78521 ZIP Code
Brownsville, Texas
December 30, 2025
| ZIP Code: | 78521 |
| City/Town: | Brownsville |
| County: | Cameron |
| State: | Texas |
| ZIP Type: | Standard |
| Population: | 87,040 |
| Median Household Income: | $38,633 |
| Per Capita Income: | $22,485 |
| Total Housing Units: | 28,981 |
| Median Home Value: | $84,300 |
| Land Area: | 93.6 sq miles
242.5 sq km |
| Water Area: | 27.9 sq miles
72.3 sq km |
| Coordinates: | 25.9439, -97.3179 |
Population Information (78521 zip code)
| Number# | Percent% | US AvgUS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population: | 87,040 | -- | -- |
| Male: | 42,865 | 49.2% | 49.6% |
| Female: | 44,175 | 50.8% | 50.4% |
| Median Age: | 30.9 yrs | -- | 38.5 yrs |
| Under 5 years: | 5,981 | 6.9% | 5.7% |
| 5 to 9 years: | 7,427 | 8.5% | 6.0% |
| 10 to 14 years: | 6,982 | 8.0% | 6.5% |
| 15 to 19 years: | 7,843 | 9.0% | 6.6% |
| 20 to 24 years: | 8,284 | 9.5% | 6.7% |
| 25 to 34 years: | 10,873 | 12.5% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 years: | 9,851 | 11.3% | 12.9% |
| 45 to 54 years: | 9,635 | 11.1% | 12.4% |
| 55 to 59 years: | 4,442 | 5.1% | 6.5% |
| 60 to 64 years: | 3,734 | 4.3% | 6.4% |
| 65 to 74 years: | 7,548 | 8.7% | 9.7% |
| 75 to 84 years: | 3,223 | 3.7% | 4.8% |
| 85 years and over: | 1,217 | 1.4% | 2.0% |
Housing Information (78521 zip code)
| Number# | Percent% | US AvgUS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value: | $84,300 | -- | $281,900 |
| Median rooms: | 4.6 | -- | 5.5 |
| Median rent: | $831 / mo. | -- | $1,268 / mo. |
| Total housing units: | 28,981 | -- | -- |
| Occupied housing units: | 26,617 | 91.8% | 38.0% |
| Vacant housing units: | 2,364 | 8.2% | 4.6% |
| Housing tenure: | -- | -- | -- |
| Owner-occupied: | 15,585 | 58.6% | 64.8% |
| Renter-occupied: | 11,032 | 41.4% | 35.2% |
Educational Attainment (78521 zip code)
| Number# | Percent% | US AvgUS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 25 years and over: | 50,523 | -- | -- |
| Less than 9th grade: | 11,887 | 23.5% | 4.7% |
| 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: | 8,238 | 16.3% | 6.1% |
| High school graduate: | 12,711 | 25.2% | 26.4% |
| Some college, no degree: | 7,811 | 15.5% | 19.7% |
| Associate degree: | 2,643 | 5.2% | 8.7% |
| Bachelor's degree: | 5,396 | 10.7% | 20.9% |
| Graduate or professional degree: | 1,837 | 3.6% | 13.7% |
| Percent high school graduate or higher: | -- | 60.2% | 89.1% |
| Percent bachelor's degree or higher: | -- | 14.3% | 34.3% |
Income Information (78521 zip code)
| Value | US AvgUS | |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income: | $38,633 / yr. | $75,149 / yr. |
| Mean household income: | $52,750 / yr. | $105,833 / yr. |
| Median family income: | $42,855 / yr. | $92,646 / yr. |
| Per capita income: | $22,485 / yr. | $41,261 / yr. |
Employment (78521 zip code)
| Number# | Percent% | US AvgUS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| In labor force: | 36,485 | -- | 63.5% |
| Employed: | 33,660 | 92.6% | 96.4% |
| Unemployed: | 2,672 | 7.4% | 5.3% |
| Not in labor force: | 28,777 | -- | -- |
| Class of Worker: | -- | -- | -- |
| Private wage and salary: | 24,711 | 73.4% | 79.7% |
| Government workers: | 5,679 | 16.9% | 14.2% |
| Self-employed: | 3,195 | 9.5% | 5.9% |
| Unpaid family workers: | 75 | 0.2% | 0.1% |
Race & Ethnicity (78521 zip code)
| Number# | Percent% | US AvgUS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Race (one race): | -- | -- | -- |
