Population 13,033 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in ZIP 78538
Household size in ZIP 78538
| Period | ZIP 78538 | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.06 | 3.67 | 2.87 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.96 | 3.72 | 2.93 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.62 | 3.66 | 2.95 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.75 | 3.42 | 2.83 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.32 | −0.25 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Households in ZIP 78538 are large by national standards, averaging 3.75 people against 2.65 for the U.S. That usually means more families with children at home. Household size has dropped from 4.06 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of the 1,017 Texas ZIP codes with 5,000+ people, only 12 have larger households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in ZIP 78538
| Period | ZIP 78538 | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.7 | 28.7 | 34.7 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 26.2 | 29.5 | 35.4 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 30.5 | 30.0 | 36.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 28.1 | 31.9 | 36.7 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.5 | +3.2 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
ZIP 78538 is young: half of its residents are under 28.1, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young families with children. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 24.7, as it has nationally. Of the 1,017 Texas ZIP codes with 5,000+ people, only 17 are younger.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in ZIP 78538
| Period | ZIP 78538 | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.7% | 18.3% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 19.8% | 18.3% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 14.9% | 19.5% | 13.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 13.8% | 18.6% | 12.9% | 11.6% |
| Change | −7.0 pts | +0.3 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in seven households in ZIP 78538 (13.8%), above the national share of 11.6%. Still, single parents are less common here than in the McAllen area overall (18.6%). The single-parent share has fallen 7.0 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in ZIP 78538
Renters in ZIP 78538
| Period | ZIP 78538 | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.0% | 29.2% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.4% | 32.1% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.2% | 32.0% | 38.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 24.3% | 32.5% | 37.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.3 pts | +3.4 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 24.3% of households in ZIP 78538 rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Nearly six in ten owners (55.8%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the southeast and least common in the northwest.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in ZIP 78538
| Period | ZIP 78538 | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.5% | 14.6% | 11.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.2% | 12.1% | 10.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 15.4% | 13.1% | 10.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.3% | 12.4% | 9.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.2 pts | −2.2 pts | −2.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
A few more homes sit empty in ZIP 78538 than nationally: 11.3%, against 9.6%. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Vacancy has fallen 4.2 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in ZIP 78538
| Period | ZIP 78538 | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1987 | 1991 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1992 | 1993 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1991 | 1995 | 1987 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 2001 | 1998 | 1992 | 1980 |
| Change | +14 | +7 | +8 | +6 |
Much of the housing in ZIP 78538 is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 2001, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1987 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. ZIP 78538 has newer homes than the great majority of Texas ZIP codes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in ZIP 78538
| Period | ZIP 78538 | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $489 | $597 | $921 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $512 | $652 | $1,005 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $537 | $737 | $1,178 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $684 | $987 | $1,560 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$195 | +$390 | +$639 | +$606 |
Rent in ZIP 78538 runs $684 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $195 a month since 2006–10, up 40%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 31.0% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the south; the highest are in the north.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in ZIP 78538
Bachelor's degrees in ZIP 78538
| Period | ZIP 78538 | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.1% | 15.1% | 27.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.5% | 16.4% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 11.1% | 18.4% | 30.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.1% | 20.3% | 34.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +1.1 pts | +5.2 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in ZIP 78538 have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 8.1%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree is up 1.1 points from 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Only 21 of the 1,017 Texas ZIP codes with 5,000+ people have a lower share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in ZIP 78538
| Period | ZIP 78538 | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 50.9% | 59.4% | 80.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 50.5% | 61.5% | 82.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 55.7% | 64.9% | 83.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 63.6% | 69.8% | 85.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +12.7 pts | +10.4 pts | +5.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
More than a third of adults in ZIP 78538 never finished high school, well above the national share: only 63.6% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma is up 12.7 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Only 43 of the 1,017 Texas ZIP codes with 5,000+ people have a lower share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in ZIP 78538
| Period | ZIP 78538 | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.4% | 10.2% | 7.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 16.9% | 10.5% | 7.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.0% | 6.7% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.4% | 7.6% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | −2.6 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in ZIP 78538: 12.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Only 19 of the 1,017 Texas ZIP codes with 5,000+ people have higher unemployment. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
ZIP 78538 compared with nearby ZIP codes
| ZIP code | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZIP 78538 | 3.75 | 28.1 | 13.8% | 24.3% | 11.3% | 2001 | $684 | 8.1% | 63.6% | 12.4% |
| ZIP 78543 | 2.98 | 33.9 | 13.5% | 25.6% | 11.2% | 1993 | $849 | 10.8% | 76.6% | 5.2% |
| ZIP 78558 | 4.09 | 26.1 | 27.3% | 17.3% | 6.6% | 1999 | $807 | 13.5% | 63.6% | 7.4% |
| ZIP 78562 | 3.05 | 34.7 | 14.7% | 19.3% | 6.1% | 1988 | $373 | 4.6% | 50.7% | 11.5% |
| ZIP 78549 | 3.26 | 32.7 | 14.5% | 6.1% | 18.7% | 2004 | $964 | 13.4% | 58.9% | 25.2% |
| ZIP 78542 | 3.63 | 29.7 | 19.1% | 24.6% | 9.8% | 2002 | $905 | 13.3% | 67.4% | 9.1% |
| ZIP 78599 | 3.86 | 28.0 | 26.3% | 32.0% | 8.1% | 2001 | $970 | 14.7% | 66.5% | 9.5% |
| ZIP 78561 | 3.36 | 42.7 | 2.9% | 14.0% | 12.3% | 2006 | $809 | 23.0% | 60.2% | 8.2% |
| ZIP 78593 | 3.62 | 29.5 | 16.5% | 32.3% | 7.9% | 1992 | $1,006 | 17.7% | 72.6% | 10.0% |
| ZIP 78594 | 2.73 | 39.4 | 9.9% | 22.1% | 7.7% | 1986 | $350 | 8.3% | 65.5% | 8.6% |
| ZIP 78539 | 2.63 | 35.9 | 17.6% | 45.2% | 11.8% | 1998 | $1,118 | 35.9% | 86.4% | 3.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
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About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up ZIP 78538. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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