San Antonio, TX · standard
ZIP Code 78238
Bexar County, Texas - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 23,514
- 945/sq mi High-density area
- $57,769
- Median income Below-median income area
- $209,700
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 21.6%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
San Antonio pairs a below-median household income with below-median home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.
- 25th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 46th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 945
- people per sq mi
- 45%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 78238 against every reporting US ZIP.
ZIP code 78238 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, with 23,514 residents across 24.9 square miles, a density of 945 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 78238 reports a modest median household income of $57,769 (24% below the average Texas ZIP), while per-capita income is $28,363. The poverty rate is 13.7%, with unemployment at 5.9%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $209,700 (15% below the average Texas ZIP), and median rent is $1,232; owner occupancy is 44.8%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 21.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 34.1, and the average commute is 25 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Bexar County, so 78238 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 78238
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in San Antonio, TX
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 78238.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
235 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
126 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
105 establishments
- Health care and social assistance 93
Health care and social assistance
93 establishments
- Construction 69
Construction
69 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 78238, San Antonio, 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
23,514
Population
24.9
Area (sq mi)
945
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 78238?
34.1
Median Age
49.3%
Male
50.7%
Female
12.8%
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?
$57,769
Median Household Income
-24% vs state ZIP avg
$28,363
Per Capita Income
13.7%
Poverty Rate
5.9%
Unemployment Rate
24.9 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 78238 ranks among Texas ZIPs
San Antonio, TX household income vs. every Texas ZIP code
Median household income among 1,737 reporting Texas ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$57,769 27th percentile higher than 27% of 1,737 Texas ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Texas 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
11,686housing units
11,686
Total Housing Units
10,384
Occupied Units
1,302
Vacant Units
2.50
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$209,700
Median Home Value
-15% vs state ZIP avg
$1,232
Median Rent
1980
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
-0.1%
YoY Change (2024)
319
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+219%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 78238 have decreased 0.1% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +219% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +5.8% | 234 |
| 2021 | +12.7% | 263 |
| 2022 | +18.9% | 313 |
| 2023 | +1.9% | 319 |
| 2024 | -0.1% | 319 |
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 1,015 business establishments in ZIP 78238, employing approximately 22,529 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,284,509,000.
1,015
Businesses
22,529
Employees
$1.3B
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 235 | 23.1% |
| Accommodation and food services | 126 | 12.4% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 105 | 10.3% |
| Health care and social assistance | 93 | 9.2% |
| Construction | 69 | 6.8% |
| Wholesale trade | 63 | 6.2% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 55 | 5.4% |
| Finance and insurance | 54 | 5.3% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 52 | 5.1% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 42 | 4.1% |
| Manufacturing | 39 | 3.8% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 20 | 2.0% |
| Information | 20 | 2.0% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 19 | 1.9% |
| Educational services | 16 | 1.6% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 4 | 0.4% |
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 78238 vs 78228 →
ZIP 78238 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 78228
San Antonio (78228)
58,811 residents
- 78250
San Antonio (78250)
54,903 residents
- 78240
San Antonio (78240)
51,111 residents
- 78249
San Antonio (78249)
49,951 residents
- 78251
San Antonio (78251)
49,435 residents
- 78227
San Antonio (78227)
46,077 residents
- 78201
San Antonio (78201)
45,307 residents
- 78237
San Antonio (78237)
36,929 residents
- 78229
San Antonio (78229)
28,804 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 78238 ranks #0 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 78238 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 78250
San Antonio (78250)
$80,659 median income
- 78249
San Antonio (78249)
$80,565 median income
- 78251
San Antonio (78251)
$78,958 median income
- 78236
Jbsa Lackland (78236)
$69,219 median income
- 78240
San Antonio (78240)
$63,351 median income
- 78238
San Antonio (78238)
$57,769 median income
- 78228
San Antonio (78228)
$52,976 median income
- 78227
San Antonio (78227)
$51,519 median income
- 78201
San Antonio (78201)
$47,121 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 78238 ranks #6 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 78228 | San Antonio, TX | 58,811 | 2.9 mi |
| 78240 | San Antonio, TX | 51,111 | 3.7 mi |
| 78251 | San Antonio, TX | 49,435 | 3.5 mi |
| 78227 | San Antonio, TX | 46,077 | 4.6 mi |
| 78250 | San Antonio, TX | 54,903 | 3.6 mi |
| 78229 | San Antonio, TX | 28,804 | 3.6 mi |
| 78201 | San Antonio, TX | 45,307 | 5.4 mi |
| 78237 | San Antonio, TX | 36,929 | 4.6 mi |
| 78249 | San Antonio, TX | 49,951 | 6.7 mi |
| 78236 | Jbsa Lackland, TX | 10,392 | 6.6 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 78238, 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 (23,514 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Bexar County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 78238 in?
ZIP code 78238 (San Antonio) is located in Bexar County, Texas. Bexar County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/bexar-tx.
What is the population of ZIP code 78238?
ZIP code 78238 in San Antonio, TX has a population of 23,514 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 78238?
The median household income in ZIP 78238 is $57,769, which is 24% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 78238?
The median home value in ZIP 78238 is $209,700, which is 25% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 78238?
The largest racial group in ZIP 78238 is Two or More Ethnicities at 40.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 69.1% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 78238?
ZIP code 78238 has 1,015 business establishments employing approximately 22,529 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 78238?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 78238 are: Retail trade (235), Accommodation and food services (126), Other services (except public administration) (105). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 78238?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 78238 decreased by 0.1% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 219%. 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 78238?
In ZIP code 78238, 49.5% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 21.6% 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 78238?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 78238 is 24.9 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 78238?
In ZIP code 78238, approximately 44.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 55.2% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 78238?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 78238 is 13.7% 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 78238's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 78238 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where San Antonio, TX ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.