Zip code 79536: Merkel, Texas

Q: What city is zip code 79536?

79536 is assigned to Merkel, Texas. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 79536 in?

79536 is mostly in Taylor County, but it extends into 2 other counties.

Q: What is the population of 79536?

About 5,047 people live in 79536, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 79536?

The median household income in 79536 is $71,131.

Q: What zip codes are near 79536?

The closest zip codes to 79536 are 79563, 79561, 79603, 79607, 79606.

Residential delivery areaTaylor CountyCentral Time

Population

5,047

Median household income

$71K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$136K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,198/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

32.9

U.S. 38.9

Land area

296 sq mi

17 people/sq mi

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

About 79536

79536 is a rural zip code in Merkel, Texas (Taylor County), covering 296 sq mi of land. About 5,047 people live here, or 17 per square mile. The median resident is 32.9 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $71,131 a year, close to the national median of $80,734. 13.7% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $136,400, or 1.9 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 74% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,198 a month.

15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 27 minutes each way, and 7% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in construction and repair; education; and production and manufacturing.

How 79536 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Income inequality (Gini)0.532
95th
WeaknessU.S. 0.483 · TX 0.47888th of 1,785 in TX
Housing vacancy17.9%
91st
U.S. 10.1% · TX 9.4%551st of 1,794 in TX
Residents under 1827.7%
89th
U.S. 22% · TX 25%450th of 1,818 in TX
Uninsured rate10.4%
73rd
U.S. 8.4% · TX 17.1%1,380th of 1,808 in TX
Poverty rate13.7%
64th
U.S. 12.5% · TX 13.8%816th of 1,794 in TX
Homeownership rate74%
64th
U.S. 65.2% · TX 62.6%926th of 1,792 in TX
Veterans6.7%
62nd
U.S. 6.2% · TX 6.2%830th of 1,818 in TX
Average commute27 min
56th
U.S. 26.4 min · TX 26.7 min813th of 1,738 in TX
Government workers14.5%
56th
U.S. 14.5% · TX 14.1%958th of 1,810 in TX
Residents 65 and older16.8%
52nd
U.S. 17.2% · TX 13.4%838th of 1,818 in TX
Tech workers3%
52nd
U.S. 3.8% · TX 3.8%471st of 1,810 in TX
Per capita income$38,922
46th
U.S. $44,673 · TX $40,752608th of 1,813 in TX
Broadband access91.3%
43rd
U.S. 91% · TX 91.4%703rd of 1,792 in TX
Self-employed workers8.6%
40th
U.S. 10% · TX 10.5%1,280th of 1,810 in TX
Median household income$71,131
37th
U.S. $80,734 · TX $78,476812th of 1,712 in TX
Median gross rent$1,198
36th
U.S. $1,413 · TX $1,403702nd of 1,511 in TX
Median earnings per worker$43,189
33rd
U.S. $49,666 · TX $47,575947th of 1,794 in TX
Healthcare workers8.4%
33rd
U.S. 9.7% · TX 8.6%838th of 1,810 in TX
Diversity index36.9
32nd
U.S. 61.4 · TX 67.11,300th of 1,818 in TX
Work from home7.3%
18th
U.S. 15.1% · TX 14.4%1,081st of 1,810 in TX
Foreign-born residents2.4%
14th
U.S. 14.1% · TX 17.6%1,510th of 1,818 in TX
Median age32.9
11th
U.S. 38.9 · TX 35.61,483rd of 1,817 in TX
Bachelor's degree or higher14.7%
9th
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · TX 33.8%1,352nd of 1,811 in TX
Rent-burdened renters35.3%
9th
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · TX 51.7%1,272nd of 1,692 in TX
Population5,047
8th
U.S. 334,922,499 · TX 30,188,4241,018th of 1,818 in TX
Median home value$136,400
7th
U.S. $332,700 · TX $283,8001,296th of 1,679 in TX
Population density17/sq mi
2nd
U.S. 95/sq mi · TX 116/sq mi1,356th of 1,818 in TX
Unemployment rate1.3%
2nd
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · TX 5.3%1,533rd of 1,810 in TX

Measure	79536	Taylor	TX	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in TX
Income inequality (Gini)Weakness	0.532	0.449	0.478	0.483	95th	88th of 1,785
Housing vacancy	17.9%	11.7%	9.4%	10.1%	91st	551st of 1,794
Residents under 18	27.7%	24.5%	25%	22%	89th	450th of 1,818
Uninsured rate	10.4%	14.1%	17.1%	8.4%	73rd	1,380th of 1,808
Poverty rate	13.7%	14.7%	13.8%	12.5%	64th	816th of 1,794
Homeownership rate	74%	60.5%	62.6%	65.2%	64th	926th of 1,792
Veterans	6.7%	9%	6.2%	6.2%	62nd	830th of 1,818
Average commute	27 min	17.1 min	26.7 min	26.4 min	56th	813th of 1,738
Government workers	14.5%	15.8%	14.1%	14.5%	56th	958th of 1,810
Residents 65 and older	16.8%	15%	13.4%	17.2%	52nd	838th of 1,818
Tech workers	3%	1.4%	3.8%	3.8%	52nd	471st of 1,810
Per capita income	$38,922	$34,253	$40,752	$44,673	46th	608th of 1,813
Broadband access	91.3%	92.1%	91.4%	91%	43rd	703rd of 1,792
Self-employed workers	8.6%	8.8%	10.5%	10%	40th	1,280th of 1,810
Median household income	$71,131	$67,139	$78,476	$80,734	37th	812th of 1,712
Median gross rent	$1,198	$1,159	$1,403	$1,413	36th	702nd of 1,511
Median earnings per worker	$43,189	$39,823	$47,575	$49,666	33rd	947th of 1,794
Healthcare workers	8.4%	11.6%	8.6%	9.7%	33rd	838th of 1,810
Diversity index	36.9	55.8	67.1	61.4	32nd	1,300th of 1,818
Work from home	7.3%	8.1%	14.4%	15.1%	18th	1,081st of 1,810
Foreign-born residents	2.4%	6.7%	17.6%	14.1%	14th	1,510th of 1,818
Median age	32.9	33.1	35.6	38.9	11th	1,483rd of 1,817
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	14.7%	29.3%	33.8%	35.7%	9th	1,352nd of 1,811
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	35.3%	51.6%	51.7%	51.1%	9th	1,272nd of 1,692
Population	5,047	145,863	30,188,424	334,922,499	8th	1,018th of 1,818
Median home value	$136,400	$198,600	$283,800	$332,700	7th	1,296th of 1,679
Population density	17/sq mi	159/sq mi	116/sq mi	95/sq mi	2nd	1,356th of 1,818
Unemployment rateStrength	1.3%	2.6%	5.3%	5.2%	2nd	1,533rd 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

