ZIP Code 78542, Texas
ZIP Code 78542 profile, demographic data, and geographic information.
ZCTA5 78542 is a 5-digit ZIP Code area located in Hidalgo County, Texas. As of official census estimates, it has a reported population of 89,401. The land area covers 175.96 sq mi. [1]
Demographics & Population
| Demographic Metric | Estimate / Count | Margin of Error | Survey Period / Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population | 89,401 | ±4,989 | 2020-2024 / Census ACS 5-Year 2024 |
| Median Age | 27.7 yrs | ±1 | 2020-2024 / Census ACS 5-Year 2024 |
| Total Households | 23,943 | ±1,139 | 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 | 26,187 | ±1,239 |
| Occupied Housing Units | 23,943 | ±1,139 |
| Vacant Housing Units | 2,244 | ±518 |
| Median Home Value | $150,200 | ±$14,758 |
| Median Gross Rent | $865 | ±$55 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2020-2024).
Economy & Workforce
| Economic Metric | Estimate / Value | Margin of Error |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $55,243 | ±$5,787 |
| Per Capita Income | $19,389 | ±$1,305 |
| Poverty Rate | 30.4% | ±4.4% |
| Population Below Poverty Level | 26,197 | ±4,054 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.7% | ±2.3% |
| Civilian Labor Force, Employed | 32,185 | ±2,128 |
| Broadband Internet Rate | 86.7% | ±2.4% |
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 | 09-12 | MCALLEN, TX | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-05 | EDINBURG, TX | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-05 | PHARR, TX | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-05 | ALTON, TX | |
| Regular School Nearby | 06-08 | ALTON, TX | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-05 | EDINBURG, TX | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-05 | SAN JUAN, TX | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-05 | EDINBURG, TX | |
| Regular School Nearby | 06-08 | EDINBURG, TX | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-05 | EDINBURG, 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 | 10.0 mi away | 1201 W University Dr, Edinburg, TX, 78539-2999 |
9566652011
|
|
ELSA PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 10.7 mi away | 711 N HIDALGO ST, ELSA, TX, 78543 |
(956) 262-3061
|
|
UCAS University of Cosmetology Arts & Sciences-McAllen
|
College Vocational | 13.1 mi away | 8401 N 10th St, McAllen, TX, 78504 |
9566879444
|
|
DUSTIN MICHAEL SEKULA MEMORIAL LIBRARY
|
Library | 11.1 mi away | 1906 S CLOSNER BLVD, EDINBURG, TX, 78539 |
(956) 383-6246
|
|
Rio Grande Valley College
|
College | 14.1 mi away | 5419 North Cage Boulevard, Pharr, TX, 78577-2106 |
9567816800
|
|
LARK BRANCH LIBRARY
|
Library | 14.9 mi away | 2601 LARK AVE, MCALLEN, TX, 78504 |
(956) 681-3100
|
|
The College of Health Care Professions-McAllen Campus
|
College | 15.9 mi away | 1917 W. Nolana Ave Suite 100, McAllen, TX, 78504-4398 |
9568001500
|
|
MCALLEN PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 16.1 mi away | 4001 N 23RD ST, MCALLEN, TX, 78504 |
(956) 681-3000
|
|
Vogue College of Cosmetology-McAllen
|
College Vocational | 16.0 mi away | 800 Fern Avenue, McAllen, TX, 78501-1945 |
9566876149
|
|
SERGEANT FERNANDO DE LA ROSA MEMORIAL LIBRARY
|
Library | 17.0 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 EDINBURG 17 NNE, TX US, located 6.8 miles from ZCTA5 78542. Local microclimates, topography, and elevation may cause municipal conditions to differ.
| Month | High (°F) | Low (°F) | Mean (°F) | Precip (in) | Snow (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 71.7° | 48.7° | 60.2° | 1.00" | — |
| February | 76.4° | 53.3° | 64.8° | 1.25" | — |
| March | 81.3° | 58.6° | 69.9° | 0.86" | — |
| April | 87.3° | 64.2° | 75.8° | 1.37" | — |
| May | 92.5° | 70.6° | 81.5° | 2.53" | — |
| June | 95.5° | 74.2° | 84.8° | 3.40" | — |
| July | 97.5° | 75.3° | 86.4° | 1.96" | — |
| August | 98.2° | 75.5° | 86.9° | 1.85" | — |
| September | 93.6° | 71.7° | 82.6° | 4.67" | — |
| October | 88.0° | 64.4° | 76.2° | 2.48" | — |
| November | 79.6° | 56.2° | 67.9° | 1.15" | — |
| December | 72.6° | 50.3° | 61.4° | 1.11" | — |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Coma Heights CDP | CDP | 1.2 mi | — |
| Harding Gill Tract CDP | CDP | 4.7 mi | — |
| Hargill CDP | CDP | 4.8 mi | — |
| Doolittle CDP | CDP | 5.2 mi | — |
| Monte Alto CDP | CDP | 8.3 mi | — |
| César Chávez CDP | CDP | 8.4 mi | — |
Sources & Data Provenance
- Geographic Classification & Identifiers: U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer (2026) and TIGER/Line Shapefiles. GEOID: 78542. • 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.