Residential delivery area · Texas
ZIP Code 78542: Edinburg, TX
ZIP code 78542 uses the postal name Edinburg, Texas and lies entirely in Hidalgo County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 89,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024), the most populous of Edinburg's 4 residential ZIP codes. Median household income is $55,243 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, its land lies in Linn (13%), Edinburg (10%), Murillo (3%), Doolittle (2%), César Chávez (2%), San Carlos (1%), La Coma Heights (under 1%), Muniz (under 1%) and Lopezville (under 1%), and under 1% in smaller places; 67% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Edinburg · 4 residential ZIPs
- County
- Hidalgo County
- Census places
- Linn (13%) census-designated place; Edinburg (10%); Murillo (3%) census-designated place; Doolittle (2%) census-designated place
- Metro area
- McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX
- House districts
- TX-15 (88%), TX-34 (12%) 119th Congress, by share of land
- State
- Texas
- Time zone
- Central
- Land area
- 176.0 sq mi · 508 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 78542?
78542 centers on 26.433°, -98.090° and covers 176.0 square miles of land plus 0.1 of water. It borders 12 ZIP codes: 78549, 78538, 78540, 78543, 78558, 78541, 78539, 78537, 78563, 78577 and more.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 78542, 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 78542 compare with the rest of Edinburg?
| Measure | 78542 | In Edinburg | In Hidalgo County | In TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 89,401 | 1st of 4 | 1st of 30 | 18th of 1,990 |
| Median household income | $55k | 2nd of 3 | 6th of 19 | 955th of 1,172 |
| Median home value | $150k | 3rd of 3 | 8th of 20 | 974th of 1,172 |
Its median household income is higher than in 21% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 72% 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 78542?
The 2020 Census counted 84,678 people in 78542; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 89,401. Its boundary changed between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, so the two counts are not compared.
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 89,401
- 2020 Census count
- 84,678
- Households
- 23,943
- Median age
- 27.7
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 78542?
Of the 89,401 people the ACS estimates in 78542, 33.8% are under 18 and 7.9% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is Hispanic or Latino (95.4%).
- Under 1833.8%
- 18 to 6458.3%
- 65 and older7.9%
- Hispanic or Latino95.4%
- White, not Hispanic3.1%
- Other or two or more0.8%
- Asian, not Hispanic0.5%
- Black, not Hispanic0.3%
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 78542 earn?
Median household income is $55,243 (ACS 2020-2024), the 6th highest of the 19 ranked ZIP codes in Hidalgo County.
- Median household income
- $55,243±$5,787
- Income per person
- $19,389
- Below the poverty line
- 30.4%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 9.7%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 12.8%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $41,84431,520 returns; wages 88% 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 78542?
FHFA's house price index for 78542, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 100% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 64% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +4.5% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $150,200
- Median gross rent
- $865
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 75.7%
- Housing units
- 26,187
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 78542?
388 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 118 more than in 2018; the most are in retail trade (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Retail trade77
- Construction47
- Health care and social assistance44
- Other services (except public administration)31
- Wholesale trade30
- Transportation and warehousing28
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 78542?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 78549 | Hargill | 609 | $19k | 5.4 mi |
| 78538 | Edcouch | 11,982 | $40k | 8.5 mi |
| 78540 | Edinburg | 0 | – | 10.1 mi |
| 78543 | Elsa | 8,400 | $45k | 10.5 mi |
| 78558 | La Blanca | 722 | $58k | 10.5 mi |
| 78541 | Edinburg | 51,710 | $53k | 11.6 mi |
| 78539 | Edinburg | 37,168 | $67k | 12.0 mi |
| 78537 | Donna | 51,426 | $41k | 18.0 mi |
| 78563 | Linn | 92 | – | 19.5 mi |
| 78577 | Pharr | 80,540 | $53k | 19.7 mi |
| 78589 | San Juan | 40,231 | $54k | 19.9 mi |
| 78516 | Alamo | 34,370 | $53k | 20.0 mi |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.