Housing data for ZIP code 78538
ZIP code 78538 has an estimated 11,982 residents and 3,934 homes (US Census Bureau, 2020–2024 American Community Survey).
It lies in Hidalgo County.
27.1% of households rent.
The median gross rent is $556 (±$81) a month.
The median home value is $92,100 (±$14,318).
The median household income is $40,399 (±$7,057) a year.
Figures last updated on .
- Residents
- 11,982 (±1,474)
- Median gross rent
- $556
- Median home value
- $92,100
- Households that rent
- 27.1%
How ZIP code 78538 compares
| ZIP 78538 | Hidalgo County | Texas | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 11,982 (±1,474) | 891,977 | 30,188,424 | 334,922,499 |
| Housing units | 3,934 (±400) | 308,556 | 12,128,515 | 143,775,355 |
| Households that rent | 27.1% (±6.2 points) | 32.5% | 37.4% | 34.8% |
| Median gross rent | $556 (±$81) | $957 | $1,403 | $1,413 |
| Median home value | $92,100 (±$14,318) | $140,900 | $283,800 | $332,700 |
| Median household income | $40,399 (±$7,057) | $54,338 | $78,476 | $80,734 |
| Median real estate taxes (a year) | $1,330 (±$222) | $2,279 | $4,232 | $3,119 |
| Renters paying 30% or more of income | 50.8% (±16.3 points) | 48.6% | 51.7% | 51.1% |
| Built before 1980 | 21.0% (±6.2 points) | 17.9% | 33.2% | 49.7% |
| Average commute | 23.2 minutes (±2.4) | 22.5 minutes | 26.7 minutes | 26.4 minutes |
| Households with broadband | 78.3% (±5.7 points) | 88.0% | 91.4% | 91.0% |
| Median age of residents | 32.6 years (±3.7) | 30.5 years | 35.6 years | 38.9 years |
In ZIP 78538, median gross rent is lower than in Hidalgo County ($957).
It is also lower than in Texas ($1,403).
It is lower than the national figure ($1,413).
Among the 23 ZIP codes in Hidalgo County with a published estimate, ZIP 78538 ranks 23 from highest to lowest median gross rent.
Among the 25 ZIP codes in Hidalgo County with a published estimate, ZIP 78538 ranks 19 from highest to lowest median home value.
Among the 26 ZIP codes in Hidalgo County with a published estimate, ZIP 78538 ranks 23 from highest to lowest median household income.
Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.
Rent in ZIP code 78538
| Monthly gross rent | ZIP 78538 | Hidalgo County | Texas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than $500 | 41.0% (±14.4 points) | 11.1% | 3.9% | 6.3% |
| $500 to $999 | 50.1% (±15.9 points) | 44.7% | 17.4% | 20.2% |
| $1,000 to $1,499 | 9.0% (±7.1 points) | 33.8% | 35.4% | 28.1% |
| $1,500 to $1,999 | 0.0% (±5.9 points) | 8.0% | 25.2% | 21.1% |
| $2,000 to $2,499 | 0.0% (±5.9 points) | 1.6% | 11.1% | 12.0% |
| $2,500 to $2,999 | 0.0% (±5.9 points) | 0.7% | 4.0% | 5.5% |
| $3,000 or more | 0.0% (±5.9 points) | 0.2% | 2.9% | 6.8% |
The most common range is $500 to $999, paid by 50.1% of renting households.
Rent by bedrooms in ZIP code 78538
| Bedrooms | Census median |
|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $338 (±$83) |
| 2 bedrooms | $538 (±$203) |
| 3 bedrooms | $680 (±$263) |
Rent burden in ZIP code 78538
| Share of income spent on rent | ZIP 78538 | Hidalgo County | Texas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 15% | 8.7% (±8.1 points) | 15.6% | 11.2% | 12.6% |
| 15% to 19.9% | 10.3% (±8.4 points) | 13.1% | 12.3% | 12.2% |
| 20% to 24.9% | 15.3% (±12.7 points) | 12.7% | 13.2% | 12.6% |
| 25% to 29.9% | 14.9% (±10.2 points) | 10.0% | 11.6% | 11.5% |
| 30% to 34.9% | 1.1% (±1.7 points) | 7.9% | 9.4% | 9.2% |
| 35% or more | 49.7% (±16.2 points) | 40.7% | 42.3% | 41.9% |
50.8% (±16.3 points) of renting households in ZIP code 78538 spend 30% or more of their income on gross rent.
