PlainZIP

South Padre Island, TX · standard

ZIP Code 78597

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

2,885
124/sq mi
$68,421
Median income
$527,200
Median home value
53.6%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

South Padre Island pairs a below-median household income with upper-quartile home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

44th pct
household income, US ZIPs
Top 12%
home value, US ZIPs
124
people per sq mi
71%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 78597 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 78597 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 23.3 square miles in South Padre Island, Cameron County, Texas. The area is home to 2,885 residents, producing a population density of 124 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 78597 against Texas and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 78597 sits at $68,421 (9% below the Texas average), while per-capita income is $76,832. The poverty rate stands at 15.8% and the unemployment rate at 5.6%. On housing, the median home value is $527,200 (113% above the state average) with median rent at $1,521 per month, and 70.6% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 78597 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 53.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 61, and the average commute is —. Use the benchmarks above to see where 78597 sits relative to Texas and the national baseline rather than viewing the numbers in isolation. 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 78597

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 78597.

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 78597, South Padre Island, 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

2,885

Population

23.3

Area (sq mi)

124

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 78597?

61.0

Median Age

54.3%

Male

45.7%

Female

14.5%

Foreign-Born

White 74.7%
African American 7.3%
Asian 3.6%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 8.3%
Hispanic or Latino 13.4%

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?

$68,421

Median Household Income

-9% vs state

$76,832

Per Capita Income

15.8%

Poverty Rate

5.6%

Unemployment Rate

How ZIP 78597 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$68,421 44th percentile higher than 44% 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%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). This entry sits in this band. $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 66.6%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 53.6%

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

What does housing look like?

5,603

Total Housing Units

1,642

Occupied Units

3,961

Vacant Units

1.77

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 70.6%
Renter 29.4%

$527,200

Median Home Value

+113% vs state

$1,521

Median Rent

1984

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

+24.7%

YoY Change (2024)

361

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+261%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 78597 have increased 24.7% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +261% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2019 +10.1% 183
2020 -0.6% 182
2021 +16.8% 213
2022 +24.7% 265
2024 — 361

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 334 business establishments in ZIP 78597, employing approximately 4,045 people with a combined annual payroll of $103,916,000.

334

Businesses

4,045

Employees

$103.9M

Annual Payroll

12

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Accommodation and food services 108 32.3%
Other services (except public administration) 68 20.4%
Retail trade 57 17.1%
Real estate and rental and leasing 40 12.0%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 14 4.2%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 9 2.7%
Finance and insurance 8 2.4%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 7 2.1%
Construction 6 1.8%
Health care and social assistance 5 1.5%
Wholesale trade 4 1.2%
Transportation and warehousing 4 1.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

More ZIP Codes in Cameron County

78521 standard
Brownsville, TX
Pop: 93,818
78520 standard
Brownsville, TX
Pop: 59,408
78586 standard
San Benito, TX
Pop: 55,878
78550 standard
Harlingen, TX
Pop: 53,152
78526 standard
Brownsville, TX
Pop: 42,460
78552 standard
Harlingen, TX
Pop: 34,111

Related Areas

Cameron County South Padre Island, TX Texas

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 78597 in? ▼
ZIP code 78597 (South Padre Island) 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 78597? ▼
ZIP code 78597 in South Padre Island, TX has a population of 2,885 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 78597? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 78597 is $68,421, which is 10% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 78597? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 78597 is $527,200, which is 90% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 78597? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 78597 is White at 74.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 13.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 78597? ▼
ZIP code 78597 has 334 business establishments employing approximately 4,045 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 78597? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 78597 are: Accommodation and food services (108), Other services (except public administration) (68), Retail trade (57). There are 12 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 78597? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 78597 increased by 24.7% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 261%. 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 78597? ▼
In ZIP code 78597, 66.6% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 53.6% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 78597? ▼
In ZIP code 78597, approximately 70.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 29.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 78597? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 78597 is 15.8% 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 South Padre Island, 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.