Quality of Life

Low Cost of Living, High Quality of Life and Unlimited Opportunities

The Rio South Texas region is one of the most exciting places to work, play and do business. From semi-pro sports teams to a thriving arts and music scene, there is much to see and do here. Rio South Texas boasts beautiful beaches and international travel opportunities, plus more than a dozen museums, a nationally-reknowned zoo and even a waterpark, making this region a family-friendly destination. Many outdoor adventures await you -- kayaking, canoeing, biking, birding, running, hiking or exploring our many wildlife sanctuaries -- and heritage tourism attracts those who want to take a stroll down memory lane. Combined with a low cost-of-living, some of the best public and private primary and secondary schools in the state and nation, moderate weather and affordable housing, the Rio South Texas region shines brightly.

Cost of Living
This index compares the relative cost of living in different locations. Using the United States as the base location (i.e. a value of 100), an index value of 120 means that the cost of living in that particular community is 20 percent higher than in the base location; a value of 94 indicates a more affordable location.
Location	Cost of Living Index
Lubbock, TX	75
Wichita, KS	76
Laredo, TX	77
Fort Worth, TX	78
Tulsa, OK	78
Oklahoma City, OK	79
Rio South Texas	80
El Paso, TX	80
Little Rock, AR	80
Houston, TX	86
New Orleans, LA	91
Dallas, TX	93
Albuquerque, NM	96
U.S.	100
Source: Sperling's BestPlaces (www.bestplaces.net), August 2009; the total of all cost of living categories is weighted as follows: 30% housing, 15% groceries, 10% transportation, 6% utilities, 7% health care, and 32% miscellaneous (clothing, services, entertainment); state and local taxes are not included.

Climate
January Low / High	July Low/High	Prevailing Wind / Speed	Annual Precipitation	Elevation	Relative Humidity
51° / 70° F	76° / 93° F	SE / 12 knots	28.8 in rainfall	121 feet	59%
Source: www.bestplaces.net (as of Oct 2007)

Median Housing Cost by County
Hidalgo	Cameron	Starr	Willacy
$96,230	$89,500	$50,000	$45,240
Source: www.bestplaces.net (as of Oct. 2010)

Median Value of Owner-Occupied Homes
Region	State		U.S.
$ 61,237	$ 112,010		$ 172,352
Source: Claritas, 2009 estimates
Rental Housing Costs (Under Construction)
Single Family Homes		Apartments / Townhomes
$ to $ (2-bedroom)		$ to $ (1-bedroom)
$ to $ (3-bedroom)		$ to $ (2-bedroom)
$ to $ (4-bedroom)		$ to $ (3-bedroom)
Source and Date:

Quality Education

When it comes to educating the next generation, the Rio South Texas region is prepared.

We are home to several exemplary school districts.

In 2005, Hidalgo High School was named one of the best high schools in Texas by the Texas Educational Excellence Project for quality and equity in educating all students. The high school became nationally recognized that year, as well. In the Spring of 2005, Hidalgo ISD and the University of Texas System received a grant totaling $1.2 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to transform Hidalgo High School into an Early College High School over the next four years. The goal is to have all of our students "college ready" and enrolled in college during their junior and senior years in high school. The senior class of 2010 will be the first class to graduate from the Early College High School. In 2006, Hidalgo High School was named among the three highest performing high schools in Texas based on a national study done by Just for the Kids and sponsored by the National Center for Education Accountability (NCEA).
IDEA College Preparatory has been named to the US News and World Report list of America’s best high schools. Part of the flagship campus in Donna, IDEA College Preparatory was placed on the Gold list and ranked 19th in the country.
South Texas High School for Health Professions (Med High) and The Science Academy of South Texas (Sci Tech), both located in Mercedes, are among the best high schools in the nation according to Newsweek magazine.As of June 8, 2009, Newsweek’s “America’s Best High Schools: The Top 100” list ranks Med High at 32 and Sci Tech at 70. Rankings are based on the total number of students who took the Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate test in April 2008. To see the top 1,500 public high schools, go to www.newsweek.com/id/201160/GT1=43002.

