Zip code 78542: Edinburg, Texas

Q: What city is zip code 78542?

78542 is assigned to Edinburg, Texas. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 78542 in?

78542 is in Hidalgo County, Texas.

Q: What is the population of 78542?

About 89,401 people live in 78542, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 78542?

The median household income in 78542 is $55,243.

Q: What zip codes are near 78542?

The closest zip codes to 78542 are 78549, 78538, 78540, 78543, 78558.

Residential delivery areaHidalgo CountyCentral Time

Population

89,401

Median household income

$55K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$150K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$865/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

27.7

U.S. 38.9

Land area

176 sq mi

508 people/sq mi

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

About 78542

78542 is a suburban zip code in Edinburg, Texas (Hidalgo County), covering 176 sq mi of land. About 89,401 people live here, or 508 per square mile. The median resident is 27.7 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $55,243 a year, 32% below the national median of $80,734. 30.4% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $150,200, or 2.7 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 76% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $865 a month.

13% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 24.6 minutes each way, and 12% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in construction and repair; office and administrative support; and sales. 17% of them are self-employed (U.S.: 10%). 92% of households speak a language other than English at home, most often Spanish.

How 78542 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Uninsured rate30%
99th
WeaknessU.S. 8.4% · TX 17.1%150th of 1,808 in TX
Residents under 1833.8%
99th
U.S. 22% · TX 25%92nd of 1,818 in TX
Population89,401
98th
U.S. 334,922,499 · TX 30,188,42418th of 1,818 in TX
Poverty rate30.4%
96th
WeaknessU.S. 12.5% · TX 13.8%116th of 1,794 in TX
Self-employed workers16.5%
94th
U.S. 10% · TX 10.5%302nd of 1,810 in TX
Unemployment rate9.7%
93rd
WeaknessU.S. 5.2% · TX 5.3%167th of 1,810 in TX
Foreign-born residents25.5%
82nd
U.S. 14.1% · TX 17.6%202nd of 1,818 in TX
Government workers17.5%
74th
U.S. 14.5% · TX 14.1%660th of 1,810 in TX
Healthcare workers11%
71st
U.S. 9.7% · TX 8.6%409th of 1,810 in TX
Homeownership rate75.7%
68th
U.S. 65.2% · TX 62.6%835th of 1,792 in TX
Housing vacancy8.6%
64th
U.S. 10.1% · TX 9.4%1,194th of 1,794 in TX
Income inequality (Gini)0.443
57th
U.S. 0.483 · TX 0.478721st of 1,785 in TX
Work from home11.5%
43rd
U.S. 15.1% · TX 14.4%616th of 1,810 in TX
Average commute24.6 min
40th
U.S. 26.4 min · TX 26.7 min1,065th of 1,738 in TX
Population density508/sq mi
33rd
U.S. 95/sq mi · TX 116/sq mi646th of 1,818 in TX
Rent-burdened renters44.3%
27th
U.S. 51.1% · TX 51.7%1,017th of 1,692 in TX
Broadband access86.7%
18th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · TX 91.4%1,099th of 1,792 in TX
Tech workers1.1%
15th
U.S. 3.8% · TX 3.8%999th of 1,810 in TX
Median household income$55,243
14th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · TX $78,4761,324th of 1,712 in TX
Median gross rent$865
11th
U.S. $1,413 · TX $1,4031,251st of 1,511 in TX
Median home value$150,200
9th
U.S. $332,700 · TX $283,8001,235th of 1,679 in TX
Veterans2.3%
9th
U.S. 6.2% · TX 6.2%1,654th of 1,818 in TX
Bachelor's degree or higher12.8%
6th
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · TX 33.8%1,479th of 1,811 in TX
Median earnings per worker$31,836
4th
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · TX $47,5751,585th of 1,794 in TX
Diversity index8.9
3rd
U.S. 61.4 · TX 67.11,731st of 1,818 in TX
Residents 65 and older7.9%
3rd
U.S. 17.2% · TX 13.4%1,680th of 1,818 in TX
Per capita income$19,389
2nd
WeaknessU.S. $44,673 · TX $40,7521,704th of 1,813 in TX
Median age27.7
2nd
U.S. 38.9 · TX 35.61,734th of 1,817 in TX

