The Best Home Security Systems in Starr County, TX
Are you looking for the best home security systems in Starr County, TX? Using Crime Grade's exceptional crime data that is accurate down to the neighborhood, we have analyzed Starr County, TX home security system options in a way no other source has been able to do. See why
A property crime is committed in Starr County every 2 hours 58 minutes, and nationwide, your home is 300% more likely to be burglarized without a home security system. Starr County experiences 42.81 property crimes per 1000 people and 8.916 incidents of vandalism per 1000 people in the typical year. A home security system will protect you when you’re at home or away, 24 hours a day.
Home Security Companies Available in Starr County, TX
Best Overall
Vivint
We believe Vivint is the best home security system for home owners. 75% of residents in Starr County own their homes. The superior smart home functionality will also appeal to the predominently younger population in Starr County where the median age is 30.
Affordable Option
Ring
Ring Alarm is a disrupter whose incredibly low monitoring fees (as low as 1/10th the price of larger and better-known companies) and sharp equipment has already made them a household name.
No Contract Pick
Simplisafe
These guys offer the best all-round balance of equipment, monitoring, customer service, and price. They’re reliable and the keep your home safe—it’s a fairly comfortable #1 spot.
Do You Need a Home Security System in Starr County, TX?
Choosing a home security system can seem overwhelming. We’re here to help break down what to consider when living in Starr County, TX. We’ll compare different crime rates and weather along with advanced features that make you feel safer and make your life easier.
Why Crime Grade?
Crime Grade has the most robust and accurate nationwide crime model available. In addition, our data is granular enough to identify and compare crime statistics to the neighborhood level. This puts us in the unique position of being able to evaluate the home security needs of people in a particular county rather than making a general assessment. So read on to see what's unique about Starr County, TX and our home security system recommendations that result from that.
Property Crime in Starr County, TX
Our analysis gives Starr County a property crime grade of: D-. Starr County is in the 87th percentile of safety, meaning 87% of cities in Texas are safer and 13% are more dangerous. Please visit our Starr County crime map for details on how this is calculated and what it means.
Crime Grades
Property crime is highest in the southeastern part of Starr County, with your chances of being a victim of 1 in 16. Compare this to the northeastern part of the county, where crime is lower, and your chances of being a victim are 1 in 42.
D-
D |
|
D- |
|
Other Crime Grade |
D |
A crime occurs every 1 hour 46 minutes (on average) in Starr County, TX.
Your home is 300% more likely to be robbed with no home security system.
So, is Starr County safe? Compared to all of Texas, Starr County is rated less safe than the average Texas county, which has a property crime rate of 27.55 per 1000. Looking at burglary, we see a different pattern, where Starr County, with its burglary rate of 8.541 per 1000, is as safe as the average Texas county.
In addition, Starr County is higher than other counties with similar populations for property crime. The table below shows property crime rates and level of occurrence in Starr County, TX.
Crime Type |
Crime Rate (per 1000 residents) |
Avg Number of Crimes per year in Starr County, TX |
Avg Crimes Committed Per Week |
|---|---|---|---|
Theft |
26.70 |
1,834 |
35.3 |
Vehicle Theft |
7.472 |
513 |
9.9 |
Burglary |
8.541 |
587 |
11.3 |
Arson |
0.0910 |
6 |
0.1 |
Weather and Climate in Starr County, TX
As strange as it might sound, some home security system features can be more or less important based on the climate you live in.
Home Security Fire Sensors in Starr County, TX
Hotter temperatures can lead to higher risk of fires in the home. The average temperature in Starr County, TX is 76.38 degrees, reaching 111.01 degrees in the hottest months like August & July. This temperature has held steady compared to 1990, when the hottest month reached 109.33 degrees in August.
Home age is another factor in determining fire risk, primarily due to electrical issues. The average home in Starr County was built in 1991, which is much newer than the national average of 1978 and is much older than the average home in Texas build in 1990.
Between hotter seasonal temperatures and older homes in Starr County, you can judge how important fire sensors and immediate response may be. A combination of smoke detectors, CO2 sensors, and fire alarms connected to a home security system can make that response as swift as possible, whether you’re at work or on vacation.
Home Security Flood Sensors in Starr County, TX
Starr County, TX gets an average rainfall of 0.6" per year. This is lower than the average of 0.7" for Texas.
With the risk of flooding and burst pipes, a flood sensor can alert you and authorities as soon as possible. Even a few hours make the difference between an easy restoration and long-term water damage.
Home Security Freeze Sensors in Starr County, TX
The year a home was constructed can also contribute to the risk of damage from cold weather. The average home in Starr County is 32 years old, and seasonal temperature changes have had much more time to cause stress on the home compared to the average Texas home that's 33 years old and much less time than the national average of a 45-year-old home.
Temperature fluctuations will weaken the structure and foundation of the home, cold temperatures can cause pipes to leak or burst, and if it snows that can cause additional stress on the roof. However, freeze sensors are not an expensive addon. After assessing your Starr County home, you can make a more informed decision if they would be a suitable addition to your home security system.
Cost of Home Security Systems in Starr County, TX
To identify the final cost of a home security system for your Starr County home, we must determine some of your preferences.
Self-Monitored or Professionally Monitored?
Any home security system you pick will offer a selection of equipment including entry sensors, cameras, etc. The question is, do you actually want to self-monitor your system? If like 25.22% (16,623) of people in Starr County, you are a renter, you might prefer a self-monitored home security system. On the other hand, 74.78% or 49,297 of Starr County residents own their homes and may be more likely to consider a professionally monitored system to protect their property.