19%

5–17

10%

18–24

15%

25–34

35–44

11%

45–54

10%

55–64

11%

65–74

75+

Median age

32.9

Under 18

27.7%

65 and over

16.8%

Race and ethnicity

White78%
Black2%
Hispanic13%
Asian0.0%
Native American0.1%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.5%
Multiracial6%

Diversity index

36.9

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

2.4%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

76.7%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

90%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 1,695
Average household size: 3
Family households: 73.4%
Married couples: 58.3%
Living alone: 21.7%
Veterans (of adults): 6.7%
Male / female: 49% / 51%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

19%

$25–50k

15%

$50–75k

17%

$75–100k

17%

$100–150k

18%

$150–200k

$200k+

10%

Median household income

79536

$71,131

Taylor Co.

$67,139

Texas

$78,476

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$38,922

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

13.7%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

13.9%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.532

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

79536

$136,400

Taylor Co.

$198,600

Texas

$283,800

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

79536

$1,198

Taylor Co.

$1,159

Texas

$1,403

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

66%

2–4 units

5–19 units

0.7%

20+ units

Mobile home

28%

Boat, RV, van

0.6%

Housing units: 2,065
Owner-occupied: 74%
Vacant: 17.9%
Median year built: 1980
Median rooms: 5.4
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 35.3%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 10.1%
Home value to income: 1.9× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

82%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

24%

10–19

14%

20–29

37%

30–44

11%

45–59

60+

11%

Average commute

27 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

1.3%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

59.9%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Construction and repair

13%

Education

10%

Production

Office and admin

Sales

Healthcare

Management

Cleaning and personal care

Transportation and moving

Arts, media and sports

Business and finance

Computer and math

Food service

Police and fire

Farming, fishing and forestry

Legal and social services

0.4%

Engineering and science

0.4%

Industries

Education

13%

Retail

11%

Health care and social assistance

11%

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

11%

Manufacturing

10%

Construction

Finance, insurance and real estate

Other services

Restaurants and hotels

Agriculture and mining

Information

Arts and recreation

Public administration

Professional and technical services

Admin, support and management

Wholesale

Median earnings per worker

$43,189

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

8.6%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

14.5%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

7.6%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	79536	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$51,017	$74,888
Service	$29,018	$26,804
Sales and office	$38,380	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$55,552	$49,199
Production and transportation	$56,607	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

51%

Some college

19%

Associate's

Bachelor's

10%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 93.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 14.7%
Graduate or professional degree: 4.8%
Households with broadband: 91.3%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 66.8%
No internet access: 7.8%
Without health insurance: 10.4%
Limited-English households: 1%

Geography

City (USPS): Merkel
State: Texas
County: Taylor County
Center point: 32.4741° N, 100.0245° W
Land area: 296 sq mi
Water area: 0.3 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

79536 spans 3 counties

Taylor County61% of land
Jones County37% of land
Nolan County2% of land

Zip codes near 79536

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
79563	Tye, TX	8 mi	964	$49,276	$64,600
79561	Trent, TX	9.3 mi	665	$93,250	$120,800
79603	Abilene, TX	11 mi	23,548	$53,513	$120,900
79607	Dyess Afb, TX	11 mi	3,315	$62,637	—
79606	Abilene, TX	14 mi	29,182	$79,196	$272,600
79605	Abilene, TX	14 mi	28,467	$62,929	$163,600
79698	Abilene, TX · PO box	17 mi	—	—	—
79604	Abilene, TX · PO box	17 mi	—	—	—
79608	Abilene, TX · PO box	17 mi	—	—	—
79697	Abilene, TX · PO box	17 mi	—	—	—
79560	Sylvester, TX	17 mi	37	$85,625	—
79525	Hawley, TX	17 mi	3,121	$89,875	$153,300

Zip codes like 79536 elsewhere

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

Questions about 79536

What city is zip code 79536?

79536 is assigned to Merkel, Texas. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 79536 in?

79536 is mostly in Taylor County, but it extends into 2 other counties.

What is the population of 79536?

About 5,047 people live in 79536, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 79536 in?

79536 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 79536?

The median household income in 79536 is $71,131.

What zip codes are near 79536?

The closest zip codes to 79536 are 79563, 79561, 79603, 79607, 79606.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 79536, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.