Zip code 78526: Brownsville, Texas

Q: What city is zip code 78526?

78526 is assigned to Brownsville, Texas. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 78526 in?

78526 is in Cameron County, Texas.

Q: What is the population of 78526?

About 60,012 people live in 78526, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 78526?

The median household income in 78526 is $70,565.

Q: What zip codes are near 78526?

The closest zip codes to 78526 are 78523, 78520, 78575, 78522, 78521.

Residential delivery areaCameron CountyCentral Time

Population

60,012

Median household income

$71K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$185K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,095/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

29.7

U.S. 38.9

Land area

47 sq mi

1,266 people/sq mi

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

About 78526

78526 is a suburban zip code in Brownsville, Texas (Cameron County), covering 47 sq mi of land. About 60,012 people live here, or 1,266 per square mile. The median resident is 29.7 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $70,565 a year, close to the national median of $80,734. 16.9% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $185,000, or 2.6 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 69% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,095 a month.

34% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 21 minutes each way, and 8% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in education; office and administrative support; and management. 90% of households speak a language other than English at home, most often Spanish.

How 78526 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Residents under 1831.9%
98th
U.S. 22% · TX 25%143rd of 1,818 in TX
Uninsured rate20%
95th
WeaknessU.S. 8.4% · TX 17.1%543rd of 1,808 in TX
Government workers23.9%
93rd
U.S. 14.5% · TX 14.1%270th of 1,810 in TX
Population60,012
89th
U.S. 334,922,499 · TX 30,188,42478th of 1,818 in TX
Foreign-born residents24.4%
81st
U.S. 14.1% · TX 17.6%222nd of 1,818 in TX
Poverty rate16.9%
76th
U.S. 12.5% · TX 13.8%573rd of 1,794 in TX
Self-employed workers9.8%
56th
U.S. 10% · TX 10.5%1,036th of 1,810 in TX
Bachelor's degree or higher33.9%
54th
U.S. 35.7% · TX 33.8%435th of 1,811 in TX
Unemployment rate5.1%
54th
U.S. 5.2% · TX 5.3%720th of 1,810 in TX
Broadband access92.5%
53rd
U.S. 91% · TX 91.4%584th of 1,792 in TX
Income inequality (Gini)0.438
52nd
U.S. 0.483 · TX 0.478792nd of 1,785 in TX
Homeownership rate69.2%
51st
U.S. 65.2% · TX 62.6%1,123rd of 1,792 in TX
Population density1,266/sq mi
48th
U.S. 95/sq mi · TX 116/sq mi519th of 1,818 in TX
Housing vacancy6%
44th
U.S. 10.1% · TX 9.4%1,421st of 1,794 in TX
Rent-burdened renters48.4%
41st
U.S. 51.1% · TX 51.7%827th of 1,692 in TX
Healthcare workers8.9%
41st
U.S. 9.7% · TX 8.6%723rd of 1,810 in TX
Median household income$70,565
37th
U.S. $80,734 · TX $78,476839th of 1,712 in TX
Median gross rent$1,095
28th
U.S. $1,413 · TX $1,403851st of 1,511 in TX
Median earnings per worker$41,213
25th
U.S. $49,666 · TX $47,5751,089th of 1,794 in TX
Veterans3.7%
23rd
U.S. 6.2% · TX 6.2%1,424th of 1,818 in TX
Work from home8%
22nd
U.S. 15.1% · TX 14.4%989th of 1,810 in TX
Tech workers1.4%
20th
U.S. 3.8% · TX 3.8%877th of 1,810 in TX
Median home value$185,000
18th
U.S. $332,700 · TX $283,800982nd of 1,679 in TX
Average commute21 min
17th
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · TX 26.7 min1,374th of 1,738 in TX
Per capita income$26,600
11th
WeaknessU.S. $44,673 · TX $40,7521,405th of 1,813 in TX
Diversity index14.5
7th
U.S. 61.4 · TX 67.11,678th of 1,818 in TX
Residents 65 and older9.6%
7th
U.S. 17.2% · TX 13.4%1,561st of 1,818 in TX
Median age29.7
4th
U.S. 38.9 · TX 35.61,689th of 1,817 in TX

Measure	78526	Cameron	TX	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in TX
Residents under 18	31.9%	28.7%	25%	22%	98th	143rd of 1,818
Uninsured rateWeakness	20%	25.8%	17.1%	8.4%	95th	543rd of 1,808
Government workers	23.9%	19.1%	14.1%	14.5%	93rd	270th of 1,810
Population	60,012	426,120	30,188,424	334,922,499	89th	78th of 1,818
Foreign-born residents	24.4%	23.2%	17.6%	14.1%	81st	222nd of 1,818
Poverty rate	16.9%	24.8%	13.8%	12.5%	76th	573rd of 1,794
Self-employed workers	9.8%	11.4%	10.5%	10%	56th	1,036th of 1,810
Bachelor's degree or higher	33.9%	22.1%	33.8%	35.7%	54th	435th of 1,811
Unemployment rate	5.1%	5.9%	5.3%	5.2%	54th	720th of 1,810
Broadband access	92.5%	84.4%	91.4%	91%	53rd	584th of 1,792
Income inequality (Gini)	0.438	0.471	0.478	0.483	52nd	792nd of 1,785
Homeownership rate	69.2%	65.2%	62.6%	65.2%	51st	1,123rd of 1,792
Population density	1,266/sq mi	478/sq mi	116/sq mi	95/sq mi	48th	519th of 1,818
Housing vacancy	6%	13.3%	9.4%	10.1%	44th	1,421st of 1,794
Rent-burdened renters	48.4%	49.8%	51.7%	51.1%	41st	827th of 1,692
Healthcare workers	8.9%	12.3%	8.6%	9.7%	41st	723rd of 1,810
Median household income	$70,565	$52,601	$78,476	$80,734	37th	839th of 1,712
Median gross rent	$1,095	$912	$1,403	$1,413	28th	851st of 1,511
Median earnings per worker	$41,213	$33,153	$47,575	$49,666	25th	1,089th of 1,794
Veterans	3.7%	4.1%	6.2%	6.2%	23rd	1,424th of 1,818
Work from home	8%	9.1%	14.4%	15.1%	22nd	989th of 1,810
Tech workers	1.4%	1.3%	3.8%	3.8%	20th	877th of 1,810
Median home value	$185,000	$136,500	$283,800	$332,700	18th	982nd of 1,679
Average commuteStrength	21 min	21.3 min	26.7 min	26.4 min	17th	1,374th of 1,738
Per capita incomeWeakness	$26,600	$24,089	$40,752	$44,673	11th	1,405th of 1,813
Diversity index	14.5	19.5	67.1	61.4	7th	1,678th of 1,818
Residents 65 and older	9.6%	14.3%	13.4%	17.2%	7th	1,561st of 1,818
Median age	29.7	32.7	35.6	38.9	4th	1,689th of 1,817

