ZIP Code 77042
standardSource:
Houston · Harris County · Texas
- Population
- 36,385
- Median income
- $59,097
- Median home value
- $411,800
- Bachelor's or higher
- 45.3%
- Land area
- 16.1 sq mi
2,256/sq mi
▼ 23% vs US
higher than 28% of US ZIPs
▲ 48% vs US
higher than 80% of US ZIPs
Median age 34.4
Chicago
ZIP code 77042 in Houston, Texas has a population of 36,385. The median household income is $59,097, which is 23% below the national average. Median home value is $411,800, 48% above the US average. 45.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
ZIP code 77042 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 16.1 square miles in Houston, Harris County, Texas. The area is home to 36,385 residents, producing a population density of 2,256 people per square mile, and falls within the Chicago time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 77042 against Texas and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 77042 sits at $59,097 (22% below the Texas average), while per-capita income is $44,173. The poverty rate stands at 17.7% and the unemployment rate at 8.6%. On housing, the median home value is $411,800 (66% above the state average) with median rent at $1,346 per month, and 26.3% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 77042 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 45.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 34.4, and the average commute is 30 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Harris County, so you can benchmark 77042 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →
Top industries in ZIP 77042
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
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 + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, 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; HUD FMR + 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
$44,173
Per Capita Income
17.7%
Poverty Rate
8.6%
Unemployment Rate
29.8 min
Mean Commute Time
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?
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
$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 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 |
More ZIP Codes in Harris County
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Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 77042 in? ▼
What is the population of ZIP code 77042? ▼
What is the median household income in ZIP 77042? ▼
What is the average home value in ZIP 77042? ▼
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 77042? ▼
How many businesses are in ZIP code 77042? ▼
What are the main industries in ZIP code 77042? ▼
How have home values changed in ZIP code 77042? ▼
What is the education level in ZIP code 77042? ▼
What is the average commute time in ZIP 77042? ▼
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 77042? ▼
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 77042? ▼
ZIP Code Research Guides
Official Data Resources for Houston, TX
Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023). Business data: Source: Census ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023. Home value trends: Source: FHFA House Price Index (HPI), Five-Digit ZIP Codes.
PlainZIP is not affiliated with the U.S. Census Bureau or any government agency.
Read our methodology , how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.