ZIP Code 78538

ZIP code 78538 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 184.1 square miles in Edcouch, Hidalgo County, Texas. The area is home to 10,657 residents, producing a population density of 58 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 78538 against Texas and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 78538 sits at $40,399 (47% below the Texas average), while per-capita income is $17,362. The poverty rate stands at 37.3% and the unemployment rate at 8.7%. On housing, the median home value is $92,100 (63% below the state average) with median rent at $556 per month, and 72.9% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 78538 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 12.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 32.6, and the average commute is 23 minutes. We also surface 6 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Hidalgo County, so you can benchmark 78538 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 →