San Antonio, TX · standard
ZIP Code 78242
Bexar County, Texas - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 31,395
- 1,541/sq mi High-density area
- $50,644
- Median income Below-median income area
- $148,200
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 10.3%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
San Antonio pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with below-median home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.
- 15th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 25th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 1,541
- people per sq mi
- 54%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 78242 against every reporting US ZIP.
ZIP code 78242 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, with 31,395 residents across 20.4 square miles, a density of 1,541 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 78242 reports a modest median household income of $50,644 (33% below the average Texas ZIP), while per-capita income is $19,020. Economic pressure is pronounced: 23.3% of residents are below the poverty line and unemployment is 11.5%. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $148,200 (40% below the average Texas ZIP), and median rent is $1,270; owner occupancy is 53.6%.
Formal educational attainment runs low here: just 10.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 29.7, and the average commute is 30 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Bexar County, so 78242 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 78242
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in San Antonio, TX
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 78242.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
32 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
26 establishments
- Construction
Construction
17 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing 6
Real estate and rental and leasing
6 establishments
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 6
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
6 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 78242, 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
31,395
Population
20.4
Area (sq mi)
1,541
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 78242?
29.7
Median Age
49.6%
Male
50.4%
Female
18.7%
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?
$50,644
Median Household Income
-33% vs state ZIP avg
$19,020
Per Capita Income
23.3%
Poverty Rate
11.5%
Unemployment Rate
30.1 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 78242 ranks nationally
San Antonio, TX household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$50,644 15th percentile higher than 15% 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
11,436housing units
11,436
Total Housing Units
10,703
Occupied Units
733
Vacant Units
3.38
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$148,200
Median Home Value
-40% vs state ZIP avg
$1,270
Median Rent
1979
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 119 business establishments in ZIP 78242, employing approximately 1,572 people with a combined annual payroll of $47,819,000.
119
Businesses
1,572
Employees
$47.8M
Annual Payroll
11
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 32 | 26.9% |
| Accommodation and food services | 26 | 21.9% |
| Construction | 17 | 14.3% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 6 | 5.0% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 6 | 5.0% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 6 | 5.0% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 5 | 4.2% |
| Finance and insurance | 5 | 4.2% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 5 | 4.2% |
| Information | 4 | 3.4% |
| Health care and social assistance | 4 | 3.4% |
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 78242 vs 78243 →
ZIP 78242 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 78227
San Antonio (78227)
46,077 residents
- 78237
San Antonio (78237)
36,929 residents
- 78211
San Antonio (78211)
31,944 residents
- 78242
San Antonio (78242)
31,395 residents
- 78224 17,601
San Antonio (78224)
17,601 residents
- 78225 13,025
San Antonio (78225)
13,025 residents
- 78236 10,392
Jbsa Lackland (78236)
10,392 residents
- 78073 8,171
Von Ormy (78073)
8,171 residents
- 78252 7,372
San Antonio (78252)
7,372 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 78242 ranks #4 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 78242 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 78252
San Antonio (78252)
$85,518 median income
- 78073
Von Ormy (78073)
$69,635 median income
- 78236
Jbsa Lackland (78236)
$69,219 median income
- 78224
San Antonio (78224)
$59,891 median income
- 78211
San Antonio (78211)
$55,436 median income
- 78227
San Antonio (78227)
$51,519 median income
- 78242
San Antonio (78242)
$50,644 median income
- 78225
San Antonio (78225)
$46,955 median income
- 78237
San Antonio (78237)
$42,772 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 78242 ranks #7 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 78243 | San Antonio, TX | 235 | 1.6 mi |
| 78211 | San Antonio, TX | 31,944 | 2.7 mi |
| 78236 | Jbsa Lackland, TX | 10,392 | 2.9 mi |
| 78226 | San Antonio, TX | 6,648 | 3.2 mi |
| 78227 | San Antonio, TX | 46,077 | 4.1 mi |
| 78252 | San Antonio, TX | 7,372 | 5.9 mi |
| 78237 | San Antonio, TX | 36,929 | 5.4 mi |
| 78073 | Von Ormy, TX | 8,171 | 7.3 mi |
| 78225 | San Antonio, TX | 13,025 | 5.5 mi |
| 78224 | San Antonio, TX | 17,601 | 5.7 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 78242, 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 (31,395 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 78242 in?
ZIP code 78242 (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 78242?
ZIP code 78242 in San Antonio, TX has a population of 31,395 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 78242?
The median household income in ZIP 78242 is $50,644, which is 34% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 78242?
The median home value in ZIP 78242 is $148,200, which is 47% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 78242?
The largest racial group in ZIP 78242 is White at 35.1%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 86.5% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 78242?
ZIP code 78242 has 119 business establishments employing approximately 1,572 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 78242?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 78242 are: Retail trade (32), Accommodation and food services (26), Construction (17). There are 11 industry sectors represented in total.
What is the education level in ZIP code 78242?
In ZIP code 78242, 43.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 10.3% 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 78242?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 78242 is 30.1 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 78242?
In ZIP code 78242, approximately 53.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 46.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 78242?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 78242 is 23.3% 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 78242's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 78242 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
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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.