ZIP Code 78521, Texas
ZIP Code 78521 profile, demographic data, and geographic information.
ZCTA5 78521 is a 5-digit ZIP Code area located in Cameron County, Texas. As of official census estimates, it has a reported population of 87,380. The land area covers 93.57 sq mi. [1]
Demographics & Population
| Demographic Metric | Estimate / Count | Margin of Error | Survey Period / Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population | 87,380 | ±2,846 | 2020-2024 / Census ACS 5-Year 2024 |
| Median Age | 31.3 yrs | ±1.3 | 2020-2024 / Census ACS 5-Year 2024 |
| Total Households | 27,731 | ±928 | 2020-2024 / Census ACS 5-Year 2024 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (PEP, ACS 5-Year).
Housing & Real Estate Profile
| Housing Metric | Estimate / Value | Margin of Error |
|---|---|---|
| Total Housing Units | 29,741 | ±875 |
| Occupied Housing Units | 27,731 | ±928 |
| Vacant Housing Units | 2,010 | ±317 |
| Median Home Value | $99,700 | ±$6,676 |
| Median Gross Rent | $889 | ±$26 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2020-2024).
Economy & Workforce
| Economic Metric | Estimate / Value | Margin of Error |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $44,509 | ±$2,741 |
| Per Capita Income | $19,594 | ±$897 |
| Poverty Rate | 30.2% | ±2.6% |
| Population Below Poverty Level | 26,310 | ±2,443 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9% | ±1% |
| Civilian Labor Force, Employed | 35,658 | ±1,570 |
| Broadband Internet Rate | 82.8% | ±1.9% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2020-2024).
Local Government & Public Administration
Authoritative general-purpose local government units serving this area
U.S. Census Bureau GUS (2026) / GMAF
| Government Unit | Unit Type | Jurisdiction Role | Contact / Address |
|---|---|---|---|
|
GUS Population: 431,874 (2024)
ID: 187610
|
County | Official County Government |
Contact: COUNTY JUDGE
1100 E MONROE ST, BROWNSVILLE TX 78520-5883
|
Education
Listing 10 local institutions (NCES 2024-2025)
External reference via K12Guides
| Institution | Type | Grades | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alternative School Nearby | AE | BROWNSVILLE, TX | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-05 | BROWNSVILLE, TX | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-05 | BROWNSVILLE, TX | |
| Regular School Nearby | 06-08 | BROWNSVILLE, TX | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-05 | BROWNSVILLE, TX | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-05 | BROWNSVILLE, TX | |
| Alternative School Nearby | 06-12 | BROWNSVILLE, TX | |
| Regular School Nearby | 09-12 | BROWNSVILLE, TX | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-08 | BROWNSVILLE, TX | |
| Regular School Nearby | 09 | BROWNSVILLE, TX |
Source: k12guides.com.
Community Facilities & Infrastructure
Displaying 10 civic institutions across 2 datasets queried
CMS • IPEDS • IMLS
| Facility Name | Category | Relationship | Address / Location | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
UCAS University of Cosmetology Arts & Sciences - 03
|
College Vocational | 11.2 mi away | 1601 East Price Road Suite East, Brownsville, TX, 78521-1462 |
9562557150
|
|
SOUTHMOST BRANCH LIBRARY
|
Library | 8.8 mi away | 4320 SOUTHMOST BLVD, BROWNSVILLE, TX, 78521 |
(956) 548-1055
|
|
Texas Southmost College
|
College | 11.3 mi away | 80 Fort Brown, Brownsville, TX, 78520 |
9562953600
|
|
PORT ISABEL PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 11.3 mi away | 213 N YTURRIA ST, PORT ISABEL, TX, 78578 |
(956) 943-1822
|
|
Southern Careers Institute-Brownsville
|
College | 11.4 mi away | 935 N. Expressway, Brownsville, TX, 78520 |
5124377500
|
|
LAGUNA VISTA PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 11.3 mi away | 1300 PALM BLVD, LAGUNA VISTA, TX, 78578 |
(956) 943-7155
|
|
South Texas Vocational Technical Institute-Brownsville
|
College Vocational | 11.4 mi away | 1900 North Expressway, Suite O, Brownsville, TX, 78521 |
9565543515
|
|
BROWNSVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 11.9 mi away | 2600 CENTRAL BLVD, BROWNSVILLE, TX, 78520 |
(956) 548-1055
|
|
Salon & Spa Institute
|
College Vocational | 11.9 mi away | 2695 North Coria Street, Brownsville, TX, 78520-8809 |
9565413330
|
|
ETHEL L WHIPPLE MEMORIAL LIBRARY
|
Library | 13.5 mi away | 402 W OCEAN BLVD, LOS FRESNOS, TX, 78566 |
(956) 233-5330
|
Distances calculated from authoritative source coordinates. Source: CMS, IMLS, NCES IPEDS.
Climate & Weather Observations
NOAA Monthly Climate Normals
Observation Station: Climate data reflects NOAA 1991–2020 standard normals recorded at BROWNSVILLE, TX US, located 6.6 miles from ZCTA5 78521. Local microclimates, topography, and elevation may cause municipal conditions to differ.
| Month | High (°F) | Low (°F) | Mean (°F) | Precip (in) | Snow (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 72.6° | 53.1° | 62.8° | 1.08" | 0.0" |
| February | 76.2° | 56.9° | 66.5° | 1.03" | 0.0" |
| March | 80.6° | 62.0° | 71.3° | 1.45" | 0.0" |
| April | 85.7° | 67.7° | 76.7° | 1.47" | 0.0" |
| May | 90.3° | 73.7° | 82.0° | 2.22" | 0.0" |
| June | 94.0° | 77.2° | 85.6° | 2.86" | 0.0" |
| July | 95.0° | 77.8° | 86.4° | 1.98" | 0.0" |
| August | 96.3° | 77.8° | 87.0° | 2.16" | 0.0" |
| September | 92.2° | 74.7° | 83.4° | 5.73" | 0.0" |
| October | 87.3° | 68.6° | 77.9° | 3.83" | 0.0" |
| November | 80.3° | 60.8° | 70.5° | 1.76" | 0.0" |
| December | 74.2° | 54.7° | 64.4° | 1.21" | 0.0" |
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020).
Local Weather Forecast
Weather forecast data is currently unavailable in the local cache.
Nearby Cities & Communities
Listing adjacent communities by spatial proximity (miles)
Proximity discovery
| Community Name | Classification | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reid Hope King CDP | CDP | 6.2 mi | — |
| South Point CDP | CDP | 6.4 mi | — |
| Villa Pancho CDP | CDP | 7.3 mi | — |
| Starbase city | City | 7.8 mi | — |
| Port Isabel city | City | 8.4 mi | — |
| Cameron Park CDP | CDP | 10.1 mi | — |
Sources & Data Provenance
- Geographic Classification & Identifiers: U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer (2026) and TIGER/Line Shapefiles. GEOID: 78521. • Official Source Dataset →
- Socioeconomic & Housing Metrics: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates and Population Estimates Program (PEP). Margin of Error (MOE) intervals are reported where published; suppressed values are never estimated or replaced with false zeros.
- Civic Directory Datasets: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS Hospital Directory), National Center for Education Statistics (NCES IPEDS Postsecondary Directory), and Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS Public Libraries Survey). Airport landing facilities are provided by airport-data.com.
- Weather & Climate Observations: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 and National Weather Service (NWS) point forecasts.