Houston, TX · standard
ZIP Code 77042
Harris County, Texas - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 36,385
- 2,256/sq mi High-density area
- $59,097
- Median income Below-median income area
- $411,800
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 45.3%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Houston pairs a below-median household income with upper-quartile home values, in a suburban-density, renter-heavy area.
- 28th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 20%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 2,256
- people per sq mi
- 26%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 77042 against every reporting US ZIP.
ZIP code 77042 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Houston, Harris County, Texas, with 36,385 residents across 16.1 square miles, a density of 2,256 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 77042 reports a modest median household income of $59,097 (22% below the average Texas ZIP), while per-capita income is $44,173. The poverty rate is 17.7%, with unemployment at 8.6%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing costs run above the statewide ZIP benchmark while renting is common: median home value is $411,800 (66% above the average Texas ZIP), with only 26.3% owner-occupied homes and median rent of $1,346.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 45.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 34.4, and the average commute is 30 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Harris County, so 77042 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 77042
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Houston, TX
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 77042.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
436 establishments
- Accommodation and food services 151
Accommodation and food services
151 establishments
- Finance and insurance 147
Finance and insurance
147 establishments
- Wholesale trade 128
Wholesale trade
128 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing 123
Real estate and rental and leasing
123 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 77042, Houston, TX · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
36,385
Population
16.1
Area (sq mi)
2,256
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 77042?
34.4
Median Age
50.3%
Male
49.7%
Female
34.9%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$59,097
Median Household Income
-22% vs state ZIP avg
$44,173
Per Capita Income
17.7%
Poverty Rate
8.6%
Unemployment Rate
29.8 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 77042 ranks nationally
Houston, TX household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$59,097 28th percentile higher than 28% of 30,318 US ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
21,410housing units
21,410
Total Housing Units
18,122
Occupied Units
3,288
Vacant Units
2.13
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$411,800
Median Home Value
+66% vs state ZIP avg
$1,346
Median Rent
1985
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+5.1%
YoY Change (2023)
323
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+223%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 77042 have increased 5.1% over the past year (2023). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +223% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | – | 177 |
| 2019 | +9.7% | 194 |
| 2020 | +10.6% | 215 |
| 2021 | +5.1% | 226 |
| 2023 | – | 323 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2023. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 1,662 business establishments in ZIP 77042, employing approximately 41,072 people with a combined annual payroll of $5,122,099,000.
1,662
Businesses
41,072
Employees
$5.1B
Annual Payroll
19
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 436 | 26.2% |
| Accommodation and food services | 151 | 9.1% |
| Finance and insurance | 147 | 8.8% |
| Wholesale trade | 128 | 7.7% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 123 | 7.4% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 120 | 7.2% |
| Health care and social assistance | 113 | 6.8% |
| Retail trade | 100 | 6.0% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 75 | 4.5% |
| Construction | 63 | 3.8% |
| Information | 43 | 2.6% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 36 | 2.2% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 30 | 1.8% |
| Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction | 29 | 1.7% |
| Manufacturing | 29 | 1.7% |
| Educational services | 19 | 1.1% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 11 | 0.7% |
| Utilities | 5 | 0.3% |
| Industries not classified | 3 | 0.2% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 77042 vs 77063 →
ZIP 77042 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 77036
Houston (77036)
71,969 residents
- 77072
Houston (77072)
56,526 residents
- 77077
Houston (77077)
52,151 residents
- 77099
Houston (77099)
47,091 residents
- 77057
Houston (77057)
39,208 residents
- 77074
Houston (77074)
37,267 residents
- 77042
Houston (77042)
36,385 residents
- 77024
Houston (77024)
34,775 residents
- 77063
Houston (77063)
34,299 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 77042 ranks #7 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 77042 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 77024
Houston (77024)
$136,149 median income
- 77079
Houston (77079)
$101,995 median income
- 77043
Houston (77043)
$79,359 median income
- 77077
Houston (77077)
$72,871 median income
- 77057
Houston (77057)
$66,971 median income
- 77063
Houston (77063)
$59,113 median income
- 77042
Houston (77042)
$59,097 median income
- 77072 $51,070
Houston (77072)
$51,070 median income
- 77099 $49,396
Houston (77099)
$49,396 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 77042 ranks #7 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 77063 | Houston, TX | 34,299 | 2.4 mi |
| 77077 | Houston, TX | 52,151 | 3.3 mi |
| 77036 | Houston, TX | 71,969 | 3.1 mi |
| 77072 | Houston, TX | 56,526 | 3.2 mi |
| 77057 | Houston, TX | 39,208 | 4.3 mi |
| 77024 | Houston, TX | 34,775 | 3.6 mi |
| 77079 | Houston, TX | 31,280 | 3.6 mi |
| 77043 | Houston, TX | 23,358 | 5.0 mi |
| 77099 | Houston, TX | 47,091 | 5.1 mi |
| 77074 | Houston, TX | 37,267 | 4.5 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 77042, both outside TX so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (36,385 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Harris County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 77042 in?
ZIP code 77042 (Houston) is located in Harris County, Texas. Harris County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/harris-tx.
What is the population of ZIP code 77042?
ZIP code 77042 in Houston, TX has a population of 36,385 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 77042?
The median household income in ZIP 77042 is $59,097, which is 23% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 77042?
The median home value in ZIP 77042 is $411,800, which is 48% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 77042?
The largest racial group in ZIP 77042 is White at 34.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 36.0% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 77042?
ZIP code 77042 has 1,662 business establishments employing approximately 41,072 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 77042?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 77042 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (436), Accommodation and food services (151), Finance and insurance (147). There are 19 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 77042?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 77042 increased by 5.1% in 2023. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 223%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 77042?
In ZIP code 77042, 64.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 45.3% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 77042?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 77042 is 29.8 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 77042?
In ZIP code 77042, approximately 26.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 73.7% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 77042?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 77042 is 17.7% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 77042's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 77042 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Houston, TX ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.