Zip code 78661: Prairie Lea, Texas

Q: What city is zip code 78661?

78661 is assigned to Prairie Lea, Texas. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 78661 in?

78661 is in Caldwell County, Texas.

Q: What is the population of 78661?

About 835 people live in 78661, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 78661?

The median household income in 78661 is $82,896.

Q: What zip codes are near 78661?

The closest zip codes to 78661 are 78622, 78638, 78670, 78648, 78655.

Residential delivery areaCaldwell CountyCentral Time

Population

835

Median household income

$83K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$210K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

—

U.S. $1,413

Median age

27.1

U.S. 38.9

Land area

4.1 sq mi

203 people/sq mi

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

About 78661

78661 is a small-town zip code in Prairie Lea, Texas (Caldwell County), covering 4.1 sq mi of land. About 835 people live here, or 203 per square mile. The median resident is 27.1 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $82,896 a year, close to the national median of $80,734. 29.2% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $209,700, or 2.5 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 91% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners.

9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 36.8 minutes each way, and 0% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in office and administrative support; production and manufacturing; and transportation and moving goods. 25% of them are self-employed (U.S.: 10%). 31% of households speak a language other than English at home, most often Spanish.

How 78661 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Rent-burdened renters100%
99th
WeaknessU.S. 51.1% · TX 51.7%3rd of 1,692 in TX
Self-employed workers25.1%
99th
U.S. 10% · TX 10.5%75th of 1,810 in TX
Homeownership rate91.4%
97th
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · TX 62.6%159th of 1,792 in TX
Residents under 1830.9%
97th
U.S. 22% · TX 25%199th of 1,818 in TX
Poverty rate29.2%
95th
WeaknessU.S. 12.5% · TX 13.8%131st of 1,794 in TX
Average commute36.8 min
94th
WeaknessU.S. 26.4 min · TX 26.7 min147th of 1,738 in TX
Uninsured rate16.3%
91st
WeaknessU.S. 8.4% · TX 17.1%847th of 1,808 in TX
Veterans7.1%
67th
U.S. 6.2% · TX 6.2%730th of 1,818 in TX
Residents 65 and older18.1%
61st
U.S. 17.2% · TX 13.4%707th of 1,818 in TX
Median household income$82,896
54th
U.S. $80,734 · TX $78,476526th of 1,712 in TX
Diversity index45
44th
U.S. 61.4 · TX 67.11,069th of 1,818 in TX
Unemployment rate4.3%
39th
U.S. 5.2% · TX 5.3%906th of 1,810 in TX
Income inequality (Gini)0.422
39th
U.S. 0.483 · TX 0.4781,004th of 1,785 in TX
Median earnings per worker$42,250
30th
U.S. $49,666 · TX $47,5751,007th of 1,794 in TX
Median home value$209,700
23rd
U.S. $332,700 · TX $283,800856th of 1,679 in TX
Population density203/sq mi
21st
U.S. 95/sq mi · TX 116/sq mi780th of 1,818 in TX
Housing vacancy3.3%
14th
U.S. 10.1% · TX 9.4%1,691st of 1,794 in TX
Foreign-born residents1.8%
11th
U.S. 14.1% · TX 17.6%1,563rd of 1,818 in TX
Per capita income$26,002
10th
WeaknessU.S. $44,673 · TX $40,7521,436th of 1,813 in TX
Median age27.1
2nd
U.S. 38.9 · TX 35.61,740th of 1,817 in TX
Bachelor's degree or higher9%
2nd
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · TX 33.8%1,655th of 1,811 in TX
Government workers5.9%
2nd
U.S. 14.5% · TX 14.1%1,706th of 1,810 in TX
Population835
1st
U.S. 334,922,499 · TX 30,188,4241,504th of 1,818 in TX
Work from home0%
1st
U.S. 15.1% · TX 14.4%1,684th of 1,810 in TX
Broadband access69.5%
1st
WeaknessU.S. 91% · TX 91.4%1,702nd of 1,792 in TX
Tech workers0%
1st
U.S. 3.8% · TX 3.8%1,381st of 1,810 in TX
Healthcare workers0%
1st
U.S. 9.7% · TX 8.6%1,700th of 1,810 in TX

