Mexico Next Door: One Economy Across the Border

Summary

How the Rio Grande Valley and Mexico work as one regional economy: $67.1 billion in U.S.–Mexico trade through RGV ports in 2024, 19.0 million northbound crossings, and Monterrey about 150 miles from McAllen. The report maps the 12 international crossings, measures trade, visitors and buying power, and shows where Mexican demand reaches Valley retail, hospitality, residential, industrial and office property.

Key takeaways

• $67.1B in U.S.–Mexico trade moved through RGV ports in 2024: $39.5B northbound and $27.6B southbound, 11.4% of the Texas total
• The Hidalgo port of entry, which includes the Anzalduas, McAllen-Hidalgo and Pharr-Reynosa bridges, carried 66.6% of that trade; Brownsville carried 29.8%
• 19.0M northbound vehicle and pedestrian crossings in 2024, and 5.8M Mexican residents stayed overnight in Texas; 87% of Mexican visitors to Texas came by land
• Monterrey, a metro of 5.34M, is about 150 miles from McAllen, with nonstop flights to Brownsville since October 2024 and McAllen since March 2026
• Mexico is the #2 foreign buyer of U.S. homes: about 9,400 homes worth close to $5B from April 2025 to March 2026