Home values in ZIP code 78538
| Value | ZIP 78538 | Hidalgo County | Texas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than $50,000 | 22.2% (±6.3 points) | 12.9% | 6.0% | 5.3% |
| $50,000 to $99,999 | 32.6% (±7.3 points) | 23.7% | 7.3% | 6.1% |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 14.3% (±6.2 points) | 15.9% | 7.7% | 6.8% |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 12.2% (±5.4 points) | 16.8% | 10.2% | 9.0% |
| $200,000 to $299,999 | 9.1% (±4.8 points) | 18.2% | 22.1% | 17.8% |
| $300,000 to $499,999 | 8.2% (±3.9 points) | 10.0% | 28.0% | 26.9% |
| $500,000 to $999,999 | 1.3% (±1.6 points) | 1.9% | 14.9% | 20.9% |
| $1,000,000 or more | 0.0% (±1.9 points) | 0.5% | 3.7% | 7.1% |
Value is the owner’s own estimate of what the home and lot would sell for, not a sale price or an assessment.
The homes in ZIP code 78538
| Building type | ZIP 78538 | Hidalgo County | Texas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single-family, detached | 74.0% (±6.0 points) | 64.9% | 64.4% | 61.3% |
| Single-family, attached (townhouse, rowhouse) | 0.1% (±0.1 points) | 1.8% | 2.9% | 6.2% |
| 2 units | 0.6% (±0.7 points) | 4.6% | 1.9% | 3.4% |
| 3 or 4 units | 6.1% (±3.6 points) | 5.7% | 3.4% | 4.3% |
| 5 to 9 units | 3.1% (±2.7 points) | 3.0% | 4.4% | 4.5% |
| 10 to 19 units | 1.1% (±1.3 points) | 2.7% | 5.5% | 4.3% |
| 20 or more units | 1.7% (±1.7 points) | 2.8% | 10.9% | 10.3% |
| Mobile home | 12.8% (±5.2 points) | 13.9% | 6.4% | 5.6% |
| Boat, RV, van, etc. | 0.5% (±0.6 points) | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.1% |
When the homes in ZIP code 78538 were built
| Year built | ZIP 78538 | Hidalgo County | Texas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 or later | 2.4% (±2.1 points) | 3.0% | 4.0% | 2.0% |
| 2010 to 2019 | 19.5% (±5.0 points) | 19.4% | 17.4% | 9.4% |
| 2000 to 2009 | 28.1% (±7.0 points) | 26.9% | 17.9% | 13.6% |
| 1990 to 1999 | 18.4% (±5.8 points) | 18.1% | 12.8% | 12.4% |
| 1980 to 1989 | 10.8% (±4.4 points) | 15.0% | 14.7% | 12.9% |
| 1970 to 1979 | 8.4% (±4.3 points) | 9.7% | 13.1% | 14.2% |
| 1960 to 1969 | 4.3% (±2.8 points) | 3.8% | 7.7% | 9.9% |
| 1950 to 1959 | 4.8% (±2.7 points) | 2.3% | 6.6% | 9.5% |
| 1940 to 1949 | 0.4% (±0.4 points) | 1.1% | 2.7% | 4.4% |
| 1939 or earlier | 3.1% (±2.1 points) | 1.0% | 3.1% | 11.7% |
21.0% of the homes in ZIP code 78538 were built before 1980, so many fall under the federal lead-paint disclosure rules for homes built before 1978.