Measure	78661	Caldwell	TX	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in TX
Rent-burdened rentersWeakness	100%	46.1%	51.7%	51.1%	99th	3rd of 1,692
Self-employed workers	25.1%	14.2%	10.5%	10%	99th	75th of 1,810
Homeownership rateStrength	91.4%	75.3%	62.6%	65.2%	97th	159th of 1,792
Residents under 18	30.9%	23.2%	25%	22%	97th	199th of 1,818
Poverty rateWeakness	29.2%	13.2%	13.8%	12.5%	95th	131st of 1,794
Average commuteWeakness	36.8 min	34.3 min	26.7 min	26.4 min	94th	147th of 1,738
Uninsured rateWeakness	16.3%	21.4%	17.1%	8.4%	91st	847th of 1,808
Veterans	7.1%	7%	6.2%	6.2%	67th	730th of 1,818
Residents 65 and older	18.1%	15.3%	13.4%	17.2%	61st	707th of 1,818
Median household income	$82,896	$69,758	$78,476	$80,734	54th	526th of 1,712
Diversity index	45	55.4	67.1	61.4	44th	1,069th of 1,818
Unemployment rate	4.3%	3.4%	5.3%	5.2%	39th	906th of 1,810
Income inequality (Gini)	0.422	0.409	0.478	0.483	39th	1,004th of 1,785
Median earnings per worker	$42,250	$42,964	$47,575	$49,666	30th	1,007th of 1,794
Median home value	$209,700	$240,500	$283,800	$332,700	23rd	856th of 1,679
Population density	203/sq mi	89/sq mi	116/sq mi	95/sq mi	21st	780th of 1,818
Housing vacancy	3.3%	5.3%	9.4%	10.1%	14th	1,691st of 1,794
Foreign-born residents	1.8%	12.9%	17.6%	14.1%	11th	1,563rd of 1,818
Per capita incomeWeakness	$26,002	$31,050	$40,752	$44,673	10th	1,436th of 1,813
Median age	27.1	38.4	35.6	38.9	2nd	1,740th of 1,817
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	9%	19.3%	33.8%	35.7%	2nd	1,655th of 1,811
Government workers	5.9%	19.1%	14.1%	14.5%	2nd	1,706th of 1,810
Population	835	48,669	30,188,424	334,922,499	1st	1,504th of 1,818
Work from home	0%	9.9%	14.4%	15.1%	1st	1,684th of 1,810
Broadband accessWeakness	69.5%	90.3%	91.4%	91%	1st	1,702nd of 1,792
Tech workers	0%	1.4%	3.8%	3.8%	1st	1,381st of 1,810
Healthcare workers	0%	5.7%	8.6%	9.7%	1st	1,700th 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

22%

5–17

16%

18–24

25–34

12%

35–44

14%

45–54

55–64

15%

65–74

75+

Median age

27.1

Under 18

30.9%

65 and over

18.1%

Race and ethnicity

White21%
Black6%
Hispanic71%
Asian0%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial2%

Diversity index

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

1.8%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

89.9%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

69%

Spanish

31%

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 233
Average household size: 3.6
Family households: 81.5%
Married couples: 50.6%
Living alone: 16.3%
Veterans (of adults): 7.1%
Male / female: 53% / 47%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

13%

$25–50k

24%

$50–75k

$75–100k

18%

$100–150k

15%

$150–200k

$200k+

11%

Median household income

78661

$82,896

Caldwell Co.

$69,758

Texas

$78,476

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$26,002

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

29.2%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

18.9%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.422

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

78661

$209,700

Caldwell Co.

$240,500

Texas

$283,800

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

78661

—

Caldwell Co.

$1,173

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: 241
Owner-occupied: 91.4%
Vacant: 3.3%
Median year built: 1991
Median rooms: 5.1
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 100%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 0%
Home value to income: 2.5× (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

10–19

20–29

17%

30–44

53%

45–59

60+

22%

Average commute

36.8 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

4.3%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

64.3%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Office and admin

31%

Production

14%

Transportation and moving

12%

Sales

11%

Construction and repair

Business and finance

Farming, fishing and forestry

Cleaning and personal care

Education

Food service

Management

Computer and math

Engineering and science

Legal and social services

Arts, media and sports

Healthcare

Police and fire

Industries

Manufacturing

29%

Retail

25%

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

16%

Information

Health care and social assistance

Education

Agriculture and mining

Restaurants and hotels

Admin, support and management

Finance, insurance and real estate

0.8%

Professional and technical services

Construction

Public administration

Other services

Wholesale

Arts and recreation

Median earnings per worker

$42,250

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

25.1%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

5.9%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	78661	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$44,850	$74,888
Service	$8,417	$26,804
Sales and office	$40,304	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$61,667	$49,199
Production and transportation	$43,333	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

16%

High school

62%

Some college

11%

Associate's

Bachelor's

Graduate

0.7%

High school graduate or higher: 84.5%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 9%
Graduate or professional degree: 0.7%
Households with broadband: 69.5%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 12.9%
No internet access: 30.5%
Without health insurance: 16.3%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Prairie Lea
State: Texas
County: Caldwell County
Center point: 29.7219° N, 97.7589° W
Land area: 4.1 sq mi
Water area: 0.1 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Zip codes near 78661

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
78622	Fentress, TX	4.4 mi	331	—	$160,900
78638	Kingsbury, TX	4.6 mi	2,135	$69,250	$317,400
78670	Staples, TX	6.1 mi	130	$78,625	$244,100
78648	Luling, TX	7.5 mi	7,863	$57,621	$217,500
78655	Martindale, TX	7.9 mi	3,730	$55,952	$269,900
78644	Lockhart, TX	12 mi	22,348	$74,709	$279,800
78658	Ottine, TX	12 mi	94	—	$434,600
78656	Maxwell, TX	13 mi	2,847	$81,346	$238,100
78604	Belmont, TX · PO box	14 mi	—	—	—
78156	Seguin, TX · PO box	15 mi	—	—	—
78155	Seguin, TX	17 mi	55,600	$71,039	$266,700
78632	Harwood, TX	17 mi	1,245	$62,500	$187,400

Questions about 78661

What city is zip code 78661?

78661 is assigned to Prairie Lea, Texas. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 78661 in?

78661 is in Caldwell County, Texas.

What is the population of 78661?

About 835 people live in 78661, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 78661 in?

78661 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 78661?

The median household income in 78661 is $82,896.

What zip codes are near 78661?

The closest zip codes to 78661 are 78622, 78638, 78670, 78648, 78655.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 78661, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.