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

24%

5–17

11%

18–24

14%

25–34

14%

35–44

11%

45–54

55–64

65–74

75+

Median age

29.7

Under 18

31.9%

65 and over

9.6%

Race and ethnicity

White5%
Black0.2%
Hispanic92%
Asian2%
Native American0.0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial0.8%

Diversity index

14.5

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

24.4%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

67.6%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

10%

Spanish

87%

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 17,516
Average household size: 3.4
Family households: 81.4%
Married couples: 57.8%
Living alone: 15.7%
Veterans (of adults): 3.7%
Male / female: 50% / 50%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

18%

$25–50k

18%

$50–75k

17%

$75–100k

13%

$100–150k

18%

$150–200k

11%

$200k+

Median household income

78526

$70,565

Cameron Co.

$52,601

Texas

$78,476

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$26,600

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

16.9%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

16.5%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.438

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

78526

$185,000

Cameron Co.

$136,500

Texas

$283,800

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

78526

$1,095

Cameron Co.

$912

Texas

$1,403

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

77%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

0.1%

Housing units: 18,639
Owner-occupied: 69.2%
Vacant: 6%
Median year built: 2003
Median rooms: 5
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 48.4%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 21.9%
Home value to income: 2.6× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

79%

Carpooled

11%

Transit

0.0%

Walked

Bicycle

0.1%

Worked from home

Other

0.4%

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

10–19

38%

20–29

34%

30–44

16%

45–59

60+

Average commute

21 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

5.1%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

63.7%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Education

12%

Office and admin

12%

Management

11%

Construction and repair

10%

Sales

Healthcare

Transportation and moving

Food service

Cleaning and personal care

Business and finance

Legal and social services

Police and fire

Production

Engineering and science

Computer and math

Arts, media and sports

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.1%

Industries

Education

17%

Health care and social assistance

17%

Retail

11%

Public administration

Manufacturing

Construction

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Restaurants and hotels

Finance, insurance and real estate

Professional and technical services

Other services

Admin, support and management

Wholesale

Arts and recreation

Information

0.7%

Agriculture and mining

0.7%

Median earnings per worker

$41,213

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

9.8%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

23.9%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

6.4%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	78526	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$58,694	$74,888
Service	$26,966	$26,804
Sales and office	$32,829	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$38,824	$49,199
Production and transportation	$31,098	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

19%

High school

21%

Some college

17%

Associate's

Bachelor's

22%

Graduate

12%

High school graduate or higher: 80.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 33.9%
Graduate or professional degree: 11.6%
Households with broadband: 92.5%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 57.3%
No internet access: 4.5%
Without health insurance: 20%
Limited-English households: 12.5%

Geography

City (USPS): Brownsville
State: Texas
County: Cameron County
Center point: 25.9957° N, 97.4509° W
Land area: 47 sq mi
Water area: 2.7 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Brownsville69% of zip
Cameron Park (unincorporated)1% of zip

Census places overlapping the zip's area. Mail may use a different city name than the municipality.

Zip codes near 78526

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
78523	Brownsville, TX · PO box	4.5 mi	—	—	—
78520	Brownsville, TX	6.5 mi	64,740	$50,116	$146,000
78575	Olmito, TX	6.7 mi	4,575	$71,765	$249,500
78522	Brownsville, TX · PO box	7.1 mi	—	—	—
78521	Brownsville, TX	9 mi	87,380	$44,509	$99,700
78578	Port Isabel, TX	9.6 mi	10,016	$51,880	$196,200
78566	Los Fresnos, TX	11 mi	25,110	$60,187	$154,300
78586	San Benito, TX	14 mi	50,964	$45,575	$87,200
78568	Lozano, TX · PO box	15 mi	—	—	—
78567	Los Indios, TX	18 mi	323	—	$56,700
78583	Rio Hondo, TX	20 mi	5,236	$51,453	$161,900
78553	Harlingen, TX · PO box	20 mi	—	—	—

Zip codes like 78526 elsewhere

Matched on income, home values, age, density, education, housing and commuting

Questions about 78526

What city is zip code 78526?

78526 is assigned to Brownsville, Texas. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 78526 in?

78526 is in Cameron County, Texas.

What is the population of 78526?

About 60,012 people live in 78526, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 78526 in?

78526 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 78526?

The median household income in 78526 is $70,565.

What zip codes are near 78526?

The closest zip codes to 78526 are 78523, 78520, 78575, 78522, 78521.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 78526, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.