Zip code 78591: Santa Elena, Texas

Q: What city is zip code 78591?

78591 is assigned to Santa Elena, Texas. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 78591 in?

78591 is in Starr County, Texas.

Q: What is the population of 78591?

About 158 people live in 78591, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 78591?

The median household income in 78591 is $35,750.

Q: What zip codes are near 78591?

The closest zip codes to 78591 are 78536, 78588, 78582, 78563, 78541.

Residential delivery areaStarr CountyCentral Time

Population

158

Small sample: rough estimates

Median household income

$36K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

—

U.S. $333K

Median rent

—

U.S. $1,413

Median age

56.1

U.S. 38.9

Land area

176 sq mi

1 people/sq mi

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

About 78591

78591 is a rural zip code in Santa Elena, Texas (Starr County), covering 176 sq mi of land. About 158 people live here. The median resident is 56.1 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally. With so few residents, the Census figures below are rough estimates with wide margins of error.

The median household earns $35,750 a year, about 44% of the national median of $80,734. 28.5% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). 90% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners.

20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 26 minutes each way, and 0% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in transportation and moving goods; cleaning and personal care; and police and fire protection. 97% of households speak a language other than English at home, most often Spanish.

How 78591 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Only about 158 people live here, so these survey estimates have wide margins of error.

Housing vacancy62.9%
99th
U.S. 10.1% · TX 9.4%18th of 1,794 in TX
Median age56.1
98th
U.S. 38.9 · TX 35.6103rd of 1,817 in TX
Poverty rate28.5%
95th
WeaknessU.S. 12.5% · TX 13.8%149th of 1,794 in TX
Homeownership rate89.5%
95th
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · TX 62.6%219th of 1,792 in TX
Uninsured rate13.9%
86th
WeaknessU.S. 8.4% · TX 17.1%1,074th of 1,808 in TX
Foreign-born residents24.7%
81st
U.S. 14.1% · TX 17.6%219th of 1,818 in TX
Self-employed workers11.8%
76th
U.S. 10% · TX 10.5%721st of 1,810 in TX
Income inequality (Gini)0.469
75th
U.S. 0.483 · TX 0.478433rd of 1,785 in TX
Government workers14.7%
58th
U.S. 14.5% · TX 14.1%929th of 1,810 in TX
Average commute26 min
50th
U.S. 26.4 min · TX 26.7 min922nd of 1,738 in TX
Residents 65 and older14.6%
35th
U.S. 17.2% · TX 13.4%1,047th of 1,818 in TX
Per capita income$31,329
22nd
U.S. $44,673 · TX $40,7521,091st of 1,813 in TX
Bachelor's degree or higher20%
20th
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · TX 33.8%1,024th of 1,811 in TX
Residents under 1817.1%
15th
U.S. 22% · TX 25%1,525th of 1,818 in TX
Median household income$35,750
2nd
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · TX $78,4761,666th of 1,712 in TX
Diversity index6.1
2nd
U.S. 61.4 · TX 67.11,757th of 1,818 in TX
Population158
1st
U.S. 334,922,499 · TX 30,188,4241,777th of 1,818 in TX
Population density1/sq mi
1st
U.S. 95/sq mi · TX 116/sq mi1,801st of 1,818 in TX
Work from home0%
1st
U.S. 15.1% · TX 14.4%1,790th of 1,810 in TX
Unemployment rate0%
1st
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · TX 5.3%1,782nd of 1,810 in TX
Broadband access55.3%
1st
WeaknessU.S. 91% · TX 91.4%1,769th of 1,792 in TX
Veterans0%
1st
U.S. 6.2% · TX 6.2%1,808th of 1,818 in TX
Rent-burdened renters0%
1st
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · TX 51.7%1,674th of 1,692 in TX
Median earnings per worker$23,654
1st
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · TX $47,5751,733rd of 1,794 in TX
Tech workers0%
1st
U.S. 3.8% · TX 3.8%1,741st of 1,810 in TX
Healthcare workers0%
1st
U.S. 9.7% · TX 8.6%1,785th of 1,810 in TX