| White: | 52,061 | 59.8% | 61.6% |
| Black or African American: | 54 | 0.1% | 12.4% |
| American Indian/Alaska Native: | 284 | 0.3% | 1.1% |
| Asian: | 113 | 0.1% | 6.0% |
| Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: | 9 | 0.0% | 0.2% |
| Some other race: | 5,837 | 6.7% | 8.4% |
| Two or more races: | 28,682 | 33.0% | 10.2% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race): | 34,195 | 39.3% | 18.7% |
| Mexican: | 83,869 | 96.4% | 11.2% |
| Puerto Rican: | 79,502 | 91.3% | 1.8% |
| Cuban: | 256 | 0.3% | 0.7% |
| Other Hispanic or Latino: | 66 | 0.1% | 5.0% |
| Not Hispanic or Latino: | 4,045 | 4.6% | 81.1% |
Income Distribution (78521 zip code)
| Household Income | Households | Percent% | US AvgUS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than $10,000: | 2,218 | 8.3% | 4.9% |
| $10,000 to $14,999: | 2,540 | 9.5% | 3.8% |
| $15,000 to $24,999: | 4,246 | 16.0% | 7.0% |
| $25,000 to $34,999: | 3,360 | 12.6% | 7.4% |
| $35,000 to $49,999: | 3,957 | 14.9% | 10.7% |
| $50,000 to $74,999: | 4,343 | 16.3% | 16.1% |
| $75,000 to $99,999: | 2,596 | 9.8% | 12.8% |
| $100,000 to $149,999: | 2,207 | 8.3% | 17.1% |
| $150,000 to $199,999: | 687 | 2.6% | 8.8% |
| $200,000 or more: | 463 | 1.7% | 11.4% |
Commute to Work (78521 zip code)
| Commute Method | Workers | Percent% | US AvgUS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drove alone: | 26,266 | 78.0% | 67.8% |
| Carpooled: | 3,393 | 10.1% | 8.7% |
| Public transportation: | 489 | 1.5% | 4.2% |
| Walked: | 671 | 2.0% | 2.5% |
| Other means: | 364 | 1.1% | 0.9% |
| Worked from home: | 2,087 | 6.2% | 13.8% |
| Mean travel time to work: | 21.7 min | -- | 26.7 min |
Industry (78521 zip code)
| Industry Sector | Workers | Percent% | US AvgUS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining: | 586 | 1.7% | 1.6% |
| Construction: | 2,627 | 7.8% | 6.9% |
| Manufacturing: | 2,500 | 7.4% | 10.0% |
| Wholesale trade: | 630 | 1.9% | 2.4% |
| Retail trade: | 3,916 | 11.6% | 11.0% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities: | 1,880 | 5.6% | 5.8% |
| Information: | 363 | 1.1% | 1.9% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate: | 1,397 | 4.2% | 6.7% |
| Professional, scientific, management: | 2,783 | 8.3% | 12.1% |
| Education, health care, social services: | 9,751 | 29.0% | 23.3% |
| Arts, entertainment, food services: | 3,238 | 9.6% | 9.0% |
| Other services: | 2,324 | 6.9% | 4.7% |
| Public administration: | 1,665 | 4.9% | 4.7% |
Poverty Status (78521 zip code)
| Number# | Percent% | US AvgUS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty Rate: | -- | 31.3% | 8.8% |
| All people below poverty level: | -- | -- | -- |
| Under 18 years: | -- | -- | 16.3% |
| 18 to 64 years: | -- | -- | 11.0% |
| 65 years and over: | -- | -- | 10.3% |
Health Insurance (78521 zip code)
| Number# | Percent% | US AvgUS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| With health insurance: | 57,657 | 66.2% | 91.3% |
| Private health insurance: | 24,452 | 28.1% | 67.6% |
| Public health coverage: | 36,373 | 41.8% | 35.9% |
| Without health insurance: | 29,108 | 33.4% | 8.7% |
Benefits & Assistance (78521 zip code)
| Households with: | Number# | Percent% | US AvgUS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earnings: | 21,031 | 79.0% | 77.4% |
| Social Security income: | 9,434 | 35.4% | 31.0% |
| Retirement income: | 2,912 | 10.9% | 21.8% |
| Supplemental Security Income (SSI): | 2,418 | 9.1% | 4.5% |
