Residential delivery area · Texas
ZIP Code 79536: Merkel, TX
ZIP code 79536 uses the postal name Merkel, Texas and lies mostly in Taylor County (61% of its land), reaching into Jones County and Nolan County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 5,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $71,131 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, under 1% of its land lies in Merkel; 99% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Merkel · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Taylor County (61%); Jones County (37%); Nolan County (2%)
- Census places
- Merkel
- Metro area
- Abilene, TX
- House district
- TX-19 119th Congress
- State
- Texas
- Time zone
- Central
- Land area
- 295.9 sq mi · 17 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 79536?
79536 centers on 32.474°, -100.025° and covers 295.9 square miles of land plus 0.3 of water. It borders 11 ZIP codes: 79563, 79561, 79603, 79560, 79525, 79537, 79562, 79501, 79556, 79566 and more.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 79536, open its center on OpenStreetMap.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries and the 2023 Gazetteer (2020 ZCTAs); ZIP-to-county shares, Census places and House districts (119th Congress) from the Census 2020 relationship files (shares of land); metro area from the OMB delineation (July 2023); town name and time zone from simplemaps US ZIP Codes (CC BY 4.0).
How does 79536 compare with the rest of Taylor County?
| Measure | 79536 | In Taylor County | In TX |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 5,047 | 7th of 17 | 1,018th of 1,990 |
| Median household income | $71k | 4th of 10 | 610th of 1,172 |
| Median home value | $136k | 6th of 7 | 999th of 1,172 |
Its median household income is higher than in 48% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 24% of all U.S. residential ZIP codes. ZIP codes at the ACS caps ($250,000 or more for household income, $2,000,000 or more for home value) share the top rank.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B19013, B25077); ranks by PlainZIP over residential ZIP codes (ZCTAs).
How many people live in 79536?
The 2020 Census counted 5,133 people in 79536; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 5,047. Its boundary changed between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, so the two counts are not compared.
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 5,047±705 (90% margin)
- 2020 Census count
- 5,133
- Households
- 1,695
- Median age
- 32.9
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B01002, B11001); 2020 Census (DHC P1); 2010 Census (SF1 P1).
Who lives in 79536?
Of the 5,047 people the ACS estimates in 79536, 27.7% are under 18 and 16.8% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (78.1%), then Hispanic or Latino (13.3%).
- Under 1827.7%
- 18 to 6455.5%
- 65 and older16.8%
- White, not Hispanic78.1%
- Hispanic or Latino13.3%
- Other or two or more6.2%
- Black, not Hispanic2.4%
- Asian, not Hispanic0.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01001 age by sex, B03002 Hispanic or Latino origin by race); shares of the estimated population, small ZIP codes carry wide margins.
What do households in 79536 earn?
Median household income is $71,131 (ACS 2020-2024), the 4th highest of the 10 ranked ZIP codes in Taylor County.
- Median household income
- $71,131±$17,287
- Income per person
- $38,922
- Below the poverty line
- 13.7%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 1.3%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 14.7%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $64,2472,170 returns; wages 75% of AGI (IRS)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 and 2015-2019 5-year estimates (B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003; 2015-2019 dollars converted with the BLS CPI-U, 1.22699); IRS Statistics of Income, ZIP code data, tax year 2022 (adjusted gross income per return, filed under the address on the return).
What are homes worth in 79536?
FHFA's house price index for 79536, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 55% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 34% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +1.9% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $136,400
- Median gross rent
- $1,198
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 74.0%
- Housing units
- 2,065
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25077, B25064, B25003, B25001); FHFA House Price Index, annual five-digit ZIP, updated 2026-03-31.
What businesses are in 79536?
83 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 4 fewer than in 2018; the most are in construction (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Construction18
- Retail trade14
- Other services (except public administration)14
- Accommodation and food services7
- Finance and insurance5
- Manufacturing4
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 and 2018 (establishments with paid employees, by the business's ZIP code).
Which ZIP codes are next to 79536?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 79563 | Tye | 964 | $49k | 8.0 mi |
| 79561 | Trent | 665 | $93k | 9.3 mi |
| 79603 | Abilene | 23,548 | $54k | 11.2 mi |
| 79560 | Sylvester | 37 | $86k | 17.2 mi |
| 79525 | Hawley | 3,121 | $90k | 17.3 mi |
| 79537 | Nolan | 54 | $98k | 17.8 mi |
| 79562 | Tuscola | 5,070 | $110k | 18.8 mi |
| 79501 | Anson | 3,630 | $55k | 20.0 mi |
| 79556 | Sweetwater | 12,532 | $49k | 21.4 mi |
| 79566 | Wingate | 230 | $77k | 22.5 mi |
| 79601 | Abilene | 28,050 | $54k | 23.3 mi |
| 79607 | Dyess Afb | 3,315 | $63k | 11.4 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.