ZIP Code 78538, Texas
ZIP Code 78538 profile, demographic data, and geographic information.
ZCTA5 78538 is a 5-digit ZIP Code area located in Hidalgo County, Texas. As of official census estimates, it has a reported population of 11,982. The land area covers 67.05 sq mi. [1]
Demographics & Population
| Demographic Metric | Estimate / Count | Margin of Error | Survey Period / Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population | 11,982 | ±1,474 | 2020-2024 / Census ACS 5-Year 2024 |
| Median Age | 32.6 yrs | ±3.7 | 2020-2024 / Census ACS 5-Year 2024 |
| Total Households | 3,556 | ±383 | 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 | 3,934 | ±400 |
| Occupied Housing Units | 3,556 | ±383 |
| Vacant Housing Units | 378 | ±164 |
| Median Home Value | $92,100 | ±$14,318 |
| Median Gross Rent | $556 | ±$81 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2020-2024).
Economy & Workforce
| Economic Metric | Estimate / Value | Margin of Error |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $40,399 | ±$7,057 |
| Per Capita Income | $17,362 | ±$1,665 |
| Poverty Rate | 37.3% | ±6.2% |
| Population Below Poverty Level | 4,454 | ±920 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.8% | ±2.4% |
| Civilian Labor Force, Employed | 4,503 | ±748 |
| Broadband Internet Rate | 78.3% | ±5.5% |
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: 914,820 (2024)
ID: 194116
|
County | Official County Government |
Contact: COUNTY JUDGE
PO BOX 1356, EDINBURG TX 78540-1356
|
Education
Listing 10 local institutions (NCES 2024-2025)
External reference via K12Guides
| Institution | Type | Grades | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular School Nearby | PK-05 | DONNA, TX | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-05 | WESLACO, TX | |
| Regular School Nearby | 06-08 | DONNA, TX | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-05 | PHARR, TX | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-05 | WESLACO, TX | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-05 | EDINBURG, TX | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-05 | SAN JUAN, TX | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-05 | PHARR, TX | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-05 | SAN JUAN, TX | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-05 | SAN JUAN, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
|
College | 13.0 mi away | 1201 W University Dr, Edinburg, TX, 78539-2999 |
9566652011
|
|
ELSA PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 5.0 mi away | 711 N HIDALGO ST, ELSA, TX, 78543 |
(956) 262-3061
|
|
South Texas Vocational Technical Institute-Weslaco
|
College Vocational | 13.3 mi away | 1600 North Westgate Drive, Suite 400, Weslaco, TX, 78599 |
9569691564
|
|
DUSTIN MICHAEL SEKULA MEMORIAL LIBRARY
|
Library | 13.1 mi away | 1906 S CLOSNER BLVD, EDINBURG, TX, 78539 |
(956) 383-6246
|
|
Valley Grande Institute for Academic Studies
|
College Vocational | 14.5 mi away | 345 S. Texas Blvd., Weslaco, TX, 78596 |
9569731945
|
|
MAYOR JOE V SANCHEZ PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 14.6 mi away | 525 S KANSAS AVE, WESLACO, TX, 78596 |
(956) 968-4533
|
|
Rio Grande Valley College
|
College | 15.3 mi away | 5419 North Cage Boulevard, Pharr, TX, 78577-2106 |
9567816800
|
|
DONNA PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 14.7 mi away | 301 S MAIN ST, DONNA, TX, 78537 |
(956) 464-2221
|
|
UCAS University of Cosmetology Arts & Sciences-McAllen
|
College Vocational | 16.3 mi away | 8401 N 10th St, McAllen, TX, 78504 |
9566879444
|
|
SERGEANT FERNANDO DE LA ROSA MEMORIAL LIBRARY
|
Library | 15.1 mi away | 416 N TOWER RD, ALAMO, TX, 78516 |
(956) 787-6160
|
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 SANTA ROSA 3 WNW, TX US, located 9.5 miles from ZCTA5 78538. Local microclimates, topography, and elevation may cause municipal conditions to differ.
| Month | High (°F) | Low (°F) | Mean (°F) | Precip (in) | Snow (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 71.3° | 48.8° | 60.1° | 1.12" | 0.0" |
| February | 75.7° | 53.2° | 64.4° | 1.00" | 0.0" |
| March | 80.9° | 58.4° | 69.7° | 1.40" | 0.0" |
| April | 86.4° | 64.2° | 75.3° | 1.39" | 0.0" |
| May | 90.6° | 70.8° | 80.7° | 2.48" | 0.0" |
| June | 94.9° | 74.7° | 84.8° | 2.88" | 0.0" |
| July | 96.3° | 75.7° | 86.0° | 1.67" | 0.0" |
| August | 97.4° | 75.4° | 86.4° | 2.10" | 0.0" |
| September | 92.6° | 72.0° | 82.3° | 5.56" | 0.0" |
| October | 88.0° | 65.2° | 76.6° | 2.66" | 0.0" |
| November | 79.7° | 57.0° | 68.4° | 1.23" | 0.0" |
| December | 72.9° | 50.2° | 61.6° | 1.12" | 0.1" |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monte Alto CDP | CDP | 0.5 mi | — |
| Harding Gill Tract CDP | CDP | 4.9 mi | — |
| Elsa city | City | 5.0 mi | — |
| Edcouch city | City | 5.1 mi | — |
| La Blanca CDP | CDP | 5.5 mi | — |
| La Villa city | City | 5.7 mi | — |
Sources & Data Provenance
- Geographic Classification & Identifiers: U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer (2026) and TIGER/Line Shapefiles. GEOID: 78538. • 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.