Measure	78542	Hidalgo	TX	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in TX
Uninsured rateWeakness	30%	28.2%	17.1%	8.4%	99th	150th of 1,808
Residents under 18	33.8%	31%	25%	22%	99th	92nd of 1,818
Population	89,401	891,977	30,188,424	334,922,499	98th	18th of 1,818
Poverty rateWeakness	30.4%	26.7%	13.8%	12.5%	96th	116th of 1,794
Self-employed workers	16.5%	13.9%	10.5%	10%	94th	302nd of 1,810
Unemployment rateWeakness	9.7%	7.6%	5.3%	5.2%	93rd	167th of 1,810
Foreign-born residents	25.5%	26.1%	17.6%	14.1%	82nd	202nd of 1,818
Government workers	17.5%	16.8%	14.1%	14.5%	74th	660th of 1,810
Healthcare workers	11%	11.6%	8.6%	9.7%	71st	409th of 1,810
Homeownership rate	75.7%	67.5%	62.6%	65.2%	68th	835th of 1,792
Housing vacancy	8.6%	12.4%	9.4%	10.1%	64th	1,194th of 1,794
Income inequality (Gini)	0.443	0.477	0.478	0.483	57th	721st of 1,785
Work from home	11.5%	9.2%	14.4%	15.1%	43rd	616th of 1,810
Average commute	24.6 min	22.5 min	26.7 min	26.4 min	40th	1,065th of 1,738
Population density	508/sq mi	568/sq mi	116/sq mi	95/sq mi	33rd	646th of 1,818
Rent-burdened renters	44.3%	48.7%	51.7%	51.1%	27th	1,017th of 1,692
Broadband accessWeakness	86.7%	88%	91.4%	91%	18th	1,099th of 1,792
Tech workers	1.1%	1.1%	3.8%	3.8%	15th	999th of 1,810
Median household incomeWeakness	$55,243	$54,338	$78,476	$80,734	14th	1,324th of 1,712
Median gross rent	$865	$957	$1,403	$1,413	11th	1,251st of 1,511
Median home value	$150,200	$140,900	$283,800	$332,700	9th	1,235th of 1,679
Veterans	2.3%	3.2%	6.2%	6.2%	9th	1,654th of 1,818
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	12.8%	20.6%	33.8%	35.7%	6th	1,479th of 1,811
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$31,836	$32,284	$47,575	$49,666	4th	1,585th of 1,794
Diversity index	8.9	15.1	67.1	61.4	3rd	1,731st of 1,818
Residents 65 and older	7.9%	11.7%	13.4%	17.2%	3rd	1,680th of 1,818
Per capita incomeWeakness	$19,389	$23,117	$40,752	$44,673	2nd	1,704th of 1,813
Median age	27.7	30.5	35.6	38.9	2nd	1,734th 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

25%

5–17

12%

18–24

15%

25–34

12%

35–44

12%

45–54

55–64

65–74

75+

Median age

27.7

Under 18

33.8%

65 and over

7.9%

Race and ethnicity

White3%
Black0.3%
Hispanic95%
Asian0.5%
Native American0.0%
Pacific Islander0.1%
Other0.5%
Multiracial0.2%

Diversity index

8.9

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

25.5%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

67.9%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

Spanish

91%

Other Indo-European

0.1%

Asian / Pacific

0.4%

Other

Households

Households: 23,943
Average household size: 3.6
Family households: 83.4%
Married couples: 54.4%
Living alone: 13.4%
Veterans (of adults): 2.3%
Male / female: 52% / 48%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

25%

$25–50k

21%

$50–75k

16%

$75–100k

13%

$100–150k

16%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

78542

$55,243

Hidalgo Co.

