Zip code 78959: Waelder, Texas

Q: What city is zip code 78959?

78959 is assigned to Waelder, Texas. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 78959 in?

78959 is mostly in Gonzales County, but it extends into 3 other counties.

Q: What is the population of 78959?

About 1,157 people live in 78959, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 78959?

The median household income in 78959 is $60,472.

Q: What zip codes are near 78959?

The closest zip codes to 78959 are 78941, 78632, 78953, 77975, 78949.

Residential delivery areaGonzales CountyCentral Time

Population

1,157

Median household income

$60K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

—

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$936/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

49.7

U.S. 38.9

Land area

146 sq mi

8 people/sq mi

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

About 78959

78959 is a rural zip code in Waelder, Texas (Gonzales County), covering 146 sq mi of land. About 1,157 people live here, or 8 per square mile. The median resident is 49.7 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $60,472 a year, 25% below the national median of $80,734. 12.6% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). 76% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $936 a month.

17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 28.8 minutes each way, and 18% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in management; construction and repair; and office and administrative support. 27% of them are self-employed (U.S.: 10%). 35% of households speak a language other than English at home, most often Spanish.

How 78959 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Self-employed workers27%
99th
U.S. 10% · TX 10.5%65th of 1,810 in TX
Uninsured rate23.4%
97th
WeaknessU.S. 8.4% · TX 17.1%366th of 1,808 in TX
Residents 65 and older29.7%
96th
U.S. 17.2% · TX 13.4%153rd of 1,818 in TX
Median age49.7
95th
U.S. 38.9 · TX 35.6214th of 1,817 in TX
Government workers24.8%
94th
U.S. 14.5% · TX 14.1%236th of 1,810 in TX
Housing vacancy19.4%
93rd
U.S. 10.1% · TX 9.4%490th of 1,794 in TX
Work from home17.8%
71st
U.S. 15.1% · TX 14.4%289th of 1,810 in TX
Homeownership rate76.2%
70th
U.S. 65.2% · TX 62.6%804th of 1,792 in TX
Income inequality (Gini)0.459
69th
U.S. 0.483 · TX 0.478530th of 1,785 in TX
Average commute28.8 min
67th
U.S. 26.4 min · TX 26.7 min643rd of 1,738 in TX
Diversity index57.3
66th
U.S. 61.4 · TX 67.1546th of 1,818 in TX
Foreign-born residents15.7%
66th
U.S. 14.1% · TX 17.6%495th of 1,818 in TX
Poverty rate12.6%
59th
U.S. 12.5% · TX 13.8%902nd of 1,794 in TX
Unemployment rate5.4%
59th
U.S. 5.2% · TX 5.3%663rd of 1,810 in TX
Tech workers2.2%
37th
U.S. 3.8% · TX 3.8%645th of 1,810 in TX
Per capita income$35,045
34th
U.S. $44,673 · TX $40,752836th of 1,813 in TX
Broadband access88.6%
26th
U.S. 91% · TX 91.4%930th of 1,792 in TX
Median household income$60,472
21st
U.S. $80,734 · TX $78,4761,142nd of 1,712 in TX
Rent-burdened renters41.5%
19th
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · TX 51.7%1,113th of 1,692 in TX
Veterans3.2%
17th
U.S. 6.2% · TX 6.2%1,515th of 1,818 in TX
Median gross rent$936
16th
U.S. $1,413 · TX $1,4031,133rd of 1,511 in TX
Bachelor's degree or higher17.3%
14th
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · TX 33.8%1,171st of 1,811 in TX
Healthcare workers6.2%
9th
U.S. 9.7% · TX 8.6%1,238th of 1,810 in TX
Median earnings per worker$34,868
8th
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · TX $47,5751,461st of 1,794 in TX
Residents under 189%
2nd
U.S. 22% · TX 25%1,708th of 1,818 in TX
Population1,157
1st
U.S. 334,922,499 · TX 30,188,4241,422nd of 1,818 in TX
Population density8/sq mi
1st
U.S. 95/sq mi · TX 116/sq mi1,564th of 1,818 in TX

Measure	78959	Gonzales	TX	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in TX
Self-employed workers	27%	13%	10.5%	10%	99th	65th of 1,810
Uninsured rateWeakness	23.4%	18%	17.1%	8.4%	97th	366th of 1,808
Residents 65 and older	29.7%	18.1%	13.4%	17.2%	96th	153rd of 1,818
Median age	49.7	39.3	35.6	38.9	95th	214th of 1,817
Government workers	24.8%	11.2%	14.1%	14.5%	94th	236th of 1,810
Housing vacancy	19.4%	12.1%	9.4%	10.1%	93rd	490th of 1,794
Work from home	17.8%	4%	14.4%	15.1%	71st	289th of 1,810
Homeownership rate	76.2%	66.2%	62.6%	65.2%	70th	804th of 1,792
Income inequality (Gini)	0.459	0.462	0.478	0.483	69th	530th of 1,785
Average commute	28.8 min	27.2 min	26.7 min	26.4 min	67th	643rd of 1,738
Diversity index	57.3	57.1	67.1	61.4	66th	546th of 1,818
Foreign-born residents	15.7%	11.7%	17.6%	14.1%	66th	495th of 1,818
Poverty rate	12.6%	15.8%	13.8%	12.5%	59th	902nd of 1,794
Unemployment rate	5.4%	4.3%	5.3%	5.2%	59th	663rd of 1,810
Tech workers	2.2%	1.4%	3.8%	3.8%	37th	645th of 1,810
Per capita income	$35,045	$29,113	$40,752	$44,673	34th	836th of 1,813
Broadband access	88.6%	86.6%	91.4%	91%	26th	930th of 1,792
Median household income	$60,472	$58,672	$78,476	$80,734	21st	1,142nd of 1,712
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	41.5%	45.7%	51.7%	51.1%	19th	1,113th of 1,692
Veterans	3.2%	5.2%	6.2%	6.2%	17th	1,515th of 1,818
Median gross rent	$936	$840	$1,403	$1,413	16th	1,133rd of 1,511
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	17.3%	11.9%	33.8%	35.7%	14th	1,171st of 1,811
Healthcare workers	6.2%	7.7%	8.6%	9.7%	9th	1,238th of 1,810
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$34,868	$39,975	$47,575	$49,666	8th	1,461st of 1,794
Residents under 18	9%	25.5%	25%	22%	2nd	1,708th of 1,818
Population	1,157	19,851	30,188,424	334,922,499	1st	1,422nd of 1,818
Population density	8/sq mi	19/sq mi	116/sq mi	95/sq mi	1st	1,564th of 1,818

