PlainZIP

Weslaco, TX · standard

ZIP Code 78596

Hidalgo County, Texas — Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

63,844
415/sq mi
$58,411
Median income
$104,000
Median home value
21.2%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Weslaco pairs a below-median household income with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated and unusually populous area.

26th pct
household income, US ZIPs
11th pct
home value, US ZIPs
415
people per sq mi
64%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 78596 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 78596 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 153.7 square miles in Weslaco, Hidalgo County, Texas. The area is home to 63,844 residents, producing a population density of 415 people per square mile, and falls within the Chicago time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 78596 against Texas and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 78596 sits at $58,411 (23% below the Texas average), while per-capita income is $24,540. The poverty rate stands at 22.1% and the unemployment rate at 5.6%. On housing, the median home value is $104,000 (58% below the state average) with median rent at $936 per month, and 64.0% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 78596 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 21.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 31.7, and the average commute is 23 minutes. We also surface 8 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Hidalgo County, so you can benchmark 78596 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →

Top industries in ZIP 78596

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 78596.

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 · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 78596, Weslaco, TX · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

63,844

Population

153.7

Area (sq mi)

415

People / sq mi

Chicago

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 78596?

31.7

Median Age

48.9%

Male

51.1%

Female

17.1%

Foreign-Born

White 45.5%
African American 0.4%
Asian 0.2%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.7%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 44.2%
Hispanic or Latino 86.5%

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?

$58,411

Median Household Income

-23% vs state

$24,540

Per Capita Income

22.1%

Poverty Rate

5.6%

Unemployment Rate

23.4 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 78596 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income — the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$58,411 26th percentile higher than 26% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

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?

High School Graduate or Higher 49.0%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 21.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

16,329

Total Housing Units

12,731

Occupied Units

3,598

Vacant Units

3.08

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 64.0%
Renter 36.0%

$104,000

Median Home Value

-58% vs state

$936

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

+1.0%

YoY Change (2024)

221

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+121%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 78596 have increased 1.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +121% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +1.0% 145
2021 +14.6% 166
2022 +18.0% 196
2023 +11.3% 219
2024 +1.0% 221

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 828 business establishments in ZIP 78596, employing approximately 18,580 people with a combined annual payroll of $660,573,000.

828

Businesses

18,580

Employees

$660.6M

Annual Payroll

16

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Health care and social assistance 167 20.2%
Retail trade 141 17.0%
Accommodation and food services 98 11.8%
Finance and insurance 86 10.4%
Other services (except public administration) 76 9.2%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 51 6.2%
Construction 43 5.2%
Wholesale trade 36 4.3%
Real estate and rental and leasing 36 4.3%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 19 2.3%
Information 18 2.2%
Manufacturing 17 2.0%
Transportation and warehousing 15 1.8%
Educational services 13 1.6%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 7 0.8%
Utilities 3 0.4%

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 78596 vs 78537 →

ZIP 78596 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 78596 ranks the most populous — useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 78596 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 78596 ranks the highest of 8 neighboring ZIPs — local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
78537 Donna, TX 39,454 4.2 mi
78570 Mercedes, TX 32,525 5.0 mi
78579 Progreso, TX 4,580 5.3 mi
78516 Alamo, TX 33,722 8.1 mi
78543 Elsa, TX 8,447 9.6 mi
78558 La Blanca, TX 882 10.2 mi
78562 La Villa, TX 2,868 10.9 mi
78592 Santa Maria, TX 836 11.0 mi

More ZIP Codes in Hidalgo County

78572 standard
Mission, TX
Pop: 75,221
78577 standard
Pharr, TX
Pop: 70,840
78542 standard
Edinburg, TX
Pop: 63,293
78501 standard
Mcallen, TX
Pop: 61,219
78574 standard
Mission, TX
Pop: 57,071
78504 standard
Mcallen, TX
Pop: 48,703

Related Areas

Hidalgo County Weslaco, TX Texas

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 78596 in? ▼
ZIP code 78596 (Weslaco) 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 78596? ▼
ZIP code 78596 in Weslaco, TX has a population of 63,844 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 78596? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 78596 is $58,411, which is 23% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 78596? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 78596 is $104,000, which is 63% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 78596? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 78596 is White at 45.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 86.5% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 78596? ▼
ZIP code 78596 has 828 business establishments employing approximately 18,580 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 78596? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 78596 are: Health care and social assistance (167), Retail trade (141), Accommodation and food services (98). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 78596? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 78596 increased by 1.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 121%. 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 78596? ▼
In ZIP code 78596, 49.0% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 21.2% 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 78596? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 78596 is 23.4 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 78596? ▼
In ZIP code 78596, approximately 64.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 36.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 78596? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 78596 is 22.1% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Reading Census Demographics
How to interpret population, income, and education data from the Census Bureau.
Understanding ZIP Code Data
What ZIP codes are, how ZCTAs differ, and what the data reveals.
Best ZIP Codes for Families
Key factors to evaluate when choosing a family-friendly neighborhood.
ZIP Codes for Relocation
Data-driven tips for evaluating ZIP codes before a move.

Official Data Resources for Weslaco, TX

Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.

U.S. Census Bureau
Official demographic, economic, and housing data from the American Community Survey.
HUD Fair Market Rents
Department of Housing and Urban Development rental cost estimates by metropolitan area.
FBI Uniform Crime Reports
Official crime statistics compiled from law enforcement agencies nationwide.
FHFA House Price Index
Federal Housing Finance Agency home value trends based on repeat sales and appraisals.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.