Measure	78591	Starr	TX	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in TX
Housing vacancy	62.9%	17.2%	9.4%	10.1%	99th	18th of 1,794
Median age	56.1	29.4	35.6	38.9	98th	103rd of 1,817
Poverty rateWeakness	28.5%	33.5%	13.8%	12.5%	95th	149th of 1,794
Homeownership rateStrength	89.5%	69.5%	62.6%	65.2%	95th	219th of 1,792
Uninsured rateWeakness	13.9%	28.9%	17.1%	8.4%	86th	1,074th of 1,808
Foreign-born residents	24.7%	27.2%	17.6%	14.1%	81st	219th of 1,818
Self-employed workers	11.8%	13.1%	10.5%	10%	76th	721st of 1,810
Income inequality (Gini)	0.469	0.533	0.478	0.483	75th	433rd of 1,785
Government workers	14.7%	26.8%	14.1%	14.5%	58th	929th of 1,810
Average commute	26 min	22.6 min	26.7 min	26.4 min	50th	922nd of 1,738
Residents 65 and older	14.6%	11.4%	13.4%	17.2%	35th	1,047th of 1,818
Per capita income	$31,329	$18,829	$40,752	$44,673	22nd	1,091st of 1,813
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	20%	13.6%	33.8%	35.7%	20th	1,024th of 1,811
Residents under 18	17.1%	32.5%	25%	22%	15th	1,525th of 1,818
Median household incomeWeakness	$35,750	$37,639	$78,476	$80,734	2nd	1,666th of 1,712
Diversity index	6.1	5.5	67.1	61.4	2nd	1,757th of 1,818
Population	158	66,067	30,188,424	334,922,499	1st	1,777th of 1,818
Population density	1/sq mi	54/sq mi	116/sq mi	95/sq mi	1st	1,801st of 1,818
Work from home	0%	9.3%	14.4%	15.1%	1st	1,790th of 1,810
Unemployment rateStrength	0%	10.4%	5.3%	5.2%	1st	1,782nd of 1,810
Broadband accessWeakness	55.3%	78.6%	91.4%	91%	1st	1,769th of 1,792
Veterans	0%	2%	6.2%	6.2%	1st	1,808th of 1,818
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	0%	55.8%	51.7%	51.1%	1st	1,674th of 1,692
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$23,654	$25,906	$47,575	$49,666	1st	1,733rd of 1,794
Tech workers	0%	0.2%	3.8%	3.8%	1st	1,741st of 1,810
Healthcare workers	0%	14%	8.6%	9.7%	1st	1,785th 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

13%

5–17

18–24

11%

25–34

35–44

12%

45–54

36%

55–64

65–74

75+

Median age

56.1

Under 18

17.1%

65 and over

14.6%

Race and ethnicity

White3%
Black0%
Hispanic97%
Asian0%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial0%

Diversity index

6.1

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

24.7%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

72.2%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

Spanish

97%

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 76
Average household size: 2.1
Family households: 36.8%
Married couples: 25%
Living alone: 63.2%
Veterans (of adults): 0%
Male / female: 53% / 47%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

42%

$25–50k

29%

$50–75k

$75–100k

18%

$100–150k

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

78591

$35,750

Starr Co.

$37,639

Texas

$78,476

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$31,329

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

28.5%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

6.6%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.469

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

78591

—

Starr Co.

$95,100

Texas

$283,800

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

78591

—

Starr Co.

$726

Texas

$1,403

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

89%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

11%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 205
Owner-occupied: 89.5%
Vacant: 62.9%
Median year built: 1979
Median rooms: 5.1
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 0%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 0%
Home value to income: —

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

90%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

15%

10–19

38%

20–29

26%

30–44

13%

45–59

60+

Average commute

26 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

51.9%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Transportation and moving

19%

Cleaning and personal care

18%

Police and fire

16%

Production

12%

Education

10%

Sales

10%

Farming, fishing and forestry

Management

Office and admin

Business and finance

Computer and math

Engineering and science

Legal and social services

Arts, media and sports

Healthcare

Food service

Construction and repair

Industries

Agriculture and mining

24%

Education

18%

Admin, support and management

16%

Health care and social assistance

10%

Public administration

Wholesale

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Retail

Construction

Professional and technical services

Manufacturing

Restaurants and hotels

Finance, insurance and real estate

Other services

Information

Arts and recreation

Median earnings per worker

$23,654

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

11.8%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

14.7%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

10.3%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	78591	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$44,375	$74,888
Service	$22,788	$26,804
Sales and office	$4,750	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	—	$49,199
Production and transportation	$42,188	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

13%

High school

47%

Some college

13%

Associate's

Bachelor's

Graduate

11%

High school graduate or higher: 87.5%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 20%
Graduate or professional degree: 10.8%
Households with broadband: 55.3%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 39.5%
No internet access: 44.7%
Without health insurance: 13.9%
Limited-English households: 5.3%

Geography

City (USPS): Santa Elena
State: Texas
County: Starr County
Center point: 26.6391° N, 98.5519° W
Land area: 176 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 78591

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
78536	Delmita, TX	6.7 mi	371	$28,393	—
78588	San Isidro, TX	12 mi	289	$94,821	$52,800
78582	Rio Grande City, TX	14 mi	44,741	$42,626	$102,800
78563	Linn, TX	19 mi	92	—	—
78541	Edinburg, TX	21 mi	51,710	$52,863	$156,700
78595	Sullivan City, TX	22 mi	6,118	$58,846	$89,200
78576	Penitas, TX	23 mi	15,484	$49,137	$131,400
78360	Guerra, TX	23 mi	0	—	—
78547	Garciasville, TX	25 mi	306	—	—
78574	Mission, TX	25 mi	62,456	$52,393	$129,900
78353	Encino, TX	26 mi	476	—	—
78548	Grulla, TX	26 mi	1,341	$37,308	$54,400

Questions about 78591

What city is zip code 78591?

78591 is assigned to Santa Elena, Texas. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 78591 in?

78591 is in Starr County, Texas.

What is the population of 78591?

About 158 people live in 78591, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 78591 in?

78591 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 78591?

The median household income in 78591 is $35,750.

What zip codes are near 78591?

The closest zip codes to 78591 are 78536, 78588, 78582, 78563, 78541.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 78591, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.