Residential delivery area · Texas
ZIP Code 78550: Harlingen, TX
ZIP code 78550 uses the postal name Harlingen, Texas and lies entirely in Cameron County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 53,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024), the more populous of Harlingen's 2 residential ZIP codes. Median household income is $49,007 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, its land lies in Harlingen (26%) and Lasana (under 1%), and 2% in smaller places; 71% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Harlingen · 2 residential ZIPs
- County
- Cameron County
- Census places
- Harlingen (26%); Lasana (under 1%) census-designated place
- Metro area
- Brownsville-Harlingen, TX
- House district
- TX-34 119th Congress
- State
- Texas
- Time zone
- Central
- Land area
- 94.2 sq mi · 566 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 78550?
78550 centers on 26.256°, -97.663° and covers 94.2 square miles of land plus 0.8 of water. It borders 6 ZIP codes: 78535, 78552, 78569, 78593, 78586, 78583.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 78550, 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 78550 compare with the rest of Harlingen?
| Measure | 78550 | In Harlingen | In Cameron County | In TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 53,335 | 1st of 2 | 4th of 17 | 119th of 1,990 |
| Median household income | $49k | 2nd of 2 | 7th of 10 | 1,060th of 1,172 |
| Median home value | $131k | 2nd of 2 | 9th of 12 | 1,014th of 1,172 |
Its median household income is higher than in 13% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 73% 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 78550?
The 2020 Census counted 56,038 people in 78550; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 53,335. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew 5.4% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 53,335
- 2020 Census count
- 56,038+5.4% since 2010 (53,152)
- Households
- 19,733
- Median age
- 33.6
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 78550?
Of the 53,335 people the ACS estimates in 78550, 27.4% are under 18 and 16.1% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is Hispanic or Latino (82.3%), then White (not Hispanic) (13.4%).
- Under 1827.4%
- 18 to 6456.5%
- 65 and older16.1%
- Hispanic or Latino82.3%
- White, not Hispanic13.4%
- Black, not Hispanic2.0%
- Other or two or more1.3%
- Asian, not Hispanic0.9%
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 78550 earn?
Median household income is $49,007 (ACS 2020-2024), the 7th highest of the 10 ranked ZIP codes in Cameron County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($46,919 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $49,007
- Income per person
- $25,915
- Below the poverty line
- 24.4%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 5.5%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 22.0%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $49,23621,320 returns; wages 75% 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 78550?
FHFA's house price index for 78550, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 84% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 53% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +0.3% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $131,100
- Median gross rent
- $900
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 50.5%
- Housing units
- 22,468
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 78550?
1,406 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 72 fewer than in 2018; the most are in health care and social assistance (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Health care and social assistance337
- Retail trade183
- Accommodation and food services144
- Finance and insurance124
- Other services (except public administration)119
- Professional, scientific, and technical services108
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 78550?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 78535 | Combes | 425 | $39k | 4.2 mi |
| 78552 | Harlingen | 42,332 | $70k | 6.9 mi |
| 78569 | Lyford | 4,342 | $59k | 9.9 mi |
| 78593 | Santa Rosa | 5,455 | $49k | 10.0 mi |
| 78586 | San Benito | 50,964 | $46k | 10.1 mi |
| 78583 | Rio Hondo | 5,236 | $52k | 12.1 mi |
| 78594 | Sebastian | 1,206 | $23k | 10.8 mi (near) |
| 78559 | La Feria | 12,169 | $49k | 12.6 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.