78542 ZIP Code, Edinburg, TX

78542 is a ZIP code in Edinburg, Texas in Hidalgo County. It covers 176 square miles of land. The closest ZIP codes are 78549, 78538 and 78540. 89,401 people live here in 23,943 households, which puts it among the most populous 1% of Texas ZIP codes. With about 508 people per square mile it is lightly settled, and most homes are owner-occupied (76%). Median household income is $55,243, below the Texas median of $78,476; 53% of households have children under 18.

Quick facts

Key figures

MeasureValue
Residents89,401
Households23,943
Median household income$55,243
Income per person$19,389
Median age27.7
Homeowners75.7%
Median home value$150,200
Median rent$865
Bachelor's degree or higher12.8%
Average commute (minutes)24.6
Households with kids under 1852.9%
Moved in the past year9.3%
Below the poverty line30.4%
Broadband internet86.7%
Speak a non-English language at home84.3%

Household income

% of householdsValue
<$10K6.5%
$10–15K6.8%
$15–25K12.2%
$25–35K10.1%
$35–50K10.9%
$50–75K16.1%
$75–100K13.0%
$100–150K16.0%
$150–200K5.6%
$200K+2.9%

Age

% of all residentsValue
<1017.3%
10–1920.1%
20–248.4%
25–3414.9%
35–4412.4%
45–5411.7%
55–647.2%
65–744.9%
75+3.0%

Tenure

% of housing unitsValue
Owned, with mortgage30.9%
Owned outright38.5%
Rented22.1%
Vacant8.5%

Type of building

% of housing unitsValue
Detached house68.0%
Townhome0.7%
2–4 units5.6%
5–19 units4.3%
20+ units1.5%
Mobile / other19.9%

Businesses in 78542

388 business establishments with 4,069 employees (ZIP Codes Business Patterns 2023).

EDDM carrier routes

78542 has 31 USPS carrier routes with 28,029 residential and 742 business mailboxes. Open the EDDM route map.

Carrier routes in 78542

78542 has 31 USPS carrier routes (2 city (C), 29 rural (R)) with 28,029 residential and 742 business mailboxes. Routes range from 397 homes (R055) to 1,241 homes (R043); the median route has 891 homes. The Census counted 23,943 households in 78542 (2020–2024 average); USPS counts current mailboxes, including new and vacant homes.

Homes per routeRoutes
1–2490
250–4991
500–7493
750–99917
1,000–1,49910
1,500+0

Best routes in 78542 for…

Highest income

For bigger-ticket offers: remodeling, pools, financial planning, private schools.

  1. Route R034 — Est. median household income $74,336, 771 homes
  2. Route R010 — Est. median household income $72,931, 1,016 homes
  3. Route R031 — Est. median household income $70,054, 880 homes
  4. Route R041 — Est. median household income $67,701, 1,164 homes
  5. Route R032 — Est. median household income $65,133, 1,208 homes

Select these 5 routes on the route map

Often mailed by: Home services EDDM, Real estate EDDM postcards, Landscaping and lawn care mailers

Most families with kids

For tutoring, youth sports, pediatric dental, child care and family dining.

  1. Route R016 — Est. families with children under 18 68.2%, 815 homes
  2. Route R012 — Est. families with children under 18 67.6%, 1,035 homes
  3. Route R039 — Est. families with children under 18 66.8%, 1,033 homes
  4. Route R010 — Est. families with children under 18 64.8%, 1,016 homes
  5. Route R043 — Est. families with children under 18 64.2%, 1,241 homes

Select these 5 routes on the route map

Often mailed by: Dental practice EDDM, Healthcare and clinic mailers

Most homeowners

Owners decide on roofs, HVAC, lawns, solar and insurance; renters usually can't.

  1. Route R016 — Est. owner-occupied homes 93.1%, 815 homes
  2. Route R024 — Est. owner-occupied homes 92.9%, 869 homes
  3. Route R010 — Est. owner-occupied homes 88.0%, 1,016 homes
  4. Route R032 — Est. owner-occupied homes 87.9%, 1,208 homes
  5. Route R039 — Est. owner-occupied homes 87.5%, 1,033 homes

Select these 5 routes on the route map

Often mailed by: Roofing direct mail, HVAC postcards

Most new movers

New residents are still choosing a dentist, a gym and a lawn service.

  1. Route R015 — Est. residents who moved in the past year 37.4%, 525 homes
  2. Route R012 — Est. residents who moved in the past year 24.5%, 1,035 homes
  3. Route C017 — Est. residents who moved in the past year 19.8%, 1,023 homes
  4. Route C014 — Est. residents who moved in the past year 15.9%, 991 homes
  5. Route R049 — Est. residents who moved in the past year 14.2%, 912 homes

Select these 5 routes on the route map

Often mailed by: Restaurant EDDM menus and offers, Gym and fitness mailers

Newest homes

Newer subdivisions: landscaping, window treatments, fencing, security, home warranties.

  1. Route R036 — Est. homes built 2010 or later 63.9%, 1,074 homes
  2. Route R048 — Est. homes built 2010 or later 48.4%, 1,172 homes
  3. Route R006 — Est. homes built 2010 or later 43.3%, 830 homes
  4. Route R041 — Est. homes built 2010 or later 43.2%, 1,164 homes
  5. Route R043 — Est. homes built 2010 or later 42.4%, 1,241 homes

Select these 5 routes on the route map

Most businesses

For B2B offers: office supplies, cleaning, IT, catering and commercial services.

