Harlingen, TX · standard
ZIP Code 78550
Cameron County, Texas - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 53,152
- 215/sq mi High-density area
- $49,007
- Median income Below-median income area
- $131,100
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 22.0%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Harlingen pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a low-density, mixed-tenure and unusually populous area.
- 13th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 20th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 215
- people per sq mi
- 51%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 78550 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 78550 (Harlingen, TX) rose +8.3% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 215.1 in 2023 to 233.0 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 78550 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Harlingen, Cameron County, Texas, with 53,152 residents across 247.6 square miles, a density of 215 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 78550 reports a modest median household income of $49,007 (35% below the average Texas ZIP), while per-capita income is $25,915. The poverty rate is 24.4%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $131,100 (47% below the average Texas ZIP), and median rent is $900; owner occupancy is 50.5%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 22.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 33.6, and the average commute is 18 minutes. The page also surfaces 4 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Cameron County, so 78550 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 78550
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Harlingen, TX
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 78550.
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
337 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
183 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
144 establishments
- Finance and insurance 124
Finance and insurance
124 establishments
- Other services (except public administration) 119
Other services (except public administration)
119 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, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 78550, Harlingen, TX · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
53,152
Population
247.6
Area (sq mi)
215
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 78550?
33.6
Median Age
49.3%
Male
50.7%
Female
14.5%
Foreign-Born
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?
$49,007
Median Household Income
-35% vs state ZIP avg
$25,915
Per Capita Income
24.4%
Poverty Rate
5.4%
Unemployment Rate
18.0 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 78550 ranks nationally
Harlingen, TX household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$49,007 13th percentile higher than 13% of 30,318 US ZIPs
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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
22,468housing units
22,468
Total Housing Units
19,733
Occupied Units
2,735
Vacant Units
2.65
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$131,100
Median Home Value
-47% vs state ZIP avg
$900
Median Rent
1985
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
+8.3%
YoY Change (2024)
233
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+133%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 78550 have increased 8.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +133% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +7.6% | 152 |
| 2021 | +9.7% | 167 |
| 2022 | +17.7% | 196 |
| 2023 | +9.6% | 215 |
| 2024 | +8.3% | 233 |
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 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 1,406 business establishments in ZIP 78550, employing approximately 31,846 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,186,944,000.
1,406
Businesses
31,846
Employees
$1.2B
Annual Payroll
18
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 337 | 24.0% |
| Retail trade | 183 | 13.0% |
| Accommodation and food services | 144 | 10.2% |
| Finance and insurance | 124 | 8.8% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 119 | 8.5% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 108 | 7.7% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 83 | 5.9% |
| Construction | 69 | 4.9% |
| Wholesale trade | 47 | 3.3% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 45 | 3.2% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 36 | 2.6% |
| Manufacturing | 31 | 2.2% |
| Information | 27 | 1.9% |
| Educational services | 20 | 1.4% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 15 | 1.1% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 9 | 0.6% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 4 | 0.3% |
| Industries not classified | 3 | 0.2% |
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 78550 vs 78535 →
ZIP 78550 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 78550
Harlingen (78550)
53,152 residents
- 78552
Harlingen (78552)
34,111 residents
- 78569 4,039
Lyford (78569)
4,039 residents
- 78594 1,990
Sebastian (78594)
1,990 residents
- 78535 581
Combes (78535)
581 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 78550 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 78550 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 78552
Harlingen (78552)
$69,811 median income
- 78569
Lyford (78569)
$58,950 median income
- 78550
Harlingen (78550)
$49,007 median income
- 78535
Combes (78535)
$39,000 median income
- 78594 $23,307
Sebastian (78594)
$23,307 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 78550 ranks #3 of 5 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 78550, both outside TX so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (53,152 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Cameron County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 78550 in?
ZIP code 78550 (Harlingen) is located in Cameron County, Texas. Cameron County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/cameron-tx.
What is the population of ZIP code 78550?
ZIP code 78550 in Harlingen, TX has a population of 53,152 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 78550?
The median household income in ZIP 78550 is $49,007, which is 36% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 78550?
The median home value in ZIP 78550 is $131,100, which is 53% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 78550?
The largest racial group in ZIP 78550 is Two or More Ethnicities at 43.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 82.3% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 78550?
ZIP code 78550 has 1,406 business establishments employing approximately 31,846 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 78550?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 78550 are: Health care and social assistance (337), Retail trade (183), Accommodation and food services (144). There are 18 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 78550?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 78550 increased by 8.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 133%. 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 78550?
In ZIP code 78550, 49.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 22.0% 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 78550?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 78550 is 18.0 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 78550?
In ZIP code 78550, approximately 50.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 49.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 78550?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 78550 is 24.4% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 78550's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 78550 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Harlingen, TX ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.