K-12 Education (Under Construction)
Elementary Schools	Enrollment	Average Class Size	Test Scores*



Junior / High Schools	Enrollment / Graduation Rate	Avg. Class Size	Test Scores*



Private Schools	Enrollment	Avg. Class Size	Test Scores*



Source: ____ data; (date updated) * Specific test reference:

Healthcare Facilities (Under Construction)
Name	Location	Services / Specialties / Other information
Harlingen Medical Center 956-365-1000	Harlingen, TX	Full-service hospital – ER, Surgical, Obstetric, Gynecological, Orthopedics Cardiovascular, Neurology Sleep lab 24-hour access to patients’ family members including a sleeper bed in every room
South Texas Emergency Care Foundation 956-364-2711	Harlingen, TX	Local and long-distance transfers Emergency helicopter service Jet and Turboprop Air Ambulance
Valley Baptist Health System 956-389-1100	Harlingen, TX
Su Clinica Familiar 956-365-6750	Harlingen, TX
Solara Hospital 956-425-9600	Harlingen, TX
Valley Diagnostic Clinic	Harlingen, TX
Driscoll Children’s Hospital 956-421-1707	Harlingen, TX
South Texas VA Healthcare Clinic 956-366-4500	Harlingen, TX
Brownsville Community Health Center	Brownsville
Valley Regional Medical Center	Brownsville
Rio Grande State Center	Harlingen
Source and Date:

Culture–Sports–Recreation (Under Construction)
Theatre and Fine Arts	Description
Valley Symphony Orchestra & Chorale McAllen, TX	- Six Masterworks concerts (Oct-May) - Intimate Chamber Music concerts (Nov-Feb) - Youth symphony. Talented middle and high school students from across the region learn from the Orchestra’s Maestro and musicians. Youth symphony musicians who perform with the youth symphony during their senior year of high school are eligible for college scholarships, provided by the Valley Symphony Orchestra & Chorale.
Weslaco Tower Theatre	Live productions by local thespians. The “theatre in the round" was created from a historic water storage tank and seats 100 people.
Rio Grande Valley Ballet	Classes for new, intermediate and advanced dancers in classical, jazz, hiphop, tumbling and more. Annual recitals include the 37 year-long tradition of bringing The Nutcracker to the Rio South TX Region.
And more…	Local Galleries, Art Walks, Music Festivals
History
Museum of South Texas / Hildalgo County Historical Museum	Exhibits, programs, special events, artifact collections, and educational programs, and guided tours
International Museum of Art & Science	Exhibits, cultural events and educational programs
Historic Brownsville Museum	The Historic Brownsville Museum is located in the 1928 Southern Pacific Depot building. An example of Spanish colonial revival architecture, the building is a Texas Historical Marker and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Museum opened in 1986 and houses a variety of exhibits that date from the earliest military fort to the arrival of French teaching nuns and displays of agricultural and ranching tools.
15 Mueums
Los Ebanos Ferry	Dating back to the 1740’s this is the last hand-pulled ferry in existence within the U.S. Named for the ebony trees in the area the ferry has been used by Spanish explorers, colonists, Mexican war troops, and Texas Rangers. It can transport three cars and several pedestrians across the Rio Grande.
Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center	The Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center preserves, promotes and advances the cultural heritage of the Mexicano community through music, literature, visual, performing and media arts.
Missions	Spanish Missions in the Rio South Texas region comprise a series of religious outposts established by Spanish Catholic Dominicans, Jesuits, and Franciscans to spread the Christian doctrine.
Sports Venues and Organizations
· Dodge Arena Event Center · Schlitterbahn Water Park · Mercedes Live Stock Show · Rio Grande Speedway · Edinburg International Racetrack · Los Fresnos Motorcross Park · Greyhould Valley Race Park	· Rio Grande Valley Dorados (football) · White Wings (member of the United League Baseball, an independent baseball league operating in cities throughout Texas not served by Major or Minor League teams) · Rio Grand Valley Bravos FC (soccer) · Rio Grande Valley Vipers (NBA affiliate Houston Rockets)
Recreational Facilities and Opportunities
· South Padre Island · Eight Country Clubs · 21 Golf Courses · Freshwater, Bay and Deep Sea Fishing · Hunting Ranches · Yacht Club	· Eco Tourism · Three State Parks · Coastal birding trails, birding center sites, wildlife preserves and refuges, butterfly parks and nature trails, wetlands

Regional Profile

Low Cost of Living, High Quality of Life and Unlimited Opportunities

Quality Education