Whether you rent or buy, how well can you monitor your system on your own? For example, if you're one of the 85% of people who commute an average of 31 minutes to work in or around Starr County, can you immediately receive notifications on your phone, check cameras in meetings or while working, and call the police if needed?
If not, you might want a professionally monitored system where a company is available 24/7 to respond, whether on vacation or at work. Please see our comprehensive guide on the best home security systems for a complete comparison.
Self-Installed vs. Professional Installation
Most providers have great self-installation options, so if you're handy or tech-savvy, like the 2% of Starr County residents working in computer engineering and science, self-installation can be a great option.
Alternatively, when your security system is installed professionally, you can ensure that your equipment is placed correctly and will function without any problems. That peace of mind is valuable for people willing to spend the extra money.
Residents of Starr County tend to have a lower median household income than nearby counties, earning $37,331 annually. In addition, 14.4% of residents have a college degree or higher, compared to 32.9% in the United States.
If you're a homeowner, do you have more to protect? The median home value in Starr County is $93,151. Compared to the median home value in Texas of $235,268, your home value will probably be lower. With their larger lots, single-family homes tend to be more isolated from view and a tempting target for burglars.
Find an in-depth review of installation options in our best home security systems guide.
Police Stations Near Starr County, TX
There are 27 police stations within the boundaries of Starr County, and 5 within 5 miles. Within 50 miles of the Starr County center, there are 74 police stations. Compared to other counties, police response times in Starr County may be faster. Even when response times are good, every second your security system saves in reporting a crime will improve the police response.
| Starr County Sheriff's Office 100 East 6th St Rio Grande City, TX 78582 (956) 487-5571 starrcountyso.org |
Rio Grande City Police Department 402 East Main St Rio Grande City, TX 78582 (956) 487-8892 cityofrgc.com |
Highway Patrol 700 East Hidalgo St Rio Grande City, TX 78582 (956) 487-5411 dps.texas.gov |
Home Security and Property Crime in Counties Near Starr County, TX
Nearby County | Property Crime Grade | Overall Crime Grade | Safer than Starr County, TX? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hidalgo County, TX | D | D+ | about as safe |
| Zapata County, TX | D- | D | about as safe |
| Jim Hogg County, TX | D- | D- | about as safe |
| Willacy County, TX | D | D | about as safe |
| Brooks County, TX | F | D- | less safe |
| Kenedy County, TX | D- | F | about as safe |
| Cameron County, TX | D | D+ | more safe |
| Webb County, TX | D | D | more safe |
| Kleberg County, TX | C | B- | more safe |
| Duval County, TX | D- | D- | about as safe |
Home Security and Property Crime in Counties Similar to Starr County, TX
Nearby County | Property Crime Grade | Overall Crime Grade | Safer than Starr County, TX? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Van Buren County, MI | B- | B+ | more safe |
| Columbia County, NY | B | D | more safe |
| Columbia County, PA | B+ | B+ | more safe |
| Columbia County, WI | C | B | more safe |
| Coos County, OR | C- | C- | more safe |
| Crawford County, AR | A- | A | more safe |
| Creek County, OK | B+ | A- | more safe |
| Cumberland County, TN | C | D+ | more safe |
| Erie County, OH | B- | B- | more safe |
| Fauquier County, VA | A- | A+ | more safe |
Summarizing Home Security Considerations in Starr County, TX
Deciding whether you need a home security system in Starr County, TX can be a complicated decision. We've used distrinctive property crime statistics and varying environment factors about the county to help us make an objective recommendation for most residents. Leveraging CrimeGrade.org's uniquely robust and granular crime data, we've scrutinized the options for home security systems, tailoring them to the unique needs and context of Starr County residents.
Combining the property crime Grades, demographic information, and local climate conditions for advanced home security features gives us some companies that stand out.
Vivint, Ring, and Simplisafe have emerged as the top choices for Starr County residents due to their distinctive offerings and reliability, each appealing to varied preferences and budget ranges of homeowners and renters alike. Notably, factors such as Starr County's climate, housing age, and average income levels further steer the home security considerations.
Property Crime Insights
- A property crime occurs approximately every 2 hours 58 minutes in Starr County.
- The county experiences 42.81 property crimes and 8.916 vandalism insidents per 1,000 people annually.
- Starr County's property crime grade stands at an 'D-', comparably less safe than other Texas {{place_type__plural_lower}}.
Noteworthy Security Companies
- Vivint: We believe Vivint is the best home security system for home owners. 75% of residents in Starr County own their homes. The superior smart home functionality will also appeal to the predominently younger population in Starr County where the median age is 30.
- Ring: Ring Alarm is a disrupter whose incredibly low monitoring fees (as low as 1/10th the price of larger and better-known companies) and sharp equipment has already made them a household name.
- Simplisafe: These guys offer the best all-round balance of equipment, monitoring, customer service, and price. They’re reliable and the keep your home safe—it’s a fairly comfortable #1 spot.
Climate Considerations for Security
- Fire sensors could be worth considering, since the average temperature reaches 111.01 degrees in the peak months of August & July.
- Flood sensors are also worth considering due to the 0.6" of average yearly rainfall and house age of 32 years.
Self vs. Professional Monitoring & Installation
- 25.22% of Starr County residents are renters, potentially inclining towards self-monitored systems.
- Given the 85% of commuters, professional monitoring might offer valuable peace of mind.
- Considering Starr County's lower household median income of $37,331 and 14.4% college-degree holding populace, investment in professional installation and advanced system features might be favorable.
Local Police Presence
- Starr County hosts 27 police stations within it's borders, potentially influencing response times.