Zip code 79842: Marathon, Texas

Q: What city is zip code 79842?

79842 is assigned to Marathon, Texas. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 79842 in?

79842 is in Brewster County, Texas.

Q: What is the population of 79842?

About 285 people live in 79842, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 79842?

The median household income in 79842 is $45,596.

Q: What zip codes are near 79842?

The closest zip codes to 79842 are 79830, 79848, 79831, 79832, 79735.

Residential delivery areaBrewster CountyCentral Time

Population

285

Small sample: rough estimates

Median household income

$46K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$240K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

—

U.S. $1,413

Median age

56.6

U.S. 38.9

Land area

829 sq mi

0 people/sq mi

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

About 79842

79842 is a rural zip code in Marathon, Texas (Brewster County), covering 829 sq mi of land. About 285 people live here. The median resident is 56.6 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 $45,596 a year, 44% below the national median of $80,734. 18.2% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $240,000, or 5.3 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively expensive for local earners. 62% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners.

25% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 27.4 minutes each way, and 16% of workers work from home; walking is the most common way to get to work. The most common jobs among working residents are in food service; office and administrative support; and cleaning and personal care.

How 79842 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Only about 285 people live here, so these survey estimates have wide margins of error.

Housing vacancy45%
99th
U.S. 10.1% · TX 9.4%61st of 1,794 in TX
Government workers39.8%
99th
U.S. 14.5% · TX 14.1%47th of 1,810 in TX
Median age56.6
98th
U.S. 38.9 · TX 35.694th of 1,817 in TX
Uninsured rate21.8%
96th
WeaknessU.S. 8.4% · TX 17.1%430th of 1,808 in TX
Self-employed workers12.6%
81st
U.S. 10% · TX 10.5%618th of 1,810 in TX
Poverty rate18.2%
80th
WeaknessU.S. 12.5% · TX 13.8%493rd of 1,794 in TX
Work from home16.2%
66th
U.S. 15.1% · TX 14.4%354th of 1,810 in TX
Residents 65 and older18.6%
65th
U.S. 17.2% · TX 13.4%675th of 1,818 in TX
Average commute27.4 min
59th
U.S. 26.4 min · TX 26.7 min779th of 1,738 in TX
Per capita income$42,872
57th
U.S. $44,673 · TX $40,752441st of 1,813 in TX
Median earnings per worker$46,327
44th
U.S. $49,666 · TX $47,575766th of 1,794 in TX
Broadband access91.1%
42nd
U.S. 91% · TX 91.4%717th of 1,792 in TX
Diversity index41
37th
U.S. 61.4 · TX 67.11,194th of 1,818 in TX
Homeownership rate62.1%
36th
U.S. 65.2% · TX 62.6%1,327th of 1,792 in TX
Bachelor's degree or higher24.8%
33rd
U.S. 35.7% · TX 33.8%732nd of 1,811 in TX
Income inequality (Gini)0.416
33rd
U.S. 0.483 · TX 0.4781,087th of 1,785 in TX
Median home value$240,000
31st
U.S. $332,700 · TX $283,800672nd of 1,679 in TX
Foreign-born residents4.9%
29th
U.S. 14.1% · TX 17.6%1,243rd of 1,818 in TX
Veterans2.9%
14th
U.S. 6.2% · TX 6.2%1,561st of 1,818 in TX
Median household income$45,596
6th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · TX $78,4761,551st of 1,712 in TX
Population285
1st
U.S. 334,922,499 · TX 30,188,4241,691st of 1,818 in TX
Population density0/sq mi
1st
U.S. 95/sq mi · TX 116/sq mi1,815th of 1,818 in TX
Unemployment rate0%
1st
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · TX 5.3%1,628th of 1,810 in TX
Rent-burdened renters0%
1st
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · TX 51.7%1,575th of 1,692 in TX
Residents under 182.8%
1st
U.S. 22% · TX 25%1,758th of 1,818 in TX
Tech workers0%
1st
U.S. 3.8% · TX 3.8%1,368th of 1,810 in TX
Healthcare workers0%
1st
U.S. 9.7% · TX 8.6%1,698th of 1,810 in TX

