Population 89,798 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in ZIP 78542
Household size in ZIP 78542
| Period | ZIP 78542 | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.03 | 3.67 | 2.87 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 4.04 | 3.72 | 2.93 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 4.16 | 3.66 | 2.95 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.63 | 3.42 | 2.83 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.40 | −0.25 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
ZIP 78542 is a place of big households: 3.63 people per home on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. Numbers like that usually point to plenty of families with kids. Household size has dropped from 4.03 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only 19 of the 1,017 Texas ZIP codes with 5,000+ people 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 78542
| Period | ZIP 78542 | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.1 | 28.7 | 34.7 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 25.9 | 29.5 | 35.4 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 26.2 | 30.0 | 36.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 29.7 | 31.9 | 36.7 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.6 | +3.2 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 29.7, ZIP 78542 is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward young families with children. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 25.1, as it has nationally. Of the 1,017 Texas ZIP codes with 5,000+ people, only 40 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 78542
| Period | ZIP 78542 | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.0% | 18.3% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 20.1% | 18.3% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 19.3% | 19.5% | 13.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 19.1% | 18.6% | 12.9% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | +0.3 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in ZIP 78542: 19.1% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has edged down 0.9 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. ZIP 78542 has a higher share of single-parent households than the great majority of Texas ZIP codes.
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 78542
Renters in ZIP 78542
| Period | ZIP 78542 | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.9% | 29.2% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 23.8% | 32.1% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.6% | 32.0% | 38.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 24.6% | 32.5% | 37.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.8 pts | +3.4 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
ZIP 78542 is largely a place of homeowners: only 24.6% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 59.9% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has risen 2.8 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 78542
| Period | ZIP 78542 | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.2% | 14.6% | 11.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.4% | 12.1% | 10.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.7% | 13.1% | 10.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.8% | 12.4% | 9.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −7.4 pts | −2.2 pts | −2.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in ZIP 78542 as nationally: 9.8%, against 9.6%. The rate is lower than in the McAllen area as a whole (12.4%). Vacancy has fallen 7.4 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than 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 78542
| Period | ZIP 78542 | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1996 | 1991 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1995 | 1993 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1998 | 1995 | 1987 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 2002 | 1998 | 1992 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +7 | +8 | +6 |
ZIP 78542 has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 2002, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1996 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southwest, the oldest in the east.
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 78542
| Period | ZIP 78542 | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $522 | $597 | $921 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $596 | $652 | $1,005 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $671 | $737 | $1,178 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $905 | $987 | $1,560 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$383 | +$390 | +$639 | +$606 |
The median renter in ZIP 78542 pays $905 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $383 a month from 2006–10, a 73% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 28.6% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the southwest; the most affordable are in the east.
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 78542
Bachelor's degrees in ZIP 78542
| Period | ZIP 78542 | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.1% | 15.1% | 27.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.8% | 16.4% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.2% | 18.4% | 30.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.3% | 20.3% | 34.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.2 pts | +5.2 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in ZIP 78542: 13.3% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 3.2 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the southwest and least in the southeast.
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 78542
| Period | ZIP 78542 | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 56.0% | 59.4% | 80.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 57.7% | 61.5% | 82.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 60.0% | 64.9% | 83.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 67.4% | 69.8% | 85.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +11.3 pts | +10.4 pts | +5.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
About a third of adults in ZIP 78542 never finished high school, well above the national share: only 67.4% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma has risen 11.3 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Of the 1,017 Texas ZIP codes with 5,000+ people, only 81 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 78542
| Period | ZIP 78542 | McAllen area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.2% | 10.2% | 7.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.9% | 10.5% | 7.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.6% | 6.7% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.1% | 7.6% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.1 pts | −2.6 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in ZIP 78542: 9.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Of the 1,017 Texas ZIP codes with 5,000+ people, only 86 have higher unemployment. Unemployment has fallen 4.1 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 78542 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 78542 | 3.63 | 29.7 | 19.1% | 24.6% | 9.8% | 2002 | $905 | 13.3% | 67.4% | 9.1% |
| ZIP 78558 | 4.09 | 26.1 | 27.3% | 17.3% | 6.6% | 1999 | $807 | 13.5% | 63.6% | 7.4% |
| ZIP 78539 | 2.63 | 35.9 | 17.6% | 45.2% | 11.8% | 1998 | $1,118 | 35.9% | 86.4% | 3.8% |
| ZIP 78541 | 3.21 | 30.0 | 15.8% | 45.3% | 10.2% | 2002 | $1,089 | 26.1% | 75.5% | 5.7% |
| ZIP 78543 | 2.98 | 33.9 | 13.5% | 25.6% | 11.2% | 1993 | $849 | 10.8% | 76.6% | 5.2% |
| ZIP 78589 | 3.45 | 33.9 | 17.7% | 20.8% | 10.9% | 1996 | $979 | 14.2% | 64.5% | 7.3% |
| ZIP 78538 | 3.75 | 28.1 | 13.8% | 24.3% | 11.3% | 2001 | $684 | 8.1% | 63.6% | 12.4% |
| ZIP 78504 | 3.26 | 33.5 | 13.4% | 30.2% | 9.7% | 1999 | $1,275 | 39.1% | 86.7% | 7.0% |
| ZIP 78501 | 2.76 | 36.3 | 14.9% | 51.3% | 13.6% | 1987 | $975 | 28.5% | 76.1% | 5.2% |
| ZIP 78599 | 3.86 | 28.0 | 26.3% | 32.0% | 8.1% | 2001 | $970 | 14.7% | 66.5% | 9.5% |
| ZIP 78549 | 3.26 | 32.7 | 14.5% | 6.1% | 18.7% | 2004 | $964 | 13.4% | 58.9% | 25.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Zip codes with similar populations: 98052, WA · 98012, WA · 97229, OR · 91744, CA · 80134, CO · 84043, UT · 85142, AZ · 85225, AZ · 87121, NM · 89110, NV
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 78542. 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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