Zip code 78159: Smiley, Texas

Q: What city is zip code 78159?

78159 is assigned to Smiley, Texas. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 78159 in?

78159 is in Gonzales County, Texas.

Q: What is the population of 78159?

About 623 people live in 78159, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 78159?

The median household income in 78159 is $35,083.

Q: What zip codes are near 78159?

The closest zip codes to 78159 are 77994, 78677, 78140, 78614, 78116.

Residential delivery areaGonzales CountyCentral Time

Population

623

Median household income

$35K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$133K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$921/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

41.6

U.S. 38.9

Land area

132 sq mi

5 people/sq mi

Boundary is the Census Bureau's ZIP Code Tabulation Area, which closely tracks the postal delivery area.

About 78159

78159 is a rural zip code in Smiley, Texas (Gonzales County), covering 132 sq mi of land. About 623 people live here, or 5 per square mile. The median resident is 41.6 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $35,083 a year, about 43% of the national median of $80,734. 22% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $132,600, or 3.8 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes about as affordable as the national average for local earners. 69% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $921 a month.

8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 43.5 minutes each way, and 0% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in sales; office and administrative support; and transportation and moving goods. 28% of households speak a language other than English at home, most often Spanish.

How 78159 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Average commute43.5 min
99th
WeaknessU.S. 26.4 min · TX 26.7 min46th of 1,738 in TX
Uninsured rate16.2%
90th
WeaknessU.S. 8.4% · TX 17.1%858th of 1,808 in TX
Poverty rate22%
88th
WeaknessU.S. 12.5% · TX 13.8%318th of 1,794 in TX
Housing vacancy15.2%
87th
U.S. 10.1% · TX 9.4%684th of 1,794 in TX
Residents 65 and older23.1%
87th
U.S. 17.2% · TX 13.4%379th of 1,818 in TX
Unemployment rate7.9%
86th
WeaknessU.S. 5.2% · TX 5.3%289th of 1,810 in TX
Income inequality (Gini)0.487
84th
WeaknessU.S. 0.483 · TX 0.478270th of 1,785 in TX
Median age41.6
69th
U.S. 38.9 · TX 35.6579th of 1,817 in TX
Rent-burdened renters53.2%
60th
U.S. 51.1% · TX 51.7%598th of 1,692 in TX
Homeownership rate68.9%
51st
U.S. 65.2% · TX 62.6%1,138th of 1,792 in TX
Diversity index48.7
50th
U.S. 61.4 · TX 67.1938th of 1,818 in TX
Foreign-born residents5.1%
30th
U.S. 14.1% · TX 17.6%1,225th of 1,818 in TX
Median gross rent$921
15th
U.S. $1,413 · TX $1,4031,155th of 1,511 in TX
Veterans2.5%
11th
U.S. 6.2% · TX 6.2%1,631st of 1,818 in TX
Residents under 1816.1%
11th
U.S. 22% · TX 25%1,571st of 1,818 in TX
Median home value$132,600
7th
U.S. $332,700 · TX $283,8001,316th of 1,679 in TX
Per capita income$21,052
3rd
WeaknessU.S. $44,673 · TX $40,7521,651st of 1,813 in TX
Broadband access77.4%
3rd
WeaknessU.S. 91% · TX 91.4%1,574th of 1,792 in TX
Median household income$35,083
2nd
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · TX $78,4761,672nd of 1,712 in TX
Median earnings per worker$27,628
2nd
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · TX $47,5751,679th of 1,794 in TX
Population623
1st
U.S. 334,922,499 · TX 30,188,4241,563rd of 1,818 in TX
Population density5/sq mi
1st
U.S. 95/sq mi · TX 116/sq mi1,647th of 1,818 in TX
Bachelor's degree or higher7.6%
1st
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · TX 33.8%1,697th of 1,811 in TX
Work from home0%
1st
U.S. 15.1% · TX 14.4%1,717th of 1,810 in TX
Tech workers0%
1st
U.S. 3.8% · TX 3.8%1,500th of 1,810 in TX
Healthcare workers0.4%
1st
U.S. 9.7% · TX 8.6%1,688th of 1,810 in TX
Self-employed workers2.5%
1st
U.S. 10% · TX 10.5%1,702nd of 1,810 in TX
Government workers0%
1st
U.S. 14.5% · TX 14.1%1,777th of 1,810 in TX

