ZIP Code 78221: Population, Income, Housing

State: TX

Total population: 42,178 Household income: $63,811 Rent: $1,228

Overview

Total population

42,178

Rent

$1,228

Year built

1974

Household income

$63,811

Per capita income

$24,423

Poverty rate

17.3%

Unemployment rate

N/A

Household size

3.2 persons

Rent over 30% of income

61.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available. New 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Texas

County

Bexar County

City

San Antonio

Total population

42,178

Adults over 25

26,409

Total households

13,264

Household size

3.2 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$63,811

Per capita income

$24,423

Poverty rate

17.3%

Unemployment rate

N/A

Rent over 30% of income

61.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Housing

Rent

$1,228

Year built

1974

Households that rent

29.8%

Households that own

70.2%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.3

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Race

White

39.5%

Black

0.5%

Asian

0.3%

Two or more races

32.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

87.7%

Not Hispanic or Latino

12.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Commute

Commute rate

18,347 (94.6%)

Commute time to work

26 mins

Work from home

1,044 (5.4%)

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Education

Less than high school

38.3%

High school graduate or GED

37.1%

Some college or associate degree

12.3%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

12.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Comparison of ZIP Code 78221 with: Bexar County, TX San Antonio, TX San Antonio metro area, TX Texas United States

ZIP 78221

Total population42,178

Rent$1,228

Year built1974

Household income$63,811

Per capita income$24,423

Poverty rate17.3%

Unemployment rateN/A

Bexar County, TX

Total population2,067,341

Rent$1,354

Year built1990

Household income$72,341

Per capita income$36,702

Poverty rate14.6%

Unemployment rate3.4%

San Antonio, TX

Total population1,479,835

Rent$1,324

Year built1985

Household income$65,056

Per capita income$33,929

Poverty rate17.1%

Unemployment rate3.3%

San Antonio Metro Area, TX

Total population2,662,733

Rent$1,363

Year built1993

Household income$76,213

Per capita income$38,364

Poverty rate13.4%

Unemployment rate3.8%

Texas State

Total population30,188,424

Rent$1,403

Year built1992

Household income$78,476

Per capita income$40,752

Poverty rate13.8%

Unemployment rate4.1%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	ZIP78221	CountyBexar, TX	CitySan Antonio, TX	Metro AreaSan Antonio metro area, TX	StateTexas	CountryUnited States
Total population	42,178	2,067,341	1,479,835	2,662,733	30,188,424	334,922,499
Rent	$1,228	$1,354	$1,324	$1,363	$1,403	$1,413
Year built	1974	1990	1985	1993	1992	1980
Household income	$63,811	$72,341	$65,056	$76,213	$78,476	$80,734
Per capita income	$24,423	$36,702	$33,929	$38,364	$40,752	$44,673
Poverty rate	17.3%	14.6%	17.1%	13.4%	13.8%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	N/A	3.4%	3.3%	3.8%	4.1%	4%

View the full multi-level comparison →

Summary for 78221

Rent & Income

In 78221, the typical monthly rent is $1,228 and the typical household income is $63,811. Rent here is lower than both San Antonio and Texas, and household income is similar to San Antonio and lower than Texas. The estimated poverty rate is 17.3%, which is similar to the San Antonio rate and higher than the Texas rate.

Housing & Affordability

This ZIP Code is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 29.8% of households. About 61.2% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Only about 12.2% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher, indicating lower levels of formal education.

ZIP 78221 — Rent vs Household Income

ZIP 78221 — Poverty

How ZIP 78221 compares in Texas (388 ZIP Codes)

Metric	This ZIP	Rank	Starts from	State range
Rent	$1,228	98 / 388	from lower rent	$747 – $3,501
Household income	$63,811	275 / 388	from higher income	$30,377 – $250,001
Poverty rate	17.3%	267 / 388	from lower poverty	1.5% – 47.7%

Rankings are calculated among ZIP Codes in Texas with total population > 30,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for ZIP Code 78221

Rent

In terms of rental prices, this ZIP stands 98th out of 388 ZIP Codes in Texas. Across Texas, figures vary from $747 in ZIP 78582 up to $3,501 in ZIP 76092.

Household income

When comparing household incomes, ZIP Code 78221 stands 275th out of 388 ZIP Codes. Throughout Texas, numbers span from $30,377 in ZIP 77840 up to $250,001 in ZIP 76092.

Poverty rate

Looking at poverty indicators, this ZIP stands 267th out of 388 ZIP Codes. At the state level, values extend from 1.5% in ZIP 76092 up to 47.7% in ZIP 77840.

💰 Rent in ZIP Code 78221 (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,228 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing — including the apartment or home and essential utilities like heat, water, and electricity.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in ZIP Code 78221

Annual Household Income: $63,811

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in the ZIP code — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in ZIP Code 78221

Estimated Rate: 17.3%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in ZIP Code 78221

In ZIP Code 78221, households that rent: 3,954 (29.8%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this ZIP Code?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	3,954	29.8%
Owner-Occupied	9,310	70.2%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in ZIP Code 78221

In ZIP Code 78221, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 2,418 (61.2%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	2,418	61.2%
Other renter households	1,536	38.8%
Total renter households	3,954	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in the ZIP code are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in ZIP Code 78221

Less than High School: 10,124 people (38.3%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 9,809 people (37.1%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 3,254 people (12.3%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 3,222 people (12.2%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 26,409

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.