| Cash public assistance income: | 822 | 3.1% | 1.8% |
| SNAP (food stamps) benefits: | 9,043 | 34.0% | 11.4% |
Housing Types (78521 zip code)
| Structure Type | Units | Percent% | US AvgUS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-unit, detached: | 18,083 | 62.4% | 61.4% |
| 1-unit, attached: | 1,032 | 3.6% | 6.1% |
| 2 units: | 1,454 | 5.0% | 3.4% |
| 3 or 4 units: | 1,321 | 4.6% | 4.3% |
| 5 to 9 units: | 1,124 | 3.9% | 4.6% |
| 10 to 19 units: | 781 | 2.7% | 4.3% |
| 20 or more units: | 2,431 | 8.4% | 9.9% |
| Mobile home: | 2,604 | 9.0% | 5.8% |
| Boat, RV, van, etc.: | 151 | 0.5% | 0.1% |
Year Structure Built (78521 zip code)
| Year Built | Units | Percent% | US AvgUS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built 2020 or later: | 115 | 0.4% | 0.6% |
| Built 2010 to 2019: | 2,899 | 10.0% | 8.2% |
| Built 2000 to 2009: | 6,021 | 20.8% | 13.5% |
| Built 1990 to 1999: | 4,756 | 16.4% | 13.2% |
| Built 1980 to 1989: | 5,128 | 17.7% | 13.2% |
| Built 1970 to 1979: | 6,228 | 21.5% | 14.6% |
| Built 1960 to 1969: | 1,567 | 5.4% | 10.2% |
| Built 1950 to 1959: | 1,019 | 3.5% | 9.9% |
| Built 1940 to 1949: | 913 | 3.2% | 4.6% |
| Built 1939 or earlier: | 335 | 1.2% | 12.0% |
Bedrooms (78521 zip code)
| Number of Bedrooms | Units | Percent% | US AvgUS |
|---|---|---|---|
| No bedroom (studio): | 755 | 2.6% | 2.4% |
| 1 bedroom: | 2,864 | 9.9% | 3.0% |
| 2 bedrooms: | 8,204 | 28.3% | 9.1% |
| 3 bedrooms: | 13,235 | 45.7% | 15.9% |
| 4 bedrooms: | 3,386 | 11.7% | 18.8% |
| 5 or more bedrooms: | 537 | 1.9% | 17.6% |
Heating Fuel (78521 zip code)
| Fuel Type | Units | Percent% | US AvgUS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utility gas: | 2,175 | 8.2% | 47.1% |
| Bottled, tank, or LP gas: | 251 | 0.9% | 4.9% |
| Electricity: | 23,782 | 89.3% | 40.2% |
| Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.: | 0 | 0.0% | 4.2% |
| Coal or coke: | 0 | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| Wood: | 30 | 0.1% | 1.5% |
| Solar energy: | 0 | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| Other fuel: | 0 | 0.0% | 0.5% |
| No fuel used: | 379 | 1.4% | 0.2% |
Vehicles Available (78521 zip code)
| Vehicles | Households | Percent% | US AvgUS |
|---|---|---|---|
| No vehicle available: | 2,074 | 7.8% | 8.3% |
| 1 vehicle available: | 10,791 | 40.5% | 32.6% |
| 2 vehicles available: | 8,476 | 31.8% | 37.0% |
| 3 or more vehicles available: | 5,276 | 19.8% | 22.1% |
Home Value Distribution (78521 zip code)
| Value Range | Owner Units | Percent% | US AvgUS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than $50,000: | 3,142 | 20.2% | 5.7% |
| $50,000 to $99,999: | 6,818 | 43.7% | 7.8% |
| $100,000 to $149,999: | 3,219 | 20.7% | 9.2% |
| $150,000 to $199,999: | 1,201 | 7.7% | 10.8% |
| $200,000 to $299,999: | 785 | 5.0% | 19.9% |
| $300,000 to $499,999: | 248 | 1.6% | 24.1% |
| $500,000 to $999,999: | 166 | 1.1% | 17.0% |
| $1,000,000 or more: | 6 | 0.0% | 5.6% |
Housing Costs (78521 zip code)
| Value | US AvgUS | |
|---|---|---|
| Median owner costs (with mortgage): | $1,106 / mo. | $1,828 / mo. |
| Median owner costs (no mortgage): | $389 / mo. | $584 / mo. |
| Median gross rent: | $831 / mo. | $1,268 / mo. |
| Average household size (owner-occupied): | 3.29 | 2.53 |
| Average household size (renter-occupied): | 3.22 | 2.38 |
Households (78521 zip code)
| Number# | Percent% | US AvgUS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total households: | 26,617 | -- | -- |