Measure	79842	Brewster	TX	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in TX
Housing vacancy	45%	16.3%	9.4%	10.1%	99th	61st of 1,794
Government workers	39.8%	37.7%	14.1%	14.5%	99th	47th of 1,810
Median age	56.6	40.9	35.6	38.9	98th	94th of 1,817
Uninsured rateWeakness	21.8%	15.4%	17.1%	8.4%	96th	430th of 1,808
Self-employed workers	12.6%	11.2%	10.5%	10%	81st	618th of 1,810
Poverty rateWeakness	18.2%	8.9%	13.8%	12.5%	80th	493rd of 1,794
Work from home	16.2%	7.6%	14.4%	15.1%	66th	354th of 1,810
Residents 65 and older	18.6%	26.5%	13.4%	17.2%	65th	675th of 1,818
Average commute	27.4 min	14.3 min	26.7 min	26.4 min	59th	779th of 1,738
Per capita income	$42,872	$38,712	$40,752	$44,673	57th	441st of 1,813
Median earnings per worker	$46,327	$47,080	$47,575	$49,666	44th	766th of 1,794
Broadband access	91.1%	83.7%	91.4%	91%	42nd	717th of 1,792
Diversity index	41	55.8	67.1	61.4	37th	1,194th of 1,818
Homeownership rate	62.1%	62.5%	62.6%	65.2%	36th	1,327th of 1,792
Bachelor's degree or higher	24.8%	45.5%	33.8%	35.7%	33rd	732nd of 1,811
Income inequality (Gini)	0.416	0.417	0.478	0.483	33rd	1,087th of 1,785
Median home value	$240,000	$227,000	$283,800	$332,700	31st	672nd of 1,679
Foreign-born residents	4.9%	11.4%	17.6%	14.1%	29th	1,243rd of 1,818
Veterans	2.9%	8.7%	6.2%	6.2%	14th	1,561st of 1,818
Median household incomeWeakness	$45,596	$56,212	$78,476	$80,734	6th	1,551st of 1,712
Population	285	9,503	30,188,424	334,922,499	1st	1,691st of 1,818
Population density	0/sq mi	2/sq mi	116/sq mi	95/sq mi	1st	1,815th of 1,818
Unemployment rateStrength	0%	3%	5.3%	5.2%	1st	1,628th of 1,810
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	0%	37.6%	51.7%	51.1%	1st	1,575th of 1,692
Residents under 18	2.8%	16.7%	25%	22%	1st	1,758th of 1,818
Tech workers	0%	2%	3.8%	3.8%	1st	1,368th of 1,810
Healthcare workers	0%	3.3%	8.6%	9.7%	1st	1,698th 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

5–17

18–24

23%

25–34

35–44

14%

45–54

34%

55–64

65–74

10%

75+

Median age

56.6

Under 18

2.8%

65 and over

18.6%

Race and ethnicity

White71%
Black0%
Hispanic29%
Asian0%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial0%

Diversity index

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

4.9%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

90.5%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

82%

Spanish

18%

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 203
Average household size: 1.4
Family households: 73.4%
Married couples: 29.6%
Living alone: 26.6%
Veterans (of adults): 2.9%
Male / female: 40% / 60%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

28%

$25–50k

47%

$50–75k

$75–100k

$100–150k

10%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

79842

$45,596

Brewster Co.

$56,212

Texas

$78,476

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$42,872

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

18.2%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

4.4%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.416

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

79842

$240,000

Brewster Co.

$227,000

Texas

$283,800

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

79842

—

Brewster Co.

$839

Texas

$1,403

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

89%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 369
Owner-occupied: 62.1%
Vacant: 45%
Median year built: 1952
Median rooms: 4.4
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 0%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 0%
Home value to income: 5.3× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

26%

Carpooled

24%

Transit

Walked

34%

Bicycle

Worked from home

16%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

64%

10–19

20–29

30–44

45–59

60+

29%

Average commute

27.4 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

69%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Food service

40%

Office and admin

14%

Cleaning and personal care

14%

Production

13%

Police and fire

12%

Management

Business and finance

Computer and math

Engineering and science

Education

Legal and social services

Arts, media and sports

Healthcare

Sales

Construction and repair

Farming, fishing and forestry

Transportation and moving

Industries

Restaurants and hotels

40%

Public administration

29%

Other services

13%

Education

10%

Information

Health care and social assistance

Retail

Manufacturing

Professional and technical services

Construction

Finance, insurance and real estate

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Admin, support and management

Wholesale

Arts and recreation

Agriculture and mining

Median earnings per worker

$46,327

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

12.6%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

39.8%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

7.9%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	79842	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	—	$74,888
Service	$46,558	$26,804
Sales and office	—	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	—	$49,199
Production and transportation	—	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

16%

High school

26%

Some college

Associate's

28%

Bachelor's

20%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 84.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 24.8%
Graduate or professional degree: 5.3%
Households with broadband: 91.1%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 47.8%
No internet access: 1%
Without health insurance: 21.8%
Limited-English households: 7.9%

Geography

City (USPS): Marathon
State: Texas
County: Brewster County
Center point: 30.0130° N, 103.0275° W
Land area: 829 sq mi
Water area: 1 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Zip codes near 79842

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
79830	Alpine, TX	38 mi	7,853	$66,546	$229,400
79848	Sanderson, TX	38 mi	791	$51,696	$114,700
79831	Alpine, TX · PO box	43 mi	—	—	—
79832	Alpine, TX	44 mi	330	—	—
79735	Fort Stockton, TX	54 mi	13,357	$78,935	$174,500
79852	Terlingua, TX	57 mi	641	$34,712	$111,200
79834	Big Bend National Park, TX	59 mi	331	$49,617	—
79846	Redford, TX	72 mi	71	—	—
79734	Fort Davis, TX	73 mi	1,779	$65,227	$241,300
79786	Toyahvale, TX · PO box	79 mi	—	—	—
79718	Balmorhea, TX	80 mi	629	$58,750	$52,800
79780	Saragosa, TX	80 mi	52	—	—

Questions about 79842

What city is zip code 79842?

79842 is assigned to Marathon, Texas. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 79842 in?

79842 is in Brewster County, Texas.

What is the population of 79842?

About 285 people live in 79842, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 79842 in?

79842 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 79842?

The median household income in 79842 is $45,596.

What zip codes are near 79842?

The closest zip codes to 79842 are 79830, 79848, 79831, 79832, 79735.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 79842, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.