative to income.
Local Impact
For Edinburg homeowners, the high burden is a result of rising property valuations and the cumulative effect of overlapping taxing jurisdictions. The city has experienced steady growth in recent years, which has led to increased demand for infrastructure, public safety, and education — all of which depend on local tax revenue.
As property values continue to rise, many residents have called for relief measures, such as increased homestead exemptions, tax freezes for seniors, or greater transparency in appraisal processes.
The study also raises questions about long-term affordability and housing access, particularly for working families and first-time homebuyers.
A Broader Trend
While cities in the Northeast and Midwest often top national rankings for raw property tax amounts, Edinburg’s position on the list highlights a different reality — one where the share of income going toward taxes is disproportionately high in areas with lower average wages.
For Edinburg, ranked No. 14 nationally by SmartAsset, the takeaway is clear: the cost of homeownership extends well beyond the mortgage, and local tax policy continues to play a central role in shaping economic conditions for residents.
Source — SmartAsset Property Tax Burden Study, December 4, 2025.