Harlingen, TX · standard
ZIP Code 78552
Cameron County, Texas - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 34,111
- 268/sq mi High-density area
- $69,811
- Median income Near-median income area
- $169,300
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 24.0%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Harlingen pairs a below-median household income with below-median home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- 46th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 34th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 268
- people per sq mi
- 75%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 78552 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 78552 (Harlingen, TX) rose +3.9% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 207.0 in 2023 to 215.1 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 78552 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Harlingen, Cameron County, Texas, with 34,111 residents across 127.4 square miles, a density of 268 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 78552 reports a modest median household income of $69,811 (8% below the average Texas ZIP), while per-capita income is $29,015. The poverty rate is 21.6%, 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 $169,300 (32% below the average Texas ZIP), and median rent is $1,113; owner occupancy is 75.3%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 24.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 33.4, and the average commute is 20 minutes. The page also surfaces 8 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Cameron County, so 78552 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 78552
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Harlingen, TX
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 78552.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
86 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
64 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
40 establishments
- Construction
Construction
39 establishments
- Finance and insurance 34
Finance and insurance
34 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 78552, 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
34,111
Population
127.4
Area (sq mi)
268
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 78552?
33.4
Median Age
49.4%
Male
50.6%
Female
15.3%
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?
$69,811
Median Household Income
-8% vs state ZIP avg
$29,015
Per Capita Income
21.6%
Poverty Rate
5.4%
Unemployment Rate
19.5 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 78552 ranks nationally
Harlingen, TX household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$69,811 46th percentile higher than 46% 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
15,840housing units
15,840
Total Housing Units
13,567
Occupied Units
2,273
Vacant Units
3.11
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$169,300
Median Home Value
-32% vs state ZIP avg
$1,113
Median Rent
1997
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
+3.9%
YoY Change (2024)
215
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+115%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 78552 have increased 3.9% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +115% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +2.9% | 141 |
| 2021 | +9.7% | 154 |
| 2022 | +17.0% | 180 |
| 2023 | +14.8% | 207 |
| 2024 | +3.9% | 215 |
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 431 business establishments in ZIP 78552, employing approximately 8,210 people with a combined annual payroll of $264,155,000.
431
Businesses
8,210
Employees
$264.2M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 86 | 19.9% |
| Health care and social assistance | 64 | 14.8% |
| Accommodation and food services | 40 | 9.3% |
| Construction | 39 | 9.1% |
| Finance and insurance | 34 | 7.9% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 31 | 7.2% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 30 | 7.0% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 26 | 6.0% |
| Wholesale trade | 23 | 5.3% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 22 | 5.1% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 12 | 2.8% |
| Information | 6 | 1.4% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 6 | 1.4% |
| Manufacturing | 4 | 0.9% |
| Educational services | 4 | 0.9% |
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 78552 vs 78535 →
ZIP 78552 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 78586
San Benito (78586)
55,878 residents
- 78550
Harlingen (78550)
53,152 residents
- 78552
Harlingen (78552)
34,111 residents
- 78559 12,751
La Feria (78559)
12,751 residents
- 78593 6,324
Santa Rosa (78593)
6,324 residents
- 78562 2,868
La Villa (78562)
2,868 residents
- 78592 836
Santa Maria (78592)
836 residents
- 78535 581
Combes (78535)
581 residents
- 78567 533
Los Indios (78567)
533 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 78552 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 78552 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
- 78559
La Feria (78559)
$49,383 median income
- 78550
Harlingen (78550)
$49,007 median income
- 78593
Santa Rosa (78593)
$48,649 median income
- 78586
San Benito (78586)
$45,575 median income
- 78535
Combes (78535)
$39,000 median income
- 78562
La Villa (78562)
$31,522 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 78552 ranks the highest of 7 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 78552, 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 (34,111 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 78552 in?
ZIP code 78552 (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 78552?
ZIP code 78552 in Harlingen, TX has a population of 34,111 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 78552?
The median household income in ZIP 78552 is $69,811, which is 8% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 78552?
The median home value in ZIP 78552 is $169,300, which is 39% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 78552?
The largest racial group in ZIP 78552 is White at 46.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 80.6% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 78552?
ZIP code 78552 has 431 business establishments employing approximately 8,210 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 78552?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 78552 are: Retail trade (86), Health care and social assistance (64), Accommodation and food services (40). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 78552?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 78552 increased by 3.9% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 115%. 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 78552?
In ZIP code 78552, 51.3% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 24.0% 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 78552?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 78552 is 19.5 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 78552?
In ZIP code 78552, approximately 75.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 24.7% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 78552?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 78552 is 21.6% 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 78552's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 78552 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.