Measure	78159	Gonzales	TX	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in TX
Average commuteWeakness	43.5 min	27.2 min	26.7 min	26.4 min	99th	46th of 1,738
Uninsured rateWeakness	16.2%	18%	17.1%	8.4%	90th	858th of 1,808
Poverty rateWeakness	22%	15.8%	13.8%	12.5%	88th	318th of 1,794
Housing vacancy	15.2%	12.1%	9.4%	10.1%	87th	684th of 1,794
Residents 65 and older	23.1%	18.1%	13.4%	17.2%	87th	379th of 1,818
Unemployment rateWeakness	7.9%	4.3%	5.3%	5.2%	86th	289th of 1,810
Income inequality (Gini)Weakness	0.487	0.462	0.478	0.483	84th	270th of 1,785
Median age	41.6	39.3	35.6	38.9	69th	579th of 1,817
Rent-burdened renters	53.2%	45.7%	51.7%	51.1%	60th	598th of 1,692
Homeownership rate	68.9%	66.2%	62.6%	65.2%	51st	1,138th of 1,792
Diversity index	48.7	57.1	67.1	61.4	50th	938th of 1,818
Foreign-born residents	5.1%	11.7%	17.6%	14.1%	30th	1,225th of 1,818
Median gross rent	$921	$840	$1,403	$1,413	15th	1,155th of 1,511
Veterans	2.5%	5.2%	6.2%	6.2%	11th	1,631st of 1,818
Residents under 18	16.1%	25.5%	25%	22%	11th	1,571st of 1,818
Median home value	$132,600	$159,100	$283,800	$332,700	7th	1,316th of 1,679
Per capita incomeWeakness	$21,052	$29,113	$40,752	$44,673	3rd	1,651st of 1,813
Broadband accessWeakness	77.4%	86.6%	91.4%	91%	3rd	1,574th of 1,792
Median household incomeWeakness	$35,083	$58,672	$78,476	$80,734	2nd	1,672nd of 1,712
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$27,628	$39,975	$47,575	$49,666	2nd	1,679th of 1,794
Population	623	19,851	30,188,424	334,922,499	1st	1,563rd of 1,818
Population density	5/sq mi	19/sq mi	116/sq mi	95/sq mi	1st	1,647th of 1,818
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	7.6%	11.9%	33.8%	35.7%	1st	1,697th of 1,811
Work from home	0%	4%	14.4%	15.1%	1st	1,717th of 1,810
Tech workers	0%	1.4%	3.8%	3.8%	1st	1,500th of 1,810
Healthcare workers	0.4%	7.7%	8.6%	9.7%	1st	1,688th of 1,810
Self-employed workers	2.5%	13%	10.5%	10%	1st	1,702nd of 1,810
Government workers	0%	11.2%	14.1%	14.5%	1st	1,777th of 1,810

The percentile is the share of Americans who live in a zip code with a lower value, so the 50th percentile is typical. Rank 1 is the highest value in the state. Both include zip codes with at least 100 residents. Strengths and weaknesses mark measures in the best or worst fifth nationally, where higher or lower is clearly better (income, poverty, education, commute, broadband, insurance and similar). Measures like age or density are left unmarked.

People

Age

Under 5

5–17

18–24

19%

25–34

12%

35–44

45–54

18%

55–64

10%

65–74

13%

75+

Median age

41.6

Under 18

16.1%

65 and over

23.1%

Race and ethnicity

White39%
Black0%
Hispanic60%
Asian0%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial1%

Diversity index

48.7

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

5.1%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

82.2%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

72%

Spanish

28%

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 257
Average household size: 2.4
Family households: 57.6%
Married couples: 45.1%
Living alone: 26.8%
Veterans (of adults): 2.5%
Male / female: 53% / 47%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

28%

$25–50k

31%

$50–75k

15%

$75–100k

$100–150k

$150–200k

14%

$200k+

Median household income

78159

$35,083

Gonzales Co.

$58,672

Texas

$78,476

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$21,052

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

22%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

14.4%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.487

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

78159

$132,600

Gonzales Co.

$159,100

Texas

$283,800

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

78159

$921

Gonzales Co.

$840

Texas

$1,403

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

69%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

31%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 303
Owner-occupied: 68.9%
Vacant: 15.2%
Median year built: 1976
Median rooms: 5.3
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 53.2%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 27.7%
Home value to income: 3.8× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

84%

Carpooled

16%

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

21%

10–19

20–29

30–44

31%

45–59

20%

60+

19%

Average commute

43.5 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

7.9%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

49.1%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Sales

20%

Office and admin

18%

Transportation and moving

18%

Production

17%

Construction and repair

15%

Management

Farming, fishing and forestry

Food service

Cleaning and personal care

Healthcare

0.4%

Business and finance

Computer and math

Engineering and science

Education

Legal and social services

Arts, media and sports

Police and fire

Industries

Retail

29%

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

21%

Restaurants and hotels

10%

Manufacturing

Health care and social assistance

Construction

Agriculture and mining

Finance, insurance and real estate

Wholesale

Education

Professional and technical services

Public administration

Admin, support and management

Other services

Information

Arts and recreation

Median earnings per worker

$27,628

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

2.5%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

9.4%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	78159	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	—	$74,888
Service	$7,083	$26,804
Sales and office	$27,760	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$29,083	$49,199
Production and transportation	$27,400	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

11%

High school

62%

Some college

14%

Associate's

Bachelor's

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 88.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 7.6%
Graduate or professional degree: 0%
Households with broadband: 77.4%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 48.2%
No internet access: 17.5%
Without health insurance: 16.2%
Limited-English households: 2.7%

Geography

City (USPS): Smiley
State: Texas
County: Gonzales County
Center point: 29.2259° N, 97.5850° W
Land area: 132 sq mi
Water area: 0.2 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Zip codes near 78159

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
77994	Westhoff, TX	7.6 mi	424	$87,589	—
78677	Wrightsboro, TX	8.4 mi	44	—	—
78140	Nixon, TX	12 mi	3,474	$50,250	$85,200
78614	Cost, TX	13 mi	262	—	—
78116	Gillett, TX	13 mi	226	$88,700	$331,800
78111	Ecleto, TX	16 mi	0	—	—
78143	Pandora, TX	16 mi	0	—	—
78164	Yorktown, TX	18 mi	2,927	$67,578	$171,300
78122	Leesville, TX	18 mi	338	—	—
77967	Hochheim, TX · PO box	19 mi	—	—	—
78629	Gonzales, TX	19 mi	12,740	$59,521	$206,700
78160	Stockdale, TX	20 mi	4,885	$64,800	$243,300

Questions about 78159

What city is zip code 78159?

78159 is assigned to Smiley, Texas. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 78159 in?

78159 is in Gonzales County, Texas.

What is the population of 78159?

About 623 people live in 78159, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 78159 in?

78159 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 78159?

The median household income in 78159 is $35,083.

What zip codes are near 78159?

The closest zip codes to 78159 are 77994, 78677, 78140, 78614, 78116.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 78159, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.