Residential delivery area · Texas
ZIP Code 78521: Brownsville, TX
ZIP code 78521 uses the postal name Brownsville, Texas and lies entirely in Cameron County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 87,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024), the most populous of Brownsville's 3 residential ZIP codes. Median household income is $44,509 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, its land lies in Brownsville (28%), South Point (1%), Reid Hope King (under 1%) and Villa Pancho (under 1%); 70% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Brownsville · 3 residential ZIPs
- County
- Cameron County
- Census places
- Brownsville (28%); South Point (1%) census-designated place; Reid Hope King (under 1%) census-designated place; Villa Pancho (under 1%) census-designated place
- Metro area
- Brownsville-Harlingen, TX
- House district
- TX-34 119th Congress
- State
- Texas
- Time zone
- Central
- Land area
- 93.6 sq mi · 933 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 78521?
78521 centers on 25.944°, -97.318° and covers 93.6 square miles of land plus 27.9 of water. It borders 3 ZIP codes: 78578, 78526, 78520.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 78521, 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 78521 compare with the rest of Brownsville?
| Measure | 78521 | In Brownsville | In Cameron County | In TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 87,380 | 1st of 3 | 1st of 17 | 21st of 1,990 |
| Median household income | $45k | 3rd of 3 | 10th of 10 | 1,110th of 1,172 |
| Median home value | $100k | 3rd of 3 | 11th of 12 | 1,109th of 1,172 |
Its median household income is higher than in 9% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 78% 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 78521?
The 2020 Census counted 88,708 people in 78521; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 87,380. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population fell 5.4% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 87,380
- 2020 Census count
- 88,708−5.4% since 2010 (93,818)
- Households
- 27,731
- Median age
- 31.3
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 78521?
Of the 87,380 people the ACS estimates in 78521, 27.1% are under 18 and 14.2% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is Hispanic or Latino (96.1%).
- Under 1827.1%
- 18 to 6458.7%
- 65 and older14.2%
- Hispanic or Latino96.1%
- White, not Hispanic3.2%
- Asian, not Hispanic0.4%
- Other or two or more0.3%
- Black, not Hispanic0.0%
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 78521 earn?
Median household income is $44,509 (ACS 2020-2024), the 10th highest of the 10 ranked ZIP codes in Cameron County. It rose from $39,471 in 2015-2019 (in 2024 dollars), a change larger than the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $44,509
- Income per person
- $19,594
- Below the poverty line
- 30.2%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 6.9%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 16.7%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $40,64238,820 returns; wages 81% 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 78521?
FHFA's house price index for 78521, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 92% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 60% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +0.7% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $99,700
- Median gross rent
- $889
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 60.3%
- Housing units
- 29,741
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 78521?
1,384 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 101 more than in 2018; the most are in retail trade (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Retail trade217
- Health care and social assistance187
- Accommodation and food services153
- Transportation and warehousing129
- Wholesale trade110
- Professional, scientific, and technical services102
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 78521?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 78578 | Port Isabel | 10,016 | $52k | 6.9 mi |
| 78526 | Brownsville | 60,012 | $71k | 9.0 mi |
| 78520 | Brownsville | 64,740 | $50k | 14.4 mi |
| 78566 | Los Fresnos | 25,110 | $60k | 14.1 mi (near) |
| 78575 | Olmito | 4,575 | $72k | 15.7 mi (near) |
| 78597 | South Padre Island | 2,935 | $68k | 22.9 mi (near) |
| 78586 | San Benito | 50,964 | $46k | 23.3 mi (near) |
| 78583 | Rio Hondo | 5,236 | $52k | 25.5 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.