PlainZIP

Mcallen, TX · standard

ZIP Code 78501

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

61,219
1,541/sq mi
$48,071
Median income
$161,000
Median home value
28.2%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Mcallen pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with below-median home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure and unusually populous area.

12th pct
household income, US ZIPs
30th pct
home value, US ZIPs
1,541
people per sq mi
49%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 78501 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 78501 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 39.7 square miles in Mcallen, Hidalgo County, Texas. The area is home to 61,219 residents, producing a population density of 1,541 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 78501 against Texas and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 78501 sits at $48,071 (36% below the Texas average), while per-capita income is $25,706. The poverty rate stands at 26.4% and the unemployment rate at 5.2%. On housing, the median home value is $161,000 (35% below the state average) with median rent at $969 per month, and 49.3% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 78501 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 28.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 36, and the average commute is 20 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Hidalgo County, so you can benchmark 78501 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 78501

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 78501.

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 + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 78501, Mcallen, 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

61,219

Population

39.7

Area (sq mi)

1,541

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 78501?

36.0

Median Age

48.4%

Male

51.6%

Female

27.6%

Foreign-Born

White 40.0%
African American 0.8%
Asian 1.4%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.6%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.1%
Two or More Ethnicities 38.1%
Hispanic or Latino 89.4%

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?

$48,071

Median Household Income

-36% vs state

$25,706

Per Capita Income

26.4%

Poverty Rate

5.2%

Unemployment Rate

19.9 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 78501 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$48,071 12th percentile higher than 12% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Above this entry. $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 52.0%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 28.2%

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

What does housing look like?

25,121

Total Housing Units

21,734

Occupied Units

3,387

Vacant Units

2.68

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 49.3%
Renter 50.7%

$161,000

Median Home Value

-35% vs state

$969

Median Rent

1986

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

+6.2%

YoY Change (2024)

289

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+189%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 78501 have increased 6.2% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +189% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +6.5% 183
2021 +12.1% 205
2022 +19.4% 245
2023 +11.1% 273
2024 +6.2% 289

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 2,164 business establishments in ZIP 78501, employing approximately 32,569 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,161,519,000.

2,164

Businesses

32,569

Employees

$1.2B

Annual Payroll

19

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 364 16.8%
Health care and social assistance 307 14.2%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 248 11.5%
Accommodation and food services 218 10.1%
Wholesale trade 191 8.8%
Finance and insurance 186 8.6%
Other services (except public administration) 163 7.5%
Real estate and rental and leasing 121 5.6%
Construction 89 4.1%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 75 3.5%
Transportation and warehousing 52 2.4%
Manufacturing 49 2.3%
Information 36 1.7%
Educational services 24 1.1%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 21 1.0%
Management of companies and enterprises 8 0.4%
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction 4 0.2%
Utilities 4 0.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting 3 0.1%

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 78501 vs 78504 →

ZIP 78501 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 78501 ranks #3 by population — useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 78501 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 78501 ranks #null of 9 neighboring ZIPs — local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
78504 Mcallen, TX 48,703 3.9 mi
78503 Mcallen, TX 21,706 3.5 mi
78557 Hidalgo, TX 12,547 7.5 mi
78577 Pharr, TX 70,840 5.4 mi
78539 Edinburg, TX 30,783 5.6 mi
78589 San Juan, TX 38,004 6.2 mi
78573 Mission, TX 34,890 6.6 mi
78572 Mission, TX 75,221 8.6 mi
78516 Alamo, TX 33,722 8.9 mi
78574 Mission, TX 57,071 10.8 mi

More ZIP Codes in Hidalgo County

78572 standard
Mission, TX
Pop: 75,221
78577 standard
Pharr, TX
Pop: 70,840
78596 standard
Weslaco, TX
Pop: 63,844
78542 standard
Edinburg, TX
Pop: 63,293
78574 standard
Mission, TX
Pop: 57,071
78504 standard
Mcallen, TX
Pop: 48,703

Related Areas

Hidalgo County Mcallen, TX Texas

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 78501 in? ▼
ZIP code 78501 (Mcallen) is located in Hidalgo County, Texas. Hidalgo County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/hidalgo-tx.
What is the population of ZIP code 78501? ▼
ZIP code 78501 in Mcallen, TX has a population of 61,219 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 78501? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 78501 is $48,071, which is 37% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 78501? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 78501 is $161,000, which is 42% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 78501? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 78501 is White at 40.0%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 89.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 78501? ▼
ZIP code 78501 has 2,164 business establishments employing approximately 32,569 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 78501? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 78501 are: Retail trade (364), Health care and social assistance (307), Professional, scientific, and technical services (248). There are 19 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 78501? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 78501 increased by 6.2% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 189%. 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 78501? ▼
In ZIP code 78501, 52.0% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 28.2% 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 78501? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 78501 is 19.9 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 78501? ▼
In ZIP code 78501, approximately 49.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 50.7% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 78501? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 78501 is 26.4% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Reading Census Demographics
How to interpret population, income, and education data from the Census Bureau.
Understanding ZIP Code Data
What ZIP codes are, how ZCTAs differ, and what the data reveals.
Best ZIP Codes for Families
Key factors to evaluate when choosing a family-friendly neighborhood.
ZIP Codes for Relocation
Data-driven tips for evaluating ZIP codes before a move.

Official Data Resources for Mcallen, TX

Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.

U.S. Census Bureau
Official demographic, economic, and housing data from the American Community Survey.
HUD Fair Market Rents
Department of Housing and Urban Development rental cost estimates by metropolitan area.
FBI Uniform Crime Reports
Official crime statistics compiled from law enforcement agencies nationwide.
FHFA House Price Index
Federal Housing Finance Agency home value trends based on repeat sales and appraisals.

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