ZIP Code 78541: Population, Income, Housing

State: TX
Total population: 51,710 Household income: $52,863 Rent: $961

Overview

Total population
51,710
Rent
$961
Year built
2003
Household income
$52,863
Per capita income
$23,645
Poverty rate
31.7%
Unemployment rate
N/A
Household size
3.1 persons
Rent over 30% of income
46.7%

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).

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
Total population
51,710
Adults over 25
28,536
Total households
16,679
Household size
3.1 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).

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.

Income & Poverty

Household income
$52,863
Per capita income
$23,645
Poverty rate
31.7%
Unemployment rate
N/A
Rent over 30% of income
46.7%

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).

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.

Housing

Rent
$961
Year built
2003
Households that rent
47%
Households that own
53%
Rooms per home (all homes)
4.7

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).

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.

Race

White
27.8%
Black
2%
Asian
2.2%
Two or more races
61%

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.

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino
87.4%
Not Hispanic or Latino
12.6%

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).

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.

Commute

Commute rate
19,142 (88.2%)
Commute time to work
24 mins
Work from home
2,572 (11.8%)

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.

Education

Less than high school
37%
High school graduate or GED
24.4%
Some college or associate degree
13.7%
Bachelor’s degree or higher
24.9%

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.

 

Comparison of ZIP Code 78541 with: Hidalgo County, TX McAllen metro area, TX Texas United States

ZIP 78541

Total population51,710
Rent$961
Year built2003
Household income$52,863
Per capita income$23,645
Poverty rate31.7%
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 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 ZIP78541 CountyHidalgo, TXMetro AreaMcAllen metro area, TXStateTexasCountryUnited States
Total population51,710891,977891,97730,188,424334,922,499
Rent$961$957$957$1,403$1,413
Year built20032000200019921980
Household income$52,863$54,338$54,338$78,476$80,734
Per capita income$23,645$23,117$23,117$40,752$44,673
Poverty rate31.7%26.7%26.7%13.8%12.5%
Unemployment rateN/A6.1%6%4.1%4%

View the full multi-level comparison →

 

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Summary for 78541

Rent & Income

In 78541, the typical monthly rent is $961 and the typical household income is $52,863. Rent here is lower than Texas, and household income is lower than Texas. The estimated poverty rate is 31.7%.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 47% of households, indicating a relatively balanced mix of renters and owners. About 46.7% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 24.9% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher.

 

ZIP 78541 — Rent vs Household Income

 

 

ZIP 78541 — Poverty

 

 

How ZIP 78541 compares in Texas (388 ZIP Codes)

Metric This ZIP Rank Starts from State range
Rent $961 23 / 388 from lower rent $747 – $3,501
Household income $52,863 339 / 388 from higher income $30,377 – $250,001
Poverty rate 31.7% 374 / 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 78541

Rent

In terms of rental prices, this ZIP stands 23rd 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 78541 stands 339th 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 374th 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 78541 (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $961 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 78541

Annual Household Income: $52,863

💡 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 78541

Estimated Rate: 31.7%

💡 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 78541

In ZIP Code 78541, households that rent: 7,837 (47%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this ZIP Code?
Household Type Count Share
Renter-Occupied 7,837 47%
Owner-Occupied 8,842 53%

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 78541

In ZIP Code 78541, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 3,659 (46.7%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?
Household Group Households Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%) 3,659 46.7%
Other renter households 4,178 53.3%
Total renter households 7,837 100%

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 78541

Less than High School: 10,563 people (37%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 6,957 people (24.4%)

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

Some College or Associate Degree: 3,901 people (13.7%)

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

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 7,115 people (24.9%)

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

👥 Total Adults (25+): 28,536

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.