  1. Route R027 — USPS business mailboxes 102, 891 homes
  2. Route C014 — USPS business mailboxes 71, 991 homes
  3. Route R053 — USPS business mailboxes 66, 541 homes
  4. Route C017 — USPS business mailboxes 50, 1,023 homes
  5. Route R051 — USPS business mailboxes 44, 920 homes

Select these 5 routes on the route map

Every carrier route in 78542

RouteTypeHomesBusinessesEst. median incomeEst. ownersEst. families with kidsEst. moved in past year
C014City99171$60,91963.8%34.2%15.9%
C017City1,02350$64,27470.4%43.4%19.8%
R001Rural7767$45,60080.2%57.8%5.5%
R006Rural83021$58,63385.7%52.4%4.6%
R008Rural80520$44,35183.0%55.3%1.5%
R010Rural1,01619$72,93188.0%64.8%13.4%
R011Rural8747$40,31381.7%48.9%8.0%
R012Rural1,03514$47,35585.7%67.6%24.5%
R014Rural93825$60,11278.9%56.2%3.3%
R015Rural52538$64,09680.4%33.8%37.4%
R016Rural8153$56,76693.1%68.2%2.0%
R018Rural8764$35,93679.4%37.0%2.6%
R020Rural1,04521$52,42186.4%62.2%7.4%
R021Rural7459$53,03787.3%57.4%1.8%
R024Rural8693$53,60992.9%55.9%0.7%
R027Rural891102$50,41357.2%43.7%5.8%
R031Rural8805$70,05479.1%43.5%13.5%
R032Rural1,20816$65,13387.9%51.7%4.2%
R034Rural77139$74,33661.2%46.4%11.0%
R036Rural1,07416$57,92751.9%55.7%7.6%
R037Rural82628$58,51960.5%30.0%5.6%
R039Rural1,0333$33,76787.5%66.8%0.6%
R041Rural1,16420$67,70174.0%53.2%10.0%
R042Rural87231$42,35182.6%49.3%2.6%
R043Rural1,2415$37,71783.8%64.2%3.7%
R048Rural1,17214$60,23553.9%48.7%4.8%
R049Rural91224$30,92782.4%59.1%14.2%
R051Rural92044$58,75582.3%45.8%2.1%
R053Rural54166$54,51476.5%46.8%4.3%
R054Rural96416$41,27485.3%58.2%13.8%
R055Rural3971$39,87082.6%57.9%6.7%

Income, owners, families and movers are estimates for each route (how we estimate them); mailbox counts are current USPS figures. Open 78542 on the EDDM route map.

How route demographics are estimated

Mailbox counts come from USPS; demographics are estimates

The number of homes and businesses on each carrier route is the current USPS EDDM count. The Census Bureau does not publish figures for carrier routes, so income, homeownership, ages, families, movers and housing age on a route are EDDM2GO estimates built from Census block groups (neighborhood areas of roughly 600 to 3,000 people).

How a route gets its figures: the block-group length-share method

We trace each route's streets every 25 meters and record which block group each stretch falls in. The route's homes are spread along its streets in proportion to length, so a route with 60% of its street length in one block group is assumed to have 60% of its homes there. Each block group then contributes its Census counts in proportion to the share of its housing units that sit on the route (capped at the whole block group). Medians are recalculated from the combined income, home-value and age brackets, the way the Census Bureau computes them, not averaged.

Margins of error

Census survey figures carry a margin of error at 90% confidence; we carry it through the calculation and show it as ±. Our margins treat the route-to-block-group split as exact, so the real uncertainty is larger. Routes with fewer than 100 estimated households, large margins, or streets we could not place are flagged.

Different years

USPS mailbox counts are current. Census figures are 5-year averages for 2020–2024, so a new subdivision may have more homes on the route today than the Census counted. Use the route figures to compare routes with each other, not as an exact head count.

Why some routes show identical figures

Two routes that run through the same block group get the same percentages and medians, because the Census publishes one set of figures for the whole block group. Their mailbox counts still differ, and those are exact.

Route and mailbox counts: USPS EDDM route data. Route demographics: EDDM2GO estimates from U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year block-group data (2020–2024) and 2024 cartographic block-group boundaries. This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Nearby ZIP codes

Areas that include 78542

Where it ranks

Mail every home in 78542

Route counts on this page price as Full Service 6.5 × 9 postcards: we print, bundle by carrier route and hand the mailing to USPS. Prefer to take it to the Post Office yourself? Print only costs less and you pay postage at drop-off.

EDDM guides

ZIP code statistics describe the Census ZIP Code Tabulation Area (ZCTA) 78542, which approximates the USPS ZIP code area. Census figures: American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024.

Frequently asked questions

What city is 78542 in?
78542 is a Edinburg, TX mailing address. By land area, 13% lies inside Linn, 10% lies inside Edinburg, 3% lies inside Murillo and 2% lies inside Doolittle; the rest is outside any Census-defined city or community.
What county is 78542 in?
78542 is in Hidalgo County.
What is the population of 78542?
About 89,401 people (±4,989), according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year estimates for 2020–2024. The 2020 Census counted 84,678.
What is the median household income in 78542?
$55,243 (±$5,787), compared with $78,476 for Texas as a whole. Half the households in the ZIP code earn more and half earn less.
How many carrier routes and mailboxes are in 78542?
31 USPS carrier routes with 28,029 residential and 742 business mailboxes (28,772 in all), from the route data stored by EDDM2GO. An EDDM mailing can target any combination of these routes.
What ZIP codes are near 78542?
The closest, measured center to center: 78549 (5.4 mi, Harding Gill Tract), 78538 (8.5 mi, Monte Alto), 78540 (10.1 mi), 78543 (10.5 mi, La Blanca), 78558 (10.5 mi, La Blanca) and 78561 (11.1 mi, Lasara).

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.