Port Isabel, TX · standard
ZIP Code 78578
Cameron County, Texas - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 12,516
- 81/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $51,880
- Median income Below-median income area
- $196,200
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 28.6%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Port Isabel pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 17th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 42nd pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 81
- people per sq mi
- 75%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 78578 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 78578 (Port Isabel, TX) rose +8.8% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 266.3 in 2023 to 289.7 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 78578 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Port Isabel, Cameron County, Texas, home to 12,516 residents across 155.1 square miles, a density of 81 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 78578 reports a modest median household income of $51,880 (31% below the average Texas ZIP), while per-capita income is $37,249. The poverty rate is 27.0%, 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 $196,200 (21% below the average Texas ZIP), and median rent is $749; owner occupancy is 74.6%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 28.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 49, and the average commute is 17 minutes. The page also surfaces 3 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Cameron County, so 78578 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 78578
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Port Isabel, TX
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 78578.
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
40 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
32 establishments
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
22 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
16 establishments
- Health care and social assistance 15
Health care and social assistance
15 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 78578, Port Isabel, 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
12,516
Population
155.1
Area (sq mi)
81
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 78578?
49.0
Median Age
47.0%
Male
53.0%
Female
22.4%
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?
$51,880
Median Household Income
-31% vs state ZIP avg
$37,249
Per Capita Income
27.0%
Poverty Rate
3.6%
Unemployment Rate
17.3 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 78578 ranks among Texas ZIPs
Port Isabel, TX household income vs. every Texas ZIP code
Median household income among 1,737 reporting Texas ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$51,880 18th percentile higher than 18% of 1,737 Texas ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Texas 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
6,480housing units
6,480
Total Housing Units
4,379
Occupied Units
2,101
Vacant Units
2.29
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$196,200
Median Home Value
-21% vs state ZIP avg
$749
Median Rent
1991
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
+8.8%
YoY Change (2024)
290
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+190%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 78578 have increased 8.8% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +190% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +7.0% | 173 |
| 2021 | +19.0% | 206 |
| 2022 | +10.4% | 228 |
| 2023 | +16.8% | 266 |
| 2024 | +8.8% | 290 |
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 211 business establishments in ZIP 78578, employing approximately 1,997 people with a combined annual payroll of $64,089,000.
211
Businesses
1,997
Employees
$64.1M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 40 | 19.0% |
| Retail trade | 32 | 15.2% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 22 | 10.4% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 16 | 7.6% |
| Health care and social assistance | 15 | 7.1% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 13 | 6.2% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 12 | 5.7% |
| Construction | 11 | 5.2% |
| Finance and insurance | 11 | 5.2% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 9 | 4.3% |
| Wholesale trade | 7 | 3.3% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 6 | 2.8% |
| Information | 6 | 2.8% |
| Manufacturing | 3 | 1.4% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 3 | 1.4% |
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 78578 vs 78521 →
ZIP 78578 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 78521
Brownsville (78521)
93,818 residents
- 78526
Brownsville (78526)
42,460 residents
- 78566 16,230
Los Fresnos (78566)
16,230 residents
- 78578 12,516
Port Isabel (78578)
12,516 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 78578 ranks #4 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 78578 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 78526
Brownsville (78526)
$70,565 median income
- 78566
Los Fresnos (78566)
$60,187 median income
- 78578
Port Isabel (78578)
$51,880 median income
- 78521
Brownsville (78521)
$44,509 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 78578 ranks #3 of 4 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 78578, 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 (12,516 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 78578 in?
ZIP code 78578 (Port Isabel) 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 78578?
ZIP code 78578 in Port Isabel, TX has a population of 12,516 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 78578?
The median household income in ZIP 78578 is $51,880, which is 32% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 78578?
The median home value in ZIP 78578 is $196,200, which is 29% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 78578?
The largest racial group in ZIP 78578 is White at 61.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 57.3% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 78578?
ZIP code 78578 has 211 business establishments employing approximately 1,997 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 78578?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 78578 are: Accommodation and food services (40), Retail trade (32), Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (22). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 78578?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 78578 increased by 8.8% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 190%. 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 78578?
In ZIP code 78578, 56.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 28.6% 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 78578?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 78578 is 17.3 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 78578?
In ZIP code 78578, approximately 74.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 25.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 78578?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 78578 is 27.0% 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 78578's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 78578 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Port Isabel, 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.