| Married-couple households: | 12,412 | 46.6% | 47.5% |
| Cohabiting couple households: | 5,491 | 20.6% | 7.0% |
| Male householder, no spouse: | 3,806 | 14.3% | 5.4% |
| Female householder, no spouse: | 9,454 | 35.5% | 12.7% |
| Householder living alone: | 12,156 | 45.7% | 28.6% |
| 65 years and over living alone: | 9,090 | 34.2% | 11.8% |
| Average household size: | 3.26 | -- | 2.53 |
| Average family size: | 3.79 | -- | -- |
Marital Status (78521 zip code)
| Population 15 years and over | Number# | Percent% | US AvgUS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total: | 31,797 | -- | -- |
| Never married: | 12,446 | 39.1% | 37.0% |
| Now married: | 16,052 | 50.5% | 49.5% |
| Separated: | 694 | 2.2% | 1.5% |
| Widowed: | 1,742 | 5.5% | 2.6% |
| Divorced: | 10,666 | 33.5% | 9.3% |
School Enrollment (78521 zip code)
| Population 3 years and over | Number# | Percent% | US AvgUS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrolled in school: | 25,994 | -- | -- |
| Nursery school, preschool: | 1,853 | 7.1% | 5.8% |
| Kindergarten: | 1,468 | 5.6% | 5.0% |
| Elementary school (grades 1-8): | 11,525 | 44.3% | 40.5% |
| High school (grades 9-12): | 6,166 | 23.7% | 21.4% |
| College or graduate school: | 4,982 | 19.2% | 27.3% |
Veterans & Disability (78521 zip code)
| Number# | Percent% | US AvgUS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civilian population 18 years and over: | 61,676 | -- | -- |
| Veterans: | 1,173 | 1.9% | 6.3% |
| Civilian noninstitutionalized population: | 86,765 | -- | -- |
| With a disability: | 10,087 | 11.6% | 13.4% |
| Under 18 with disability: | 835 | 8.3% | 5.8% |
| 18 to 64 with disability: | 4,595 | 45.6% | 10.4% |
| 65 and over with disability: | 4,657 | 46.2% | 33.4% |
Mobility (Residence 1 Year Ago) (78521 zip code)
| Population 1 year and over | Number# | Percent% | US AvgUS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Same house: | 78,333 | 90.0% | 86.9% |
| Different house: | 7,747 | 8.9% | 13.1% |
| Same county: | 5,296 | 68.4% | 7.0% |
| Different county: | 1,583 | 20.4% | 3.2% |
| Different state: | 532 | 6.9% | 2.5% |
| Abroad: | 868 | 11.2% | 0.4% |
Place of Birth (78521 zip code)
| Number# | Percent% | US AvgUS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native born: | 60,921 | 70.0% | 86.2% |
| Foreign born: | 1,416 | 1.6% | 13.9% |
| Naturalized citizen: | 26,119 | 1844.6% | 52.7% |
| Not a citizen: | 26,119 | 1844.6% | 47.3% |
| Foreign-born by region: | -- | -- | -- |
| Europe: | 26,119 | 1844.6% | 10.5% |
| Asia: | 42 | 3.0% | 31.3% |
| Africa: | 16 | 1.1% | 5.5% |
| Oceania: | 15 | 1.1% | 0.5% |
| Latin America: | 25,868 | 1826.8% | 50.0% |
| Northern America: | 81 | 5.7% | 2.2% |
Language Spoken at Home (78521 zip code)
| Population 5 years and over | Number# | Percent% | US AvgUS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total: | 81,059 | -- | -- |
| English only: | 9,350 | 11.5% | 78.3% |
| Language other than English: | 71,709 | 88.5% | 21.5% |
| By language: | -- | -- | -- |
| Spanish: | 71,469 | 88.2% | 13.3% |
| Other Indo-European languages: | 167 | 0.2% | 3.5% |
| Asian/Pacific Island languages: | 57 | 0.1% | 3.5% |
| Other languages: | 16 | 0.0% | 1.0% |
Computers & Internet (78521 zip code)
| Households | Percent% | US AvgUS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households with a computer: | 26,617 | 100.0% | 93.1% |
| Households with broadband internet: | 22,441 | 84.3% | 89.4% |
Brownsville, TX78521