ZIP Code 78504: Population, Income, Housing

State: TX

Total population: 63,094 Household income: $81,905 Rent: $1,173

Overview

Total population

63,094

Rent

$1,173

Year built

2000

Household income

$81,905

Per capita income

$36,517

Poverty rate

12.3%

Unemployment rate

N/A

Household size

3.2 persons

Rent over 30% of income

45%

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

Hidalgo County

City

Mcallen

Total population

63,094

Adults over 25

38,443

Total households

19,697

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

$81,905

Per capita income

$36,517

Poverty rate

12.3%

Unemployment rate

N/A

Rent over 30% of income

45%

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

$1,173

Year built

2000

Households that rent

30.1%

Households that own

69.9%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.5

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

34.4%

Black

0.9%

Asian

4.7%

Two or more races

49.1%

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

82.4%

Not Hispanic or Latino

17.6%

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

24,212 (88.6%)

Commute time to work

24 mins

Work from home

3,106 (11.4%)

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

28%

High school graduate or GED

19.9%

Some college or associate degree

12.6%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

39.5%

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 78504 with: Hidalgo County, TX McAllen, TX McAllen metro area, TX Texas United States

ZIP 78504

Total population63,094

Rent$1,173

Year built2000

Household income$81,905

Per capita income$36,517

Poverty rate12.3%

Unemployment rateN/A

Hidalgo County, TX

Total population891,977

Rent$957

Year built2000

Household income$54,338

Per capita income$23,117

Poverty rate26.7%

Unemployment rate6.1%

McAllen, TX

Total population145,385

Rent$1,049

Year built1995

Household income$61,579

Per capita income$30,885

Poverty rate20%

Unemployment rate4.1%

McAllen Metro Area, TX

Total population891,977

Rent$957

Year built2000

Household income$54,338

Per capita income$23,117

Poverty rate26.7%

Unemployment rate6%

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	ZIP78504	CountyHidalgo, TX	CityMcAllen, TX	Metro AreaMcAllen metro area, TX	StateTexas	CountryUnited States
Total population	63,094	891,977	145,385	891,977	30,188,424	334,922,499
Rent	$1,173	$957	$1,049	$957	$1,403	$1,413
Year built	2000	2000	1995	2000	1992	1980
Household income	$81,905	$54,338	$61,579	$54,338	$78,476	$80,734
Per capita income	$36,517	$23,117	$30,885	$23,117	$40,752	$44,673
Poverty rate	12.3%	26.7%	20%	26.7%	13.8%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	N/A	6.1%	4.1%	6%	4.1%	4%

View the full multi-level comparison →

Summary for 78504

Rent & Income

In 78504, the typical monthly rent is $1,173 and the typical household income is $81,905. Rent here is higher than McAllen and lower than Texas, and household income is higher than McAllen and similar to Texas. The estimated poverty rate is 12.3%, which is lower than in both McAllen and Texas.

Housing & Affordability

This ZIP Code is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 30.1% of households. About 45% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is high, with about 39.5% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher.

ZIP 78504 — Rent vs Household Income

ZIP 78504 — Poverty

How ZIP 78504 compares in Texas (388 ZIP Codes)

Metric	This ZIP	Rank	Starts from	State range
Rent	$1,173	79 / 388	from lower rent	$747 – $3,501
Household income	$81,905	183 / 388	from higher income	$30,377 – $250,001
Poverty rate	12.3%	202 / 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 78504

Rent

For rent, this ZIP is positioned 79th out of 388 ZIP Codes in Texas. In Texas as a whole, the range goes from $747 in ZIP 78582 up to $3,501 in ZIP 76092.

Household income

For household income, ZIP Code 78504 ranks 183rd out of 388 ZIP Codes. Statewide, values range from $30,377 in ZIP 77840 up to $250,001 in ZIP 76092.

Poverty rate

For poverty levels, this ZIP is positioned 202nd out of 388 ZIP Codes. Across Texas, figures vary from 1.5% in ZIP 76092 up to 47.7% in ZIP 77840.

💰 Rent in ZIP Code 78504 (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,173 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 78504

Annual Household Income: $81,905

💡 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 78504

Estimated Rate: 12.3%

💡 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 78504

In ZIP Code 78504, households that rent: 5,935 (30.1%)

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

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	5,935	30.1%
Owner-Occupied	13,762	69.9%

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 78504

In ZIP Code 78504, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 2,669 (45%)

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

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	2,669	45%
Other renter households	3,266	55%
Total renter households	5,935	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 78504

Less than High School: 10,751 people (28%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 7,651 people (19.9%)

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

Some College or Associate Degree: 4,843 people (12.6%)

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

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 15,198 people (39.5%)

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

👥 Total Adults (25+): 38,443

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.