Residential delivery area · Texas
ZIP Code 78520: Brownsville, TX
ZIP code 78520 is in Brownsville, Texas, entirely in Cameron County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 65,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024), the 2nd most populous of Brownsville's 3 residential ZIP codes. Median household income is $50,116 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, its land lies in Brownsville (65%) and San Pedro (3%); 32% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Brownsville · 3 residential ZIPs
- County
- Cameron County
- Census places
- Brownsville (65%); San Pedro (3%) census-designated place
- Metro area
- Brownsville-Harlingen, TX
- House district
- TX-34 119th Congress
- State
- Texas
- Time zone
- Central
- Land area
- 39.8 sq mi · 1,628 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 78520?
78520 centers on 25.961°, -97.549° and covers 39.8 square miles of land plus 2.4 of water. It borders 4 ZIP codes: 78575, 78526, 78586, 78521.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 78520, open its center on OpenStreetMap.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries and the 2023 Gazetteer (2020 ZCTAs); ZIP-to-county shares, Census places and House districts (119th Congress) from the Census 2020 relationship files (shares of land); metro area from the OMB delineation (July 2023); town name and time zone from simplemaps US ZIP Codes (CC BY 4.0).
How does 78520 compare with the rest of Brownsville?
| Measure | 78520 | In Brownsville | In Cameron County | In TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 64,740 | 2nd of 3 | 2nd of 17 | 61st of 1,990 |
| Median household income | $50k | 2nd of 3 | 5th of 10 | 1,042nd of 1,172 |
| Median home value | $146k | 2nd of 3 | 8th of 12 | 983rd of 1,172 |
Its median household income is higher than in 14% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 83% of all U.S. residential ZIP codes. ZIP codes at the ACS caps ($250,000 or more for household income, $2,000,000 or more for home value) share the top rank.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B19013, B25077); ranks by PlainZIP over residential ZIP codes (ZCTAs).
How many people live in 78520?
The 2020 Census counted 64,949 people in 78520; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 64,740. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew 9.3% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 64,740
- 2020 Census count
- 64,949+9.3% since 2010 (59,408)
- Households
- 20,847
- Median age
- 31.9
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B01002, B11001); 2020 Census (DHC P1); 2010 Census (SF1 P1).
Who lives in 78520?
Of the 64,740 people the ACS estimates in 78520, 27.8% are under 18 and 13.9% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is Hispanic or Latino (92.9%).
- Under 1827.8%
- 18 to 6458.3%
- 65 and older13.9%
- Hispanic or Latino92.9%
- White, not Hispanic5.0%
- Other or two or more0.8%
- Black, not Hispanic0.6%
- Asian, not Hispanic0.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01001 age by sex, B03002 Hispanic or Latino origin by race); shares of the estimated population, small ZIP codes carry wide margins.
What do households in 78520 earn?
Median household income is $50,116 (ACS 2020-2024), the 5th highest of the 10 ranked ZIP codes in Cameron County. It rose from $42,330 in 2015-2019 (in 2024 dollars), a change larger than the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $50,116
- Income per person
- $21,364
- Below the poverty line
- 23.2%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 6.6%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 23.9%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $46,23628,310 returns; wages 78% of AGI (IRS)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 and 2015-2019 5-year estimates (B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003; 2015-2019 dollars converted with the BLS CPI-U, 1.22699); IRS Statistics of Income, ZIP code data, tax year 2022 (adjusted gross income per return, filed under the address on the return).
What are homes worth in 78520?
FHFA's house price index for 78520, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 90% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 60% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +4.7% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $146,000
- Median gross rent
- $865
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 60.2%
- Housing units
- 23,135
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25077, B25064, B25003, B25001); FHFA House Price Index, annual five-digit ZIP, updated 2026-03-31.
What businesses are in 78520?
1,169 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 24 fewer than in 2018; the most are in health care and social assistance (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Health care and social assistance208
- Retail trade183
- Accommodation and food services148
- Professional, scientific, and technical services137
- Finance and insurance99
- Other services (except public administration)79
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 and 2018 (establishments with paid employees, by the business's ZIP code).
Which ZIP codes are next to 78520?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 78575 | Olmito | 4,575 | $72k | 5.0 mi |
| 78526 | Brownsville | 60,012 | $71k | 6.5 mi |
| 78586 | San Benito | 50,964 | $46k | 11.9 mi |
| 78521 | Brownsville | 87,380 | $45k | 14.4 mi |
| 78567 | Los Indios | 323 | – | 13.1 mi (near) |
| 78566 | Los Fresnos | 25,110 | $60k | 15.7 mi (near) |
| 78578 | Port Isabel | 10,016 | $52k | 16.1 mi (near) |
| 78592 | Santa Maria | 677 | – | 19.8 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.