Heating fuel in ZIP code 78538
| Fuel used most | ZIP 78538 | Hidalgo County | Texas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utility gas | 1.6% (±1.5 points) | 5.4% | 34.5% | 46.5% |
| Fuel oil, kerosene, etc. | 0.0% (±1.4 points) | 0.0% | 0.1% | 3.9% |
| Electricity | 96.5% (±1.9 points) | 90.6% | 61.2% | 41.3% |
| Bottled or tank gas (propane) | 1.8% (±1.3 points) | 2.5% | 2.9% | 4.9% |
| Wood | 0.0% (±1.4 points) | 0.0% | 0.2% | 1.4% |
| Solar energy | 0.0% (±1.4 points) | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Coal or coke | 0.0% (±1.4 points) | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| Other fuel | 0.0% (±1.4 points) | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0.5% |
| No fuel used | 0.0% (±1.4 points) | 0.9% | 0.6% | 1.2% |
How people in ZIP code 78538 get to work
| Means of transportation | ZIP 78538 | Hidalgo County | Texas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drove alone | 79.3% (±5.7 points) | 74.7% | 71.4% | 68.8% |
| Carpooled | 5.7% (±3.8 points) | 10.9% | 10.0% | 8.5% |
| Public transportation | 0.0% (±1.1 points) | 0.2% | 0.9% | 3.2% |
| Walked | 1.6% (±1.4 points) | 1.2% | 1.5% | 2.4% |
| Other means (bicycle, taxi, motorcycle) | 5.1% (±2.6 points) | 3.7% | 1.8% | 2.0% |
| Worked from home | 8.4% (±3.7 points) | 9.2% | 14.4% | 15.1% |
Workers who live in ZIP code 78538 take an average of 23.2 minutes to get to work.
ZIP codes near 78538
| ZIP code | Distance | Median gross rent | Median home value | Median household income | Households that rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 78543 | 5.0 mi | $844 | $87,800 | $44,527 | 25.5% |
| 78558 | 6.0 mi | — | $53,500 | $57,969 | 26.5% |
| 78562 | 7.7 mi | — | $102,400 | $31,522 | 18.5% |
| 78561 | 7.9 mi | — | $55,500 | $102,528 | 17.1% |
| 78542 | 8.5 mi | $865 | $150,200 | $55,243 | 24.3% |
| 78549 | 9.1 mi | — | $75,400 | $19,222 | 10.5% |
| 78599 | 10 mi | $1,007 | $125,400 | $58,349 | 31.2% |
| 78594 | 10 mi | $326 | $38,300 | $23,307 | 37.8% |
Crime reported to police in Hidalgo County
In 2025, the police departments that report for Hidalgo County recorded 285 violent and 1,307 property crimes per 100,000 residents.
The FBI publishes crime by police department, not by ZIP code, so this is the figure for the county as a whole.
ZIP code 78538 is reported as ZIP Code Tabulation Area 78538: the Census Bureau’s area built from census blocks to match the ZIP code’s delivery area as closely as it can.
Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).
Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.
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Questions about ZIP 78538
What is the median rent in ZIP code 78538?
The median gross rent in ZIP Code Tabulation Area 78538 is $556 (±$81) a month (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
What is the median home value in ZIP code 78538?
The median value of owner-occupied homes in ZIP code 78538 is $92,100 (±$14,318) (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
What is the median household income in ZIP code 78538?
The median household income in ZIP code 78538 is $40,399 (±$7,057) a year (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
Sources
- Demographic and Housing Estimates (DP05), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — ZCTA5 78538
- Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — ZCTA5 78538
- Selected Economic Characteristics (DP03), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — ZCTA5 78538
- Median Real Estate Taxes Paid by Mortgage Status (B25103), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — ZCTA5 78538
- Selected Social Characteristics (DP02), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — ZCTA5 78538
- Median Gross Rent by Bedrooms (B25031), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — ZCTA5 78538
- US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Areas
- FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program, Crime Data Explorer
- FBI: Uniform Crime Reporting statistics and their proper use
- US Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files
- US Census Bureau, 2020 ZIP Code Tabulation Area relationship files
To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for ZCTA5 78538 (zip code tabulation area:78538).
Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).
The API needs a free key.
DP05_0001E, DP05_0001M, DP04_0134E, DP04_0134M, DP04_0089E, DP04_0089M, DP03_0062E, DP03_0062M, DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.
Figures last updated on .