PlainZIP

Mcallen, TX · standard

ZIP Code 78503

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

21,706
494/sq mi
$53,322
Median income
$150,900
Median home value
25.3%
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, homeowner-dominated area.

19th pct
household income, US ZIPs
26th pct
home value, US ZIPs
494
people per sq mi
61%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 78503 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 78503 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 43.9 square miles in Mcallen, Hidalgo County, Texas. The area is home to 21,706 residents, producing a population density of 494 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 78503 against Texas and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 78503 sits at $53,322 (29% below the Texas average), while per-capita income is $28,212. The poverty rate stands at 25.7% and the unemployment rate at 5.6%. On housing, the median home value is $150,900 (39% below the state average) with median rent at $1,110 per month, and 61.1% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 78503 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 25.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 32.3, and the average commute is 19 minutes. We also surface 9 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Hidalgo County, so you can benchmark 78503 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 78503

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 78503.

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 78503, 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

21,706

Population

43.9

Area (sq mi)

494

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 78503?

32.3

Median Age

49.9%

Male

50.1%

Female

30.1%

Foreign-Born

White 28.5%
African American 1.0%
Asian 1.2%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 46.6%
Hispanic or Latino 94.0%

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?

$53,322

Median Household Income

-29% vs state

$28,212

Per Capita Income

25.7%

Poverty Rate

5.6%

Unemployment Rate

19.0 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 78503 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$53,322 19th percentile higher than 19% 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 45.6%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 25.3%

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

What does housing look like?

8,289

Total Housing Units

7,247

Occupied Units

1,042

Vacant Units

3.07

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 61.1%
Renter 38.9%

$150,900

Median Home Value

-39% vs state

$1,110

Median Rent

2000

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

+6.8%

YoY Change (2022)

197

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+97%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 78503 have increased 6.8% over the past year (2022). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +97% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2018 +10.4% 161
2019 -12.3% 141
2020 +19.2% 168
2021 +9.6% 185
2022 +6.8% 197

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 2022. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 1,028 business establishments in ZIP 78503, employing approximately 22,478 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,004,204,000.

1,028

Businesses

22,478

Employees

$1.0B

Annual Payroll

15

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 241 23.4%
Wholesale trade 176 17.1%
Health care and social assistance 168 16.3%
Accommodation and food services 103 10.0%
Transportation and warehousing 94 9.1%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 42 4.1%
Real estate and rental and leasing 38 3.7%
Finance and insurance 35 3.4%
Other services (except public administration) 34 3.3%
Manufacturing 31 3.0%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 23 2.2%
Construction 22 2.1%
Information 10 1.0%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 6 0.6%
Educational services 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 78503 vs 78501 →

ZIP 78503 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 78503 ranks #9 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 78503 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 78503 ranks #7 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
78501 Mcallen, TX 61,219 3.5 mi
78557 Hidalgo, TX 12,547 4.0 mi
78577 Pharr, TX 70,840 3.7 mi
78589 San Juan, TX 38,004 5.8 mi
78504 Mcallen, TX 48,703 7.4 mi
78516 Alamo, TX 33,722 8.1 mi
78539 Edinburg, TX 30,783 8.8 mi
78573 Mission, TX 34,890 9.5 mi
78572 Mission, TX 75,221 9.1 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
78501 standard
Mcallen, TX
Pop: 61,219
78574 standard
Mission, TX
Pop: 57,071

Related Areas

Hidalgo County Mcallen, TX Texas

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 78503 in? ▼
ZIP code 78503 (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 78503? ▼
ZIP code 78503 in Mcallen, TX has a population of 21,706 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 78503? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 78503 is $53,322, which is 30% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 78503? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 78503 is $150,900, which is 46% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 78503? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 78503 is Two or More Ethnicities at 46.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 94.0% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 78503? ▼
ZIP code 78503 has 1,028 business establishments employing approximately 22,478 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 78503? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 78503 are: Retail trade (241), Wholesale trade (176), Health care and social assistance (168). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 78503? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 78503 increased by 6.8% in 2022. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 97%. 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 78503? ▼
In ZIP code 78503, 45.6% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 25.3% 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 78503? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 78503 is 19.0 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 78503? ▼
In ZIP code 78503, approximately 61.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 38.9% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 78503? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 78503 is 25.7% 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.