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

25–34

20%

35–44

14%

45–54

15%

55–64

13%

65–74

17%

75+

Median age

49.7

Under 18

65 and over

29.7%

Race and ethnicity

White39%
Black3%
Hispanic52%
Asian0.8%
Native American1%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial3%

Diversity index

57.3

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

15.7%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

79%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

65%

Spanish

33%

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

0.9%

Other

Households

Households: 568
Average household size: 2
Family households: 56.3%
Married couples: 37.3%
Living alone: 30.8%
Veterans (of adults): 3.2%
Male / female: 51% / 49%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

27%

$25–50k

15%

$50–75k

23%

$75–100k

$100–150k

15%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

78959

$60,472

Gonzales Co.

$58,672

Texas

$78,476

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$35,045

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

12.6%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

12.3%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.459

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

78959

—

Gonzales Co.

$159,100

Texas

$283,800

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

78959

$936

Gonzales Co.

$840

Texas

$1,403

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

74%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

21%

Boat, RV, van

0.9%

Housing units: 705
Owner-occupied: 76.2%
Vacant: 19.4%
Median year built: 1992
Median rooms: 4.5
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 41.5%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 18.3%
Home value to income: —

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

69%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

18%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

23%

10–19

11%

20–29

21%

30–44

17%

45–59

11%

60+

18%

Average commute

28.8 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

5.4%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

62.8%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Management

19%

Construction and repair

15%

Office and admin

14%

Cleaning and personal care

Education

Production

Healthcare

Food service

Transportation and moving

Sales

Business and finance

Farming, fishing and forestry

Computer and math

Legal and social services

Arts, media and sports

Police and fire

0.5%

Engineering and science

Industries

Construction

17%

Agriculture and mining

16%

Retail

11%

Manufacturing

10%

Education

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Restaurants and hotels

Public administration

Finance, insurance and real estate

Health care and social assistance

Arts and recreation

Admin, support and management

Professional and technical services

0.5%

Wholesale

0.3%

Other services

Information

Median earnings per worker

$34,868

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

27%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

24.8%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

4.8%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	78959	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$61,250	$74,888
Service	$19,926	$26,804
Sales and office	$37,760	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$32,969	$49,199
Production and transportation	$9,709	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

20%

High school

34%

Some college

22%

Associate's

Bachelor's

Graduate

11%

High school graduate or higher: 79.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 17.3%
Graduate or professional degree: 11.2%
Households with broadband: 88.6%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 30.6%
No internet access: 8.3%
Without health insurance: 23.4%
Limited-English households: 2.1%

Geography

City (USPS): Waelder
State: Texas
County: Gonzales County
Center point: 29.7007° N, 97.3013° W
Land area: 146 sq mi
Water area: 0.2 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

78959 spans 4 counties

Gonzales County80% of land
Fayette County16% of land
Caldwell County3% of land
Bastrop County1% of land

Zip codes near 78959

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
78941	Flatonia, TX	8.8 mi	3,619	$76,477	$194,200
78632	Harwood, TX	10 mi	1,245	$62,500	$187,400
78953	Rosanky, TX	11 mi	1,089	$83,438	$325,400
77975	Moulton, TX	16 mi	1,780	$59,786	$184,900
78949	Muldoon, TX	17 mi	760	$64,167	$285,000
77984	Shiner, TX	18 mi	4,800	$92,656	$213,100
78629	Gonzales, TX	18 mi	12,740	$59,521	$206,700
78662	Red Rock, TX	19 mi	3,015	$94,005	$248,600
78648	Luling, TX	20 mi	7,863	$57,621	$217,500
78658	Ottine, TX	21 mi	94	—	$434,600
78616	Dale, TX	22 mi	10,683	$64,715	$211,500
78963	West Point, TX	22 mi	605	$97,917	$235,600

Questions about 78959

What city is zip code 78959?

78959 is assigned to Waelder, Texas. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 78959 in?

78959 is mostly in Gonzales County, but it extends into 3 other counties.

What is the population of 78959?

About 1,157 people live in 78959, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 78959 in?

78959 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 78959?

The median household income in 78959 is $60,472.

What zip codes are near 78959?

The closest zip codes to 78959 are 78941, 78632, 78953, 77975, 78949.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 78959, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.