Pharr, TX · standard
ZIP Code 78577
Hidalgo County, Texas - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 70,840
- 861/sq mi High-density area
- $52,770
- Median income Below-median income area
- $122,100
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 18.8%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Pharr 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.
- 18th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 17th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 861
- people per sq mi
- 59%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 78577 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 78577 (Pharr, TX) rose +8.9% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 260.6 in 2023 to 283.8 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 78577 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Pharr, Hidalgo County, Texas, with 70,840 residents across 82.3 square miles, a density of 861 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 78577 reports a modest median household income of $52,770 (30% below the average Texas ZIP), while per-capita income is $21,281. The poverty rate is 27.6%, 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 $122,100 (51% below the average Texas ZIP), and median rent is $1,034; owner occupancy is 59.0%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 18.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 29.7, and the average commute is 21 minutes. The page also surfaces 9 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Hidalgo County, so 78577 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 78577
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Pharr, TX
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 78577.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
195 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
185 establishments
- Wholesale trade
Wholesale trade
160 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
142 establishments
- Transportation and warehousing
Transportation and warehousing
136 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 78577, Pharr, 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
70,840
Population
82.3
Area (sq mi)
861
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 78577?
29.7
Median Age
48.4%
Male
51.6%
Female
29.4%
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?
$52,770
Median Household Income
-30% vs state ZIP avg
$21,281
Per Capita Income
27.6%
Poverty Rate
7.1%
Unemployment Rate
21.1 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 78577 ranks nationally
Pharr, TX household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$52,770 18th percentile higher than 18% 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
27,194housing units
27,194
Total Housing Units
23,957
Occupied Units
3,237
Vacant Units
3.35
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$122,100
Median Home Value
-51% vs state ZIP avg
$1,034
Median Rent
2001
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
+8.9%
YoY Change (2024)
284
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+184%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 78577 have increased 8.9% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +184% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +2.6% | 175 |
| 2021 | +13.1% | 198 |
| 2022 | +15.1% | 227 |
| 2023 | +14.6% | 261 |
| 2024 | +8.9% | 284 |
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 1,316 business establishments in ZIP 78577, employing approximately 24,219 people with a combined annual payroll of $894,317,000.
1,316
Businesses
24,219
Employees
$894.3M
Annual Payroll
17
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 195 | 14.8% |
| Health care and social assistance | 185 | 14.1% |
| Wholesale trade | 160 | 12.2% |
| Accommodation and food services | 142 | 10.8% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 136 | 10.3% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 105 | 8.0% |
| Finance and insurance | 94 | 7.1% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 73 | 5.5% |
| Construction | 68 | 5.2% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 42 | 3.2% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 39 | 3.0% |
| Manufacturing | 26 | 2.0% |
| Information | 15 | 1.1% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 14 | 1.1% |
| Educational services | 8 | 0.6% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 6 | 0.5% |
| 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 78577 vs 78589 →
ZIP 78577 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 78577
Pharr (78577)
70,840 residents
- 78501
Mcallen (78501)
61,219 residents
- 78504
Mcallen (78504)
48,703 residents
- 78537
Donna (78537)
39,454 residents
- 78589
San Juan (78589)
38,004 residents
- 78573
Mission (78573)
34,890 residents
- 78516
Alamo (78516)
33,722 residents
- 78539
Edinburg (78539)
30,783 residents
- 78503 21,706
Mcallen (78503)
21,706 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 78577 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 78577 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 78504
Mcallen (78504)
$81,905 median income
- 78539
Edinburg (78539)
$66,967 median income
- 78557
Hidalgo (78557)
$59,441 median income
- 78573
Mission (78573)
$55,000 median income
- 78589
San Juan (78589)
$54,285 median income
- 78503
Mcallen (78503)
$53,322 median income
- 78516
Alamo (78516)
$53,229 median income
- 78577
Pharr (78577)
$52,770 median income
- 78501
Mcallen (78501)
$48,071 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 78577 ranks #8 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 78589 | San Juan, TX | 38,004 | 2.5 mi |
| 78503 | Mcallen, TX | 21,706 | 3.7 mi |
| 78516 | Alamo, TX | 33,722 | 4.5 mi |
| 78557 | Hidalgo, TX | 12,547 | 4.4 mi |
| 78501 | Mcallen, TX | 61,219 | 5.4 mi |
| 78539 | Edinburg, TX | 30,783 | 8.9 mi |
| 78537 | Donna, TX | 39,454 | 8.4 mi |
| 78504 | Mcallen, TX | 48,703 | 8.9 mi |
| 78573 | Mission, TX | 34,890 | 12.0 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 78577, 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 (70,840 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Hidalgo County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 78577 in?
ZIP code 78577 (Pharr) is located in Hidalgo County, Texas. Hidalgo County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/hidalgo-tx.
What is the population of ZIP code 78577?
ZIP code 78577 in Pharr, TX has a population of 70,840 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 78577?
The median household income in ZIP 78577 is $52,770, which is 31% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 78577?
The median home value in ZIP 78577 is $122,100, which is 56% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 78577?
The largest racial group in ZIP 78577 is Two or More Ethnicities at 58.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 94.7% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 78577?
ZIP code 78577 has 1,316 business establishments employing approximately 24,219 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 78577?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 78577 are: Retail trade (195), Health care and social assistance (185), Wholesale trade (160). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 78577?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 78577 increased by 8.9% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 184%. 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 78577?
In ZIP code 78577, 45.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 18.8% 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 78577?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 78577 is 21.1 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 78577?
In ZIP code 78577, approximately 59.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 41.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 78577?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 78577 is 27.6% 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 78577's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 78577 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Pharr, TX ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.