According to Mexico's national development indexes, people that live in San Nicolás are among the happiest in the country, and have the greatest quality of life standard in the nation. San Nicolás, although less populated than Monterrey, has the higher population density.

Factories for important Mexican companies, including Cemex, and Hylsa are located here.

This municipality is also the house of the University's First Division team, the UANL Tigres, which is rivaled by a competing team, the Club de Fútbol Monterrey.