The median home price in Del Rio is $95,000, which is about one-third less than the Texas average. The median household income is $44,959, and 60.6% of housing units are owner-occupied. Only 7.4% of Del Rio homes were built before 1940. Del Rio is also one of the few Texas cities with a high livability score. It scores cities based on the cost of living, education, employment, and weather.
The town site was originally named San Felipe del Rio, according to local lore. The name Del Rio is derived from early Spanish explorers who offered Mass at nearby springs on St. Philip's Day in 1635. In 1870, John Perry's Mercantile was built in Del Rio. It was the largest store between El Paso and San Antonio. The building is now part of the Whitehead Memorial Museum, which houses the oldest structure in the city. Other small businesses followed.
The city has a population of approximately 35,000, but it is an important hub for nearby communities such as Acuna. During the work week, more than 100,000 people travel through its streets. Highway 90 and Bedell Street are prone to congested traffic. To the north, Loop 79 bypasses the city. In the east, Loop 79 serves as the main thoroughfare.
Within the city limits are several neighborhoods. The westside features the Val Verde Winery, the oldest winery in Texas. The neighborhood is called "the one by the winery," and has numerous historical markers. The westside, where the Del Rio International Airport is located, is surrounded by W. 15th Street, Veterans Blvd, and W. Gibbs. Comalia is isolated from the rest of the city by the woodlawn cemetery. The city has more than a dozen other neighborhoods, including the San Felipe neighborhood and West Side, where the local hospital is located.