PlainZIP

Wharton, TX · standard

ZIP Code 77488

Wharton County, Texas - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

14,148
25/sq mi
$60,327
Median income
$163,200
Median home value
21.3%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Wharton pairs a below-median household income with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

30th pct
household income, US ZIPs
31th pct
home value, US ZIPs
25
people per sq mi
68%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 77488 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 77488 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Wharton, Wharton County, Texas, home to 14,148 residents across 561.4 square miles, a density of 25 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.

ZIP 77488 reports a modest median household income of $60,327 (20% below the Texas average), while per-capita income is $31,325. 10.9% of residents live below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate reads 4.6%. The typical home here is valued at $163,200 (34% below the state average); renters pay a median of $1,078 monthly, and 67.6% of units are owner-occupied.

Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 21.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 40.2, and the average commute is 26 minutes. To put 77488 in local context, 6 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles appear further down this page alongside 6 additional ZIPs in Wharton County, for a geography-aware comparison.

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 77488

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Wharton, TX

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 77488.

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 · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

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 77488, Wharton, 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

14,148

Population

561.4

Area (sq mi)

25

People / sq mi

Chicago

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 77488?

40.2

Median Age

48.7%

Male

51.3%

Female

7.4%

Foreign-Born

White 48.8%
African American 18.2%
Asian 0.9%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.7%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 21.0%
Hispanic or Latino 42.8%

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?

$60,327

Median Household Income

-20% vs state

$31,325

Per Capita Income

10.9%

Poverty Rate

4.6%

Unemployment Rate

25.8 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 77488 ranks nationally

Wharton, TX household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$60,327 30th percentile higher than 30% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). This entry sits in this band. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

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?

High School Graduate or Higher 54.7%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 21.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

6,370

Total Housing Units

5,665

Occupied Units

705

Vacant Units

2.48

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 67.6%
Renter 32.4%

$163,200

Median Home Value

-34% vs state

$1,078

Median Rent

1979

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

+0.2%

YoY Change (2024)

255

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+155%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 77488 have increased 0.2% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +155% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +5.1% 194
2021 +4.6% 203
2022 +17.3% 239
2023 +6.8% 255
2024 +0.2% 255

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 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 307 business establishments in ZIP 77488, employing approximately 3,511 people with a combined annual payroll of $152,326,000.

307

Businesses

3,511

Employees

$152.3M

Annual Payroll

15

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 48 15.6%
Other services (except public administration) 43 14.0%
Health care and social assistance 38 12.4%
Accommodation and food services 32 10.4%
Finance and insurance 21 6.8%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 20 6.5%
Construction 17 5.5%
Wholesale trade 16 5.2%
Real estate and rental and leasing 16 5.2%
Transportation and warehousing 13 4.2%
Manufacturing 10 3.3%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 9 2.9%
Information 8 2.6%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 6 1.9%
Utilities 5 1.6%

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 77488 vs 77448 →

ZIP 77488 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 77488 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
77448 Hungerford, TX 341 7.5 mi
77467 Pierce, TX 57 6.9 mi
77443 Glen Flora, TX 84 6.7 mi
77453 Lane City, TX 301 8.6 mi
77451 Kendleton, TX 77 10.5 mi
77436 Egypt, TX 73 11.7 mi

More ZIP Codes in Wharton County

77437 standard
El Campo, TX
Pop: 17,054
77435 standard
East Bernard, TX
Pop: 4,539
77420 standard
Boling, TX
Pop: 2,205
77455 standard
Louise, TX
Pop: 2,045
77448 standard
Hungerford, TX
Pop: 341
77453 standard
Lane City, TX
Pop: 301

Related Areas

Wharton County Wharton, TX Texas

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 77488 in? ▼
ZIP code 77488 (Wharton) is located in Wharton County, Texas. Wharton County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/wharton-tx.
What is the population of ZIP code 77488? ▼
ZIP code 77488 in Wharton, TX has a population of 14,148 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 77488? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 77488 is $60,327, which is 21% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 77488? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 77488 is $163,200, which is 41% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 77488? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 77488 is White at 48.8%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 42.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 77488? ▼
ZIP code 77488 has 307 business establishments employing approximately 3,511 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 77488? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 77488 are: Retail trade (48), Other services (except public administration) (43), Health care and social assistance (38). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 77488? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 77488 increased by 0.2% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 155%. 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 77488? ▼
In ZIP code 77488, 54.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 21.3% 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 77488? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 77488 is 25.8 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 77488? ▼
In ZIP code 77488, approximately 67.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 32.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 77488? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 77488 is 10.9% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.