$54,338

Texas

$78,476

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$19,389

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

30.4%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

8.5%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.443

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

78542

$150,200

Hidalgo Co.

$140,900

Texas

$283,800

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

78542

$865

Hidalgo Co.

$957

Texas

$1,403

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

69%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

19%

Boat, RV, van

0.4%

Housing units: 26,187
Owner-occupied: 75.7%
Vacant: 8.6%
Median year built: 2004
Median rooms: 5
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 44.3%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 26.3%
Home value to income: 2.7× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

70%

Carpooled

13%

Transit

0.2%

Walked

0.3%

Bicycle

Worked from home

11%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

14%

10–19

31%

20–29

24%

30–44

20%

45–59

60+

Average commute

24.6 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

9.7%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

56.9%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Construction and repair

15%

Office and admin

12%

Sales

12%

Healthcare

11%

Transportation and moving

Cleaning and personal care

Education

Food service

Production

Management

Business and finance

Legal and social services

Police and fire

Computer and math

Farming, fishing and forestry

Arts, media and sports

Engineering and science

0.5%

Industries

Health care and social assistance

15%

Construction

13%

Education

12%

Retail

11%

Restaurants and hotels

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Admin, support and management

Public administration

Other services

Manufacturing

Agriculture and mining

Finance, insurance and real estate

Wholesale

Information

Professional and technical services

Arts and recreation

Median earnings per worker

$31,836

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

16.5%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

17.5%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

3.9%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	78542	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$57,658	$74,888
Service	$21,193	$26,804
Sales and office	$29,895	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$32,100	$49,199
Production and transportation	$43,589	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

34%

High school

32%

Some college

18%

Associate's

Bachelor's

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 66.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 12.8%
Graduate or professional degree: 3.4%
Households with broadband: 86.7%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 64.1%
No internet access: 10.6%
Without health insurance: 30%
Limited-English households: 20.8%

Geography

City (USPS): Edinburg
State: Texas
County: Hidalgo County
Center point: 26.4325° N, 98.0899° W
Land area: 176 sq mi
Water area: 0.1 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Linn (unincorporated)13% of zip
Edinburg10% of zip
Murillo (unincorporated)3% of zip
Doolittle (unincorporated)2% of zip
César Chávez (unincorporated)2% of zip
San Carlos (unincorporated)1% of zip

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

Zip codes near 78542

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
78549	Hargill, TX	5.4 mi	609	$19,222	$75,400
78538	Edcouch, TX	8.5 mi	11,982	$40,399	$92,100
78540	Edinburg, TX	10 mi	0	—	—
78543	Elsa, TX	11 mi	8,400	$44,527	$87,800
78558	La Blanca, TX	11 mi	722	$57,969	$53,500
78561	Lasara, TX	11 mi	1,457	$102,528	$55,500
78541	Edinburg, TX	12 mi	51,710	$52,863	$156,700
78539	Edinburg, TX	12 mi	37,168	$66,967	$214,500
78502	McAllen, TX · PO box	14 mi	—	—	—
78504	McAllen, TX	14 mi	63,094	$81,905	$218,900
78562	La Villa, TX	16 mi	3,211	$31,522	$102,400
78573	Mission, TX	16 mi	44,809	$55,000	$163,600

Zip codes like 78542 elsewhere

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

Questions about 78542

What city is zip code 78542?

78542 is assigned to Edinburg, Texas. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 78542 in?

78542 is in Hidalgo County, Texas.

What is the population of 78542?

About 89,401 people live in 78542, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 78542 in?

78542 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 78542?

The median household income in 78542 is $55,243.

What zip codes are near 78542?

The closest zip codes to 78542 are 78549, 78538, 78540, 78543, 78558.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 78542, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.