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 High-density area
- $58,411
- Median income Below-median income area
- $104,000
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 21.2%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
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.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 78596 (Weslaco, TX) rose +1.0% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 218.6 in 2023 to 220.8 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 78596 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Weslaco, Hidalgo County, Texas, with 63,844 residents across 153.7 square miles, a density of 415 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 78596 reports a modest median household income of $58,411 (23% below the average Texas ZIP), while per-capita income is $24,540. The poverty rate is 22.1%, 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 $104,000 (58% below the average Texas ZIP), and median rent is $936; owner occupancy is 64.0%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 21.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 31.7, and the average commute is 23 minutes. The page also surfaces 8 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Hidalgo County, so 78596 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 78596
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Weslaco, TX
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 78596.
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
167 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
141 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
98 establishments
- Finance and insurance
Finance and insurance
86 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
76 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 78596, Weslaco, 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
63,844
Population
153.7
Area (sq mi)
415
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 78596?
31.7
Median Age
48.9%
Male
51.1%
Female
17.1%
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?
$58,411
Median Household Income
-23% vs state ZIP avg
$24,540
Per Capita Income
22.1%
Poverty Rate
5.6%
Unemployment Rate
23.4 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 78596 ranks nationally
Weslaco, TX 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
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
16,329housing units
16,329
Total Housing Units
12,731
Occupied Units
3,598
Vacant Units
3.08
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$104,000
Median Home Value
-58% vs state ZIP avg
$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.
- 78596
Weslaco (78596)
63,844 residents
- 78537
Donna (78537)
39,454 residents
- 78516
Alamo (78516)
33,722 residents
- 78570
Mercedes (78570)
32,525 residents
- 78543 8,447
Elsa (78543)
8,447 residents
- 78579 4,580
Progreso (78579)
4,580 residents
- 78562 2,868
La Villa (78562)
2,868 residents
- 78558 882
La Blanca (78558)
882 residents
- 78592 836
Santa Maria (78592)
836 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 78596 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 78596 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 78596
Weslaco (78596)
$58,411 median income
- 78558
La Blanca (78558)
$57,969 median income
- 78516
Alamo (78516)
$53,229 median income
- 78543
Elsa (78543)
$44,527 median income
- 78570
Mercedes (78570)
$41,965 median income
- 78537
Donna (78537)
$40,668 median income
- 78562
La Villa (78562)
$31,522 median income
- 78579 $19,172
Progreso (78579)
$19,172 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.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 78596, 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 (63,844 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 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.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 78596's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 78596 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Weslaco, 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.