ZIP 78538 vs ZIP 78542
A side-by-side comparison of ZIP Code 78538 and ZIP Code 78542: population, income, housing, and more.
ZIP 78538 and ZIP 78542 are ZIP Code areas in Texas. This page compares them across population, income, housing, education, commuting, and how each has changed since 2019.
ZIP 78542 has the higher population (86,111 vs 10,740 in ZIP 78538). ZIP 78542 has the higher median household income ($52,962 vs $38,904 in ZIP 78538). ZIP 78542 has the higher median home value ($123,500 vs $87,300 in ZIP 78538).
Population, income & housing
| ZIP 78538 | ZIP 78542 | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 10,740 | 86,111 |
| Median age | 34.2 yrs | 27.4 yrs |
| Median household income | $38,904 | $52,962 |
| Median home value | $87,300 | $123,500 |
| Median gross rent | $586 | $876 |
| Housing units | 3,745 | 25,198 |
| Homeownership rate | 71.9% | 74.7% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.2% | 13.3% |
| Unemployment rate | 7.2% | 9.9% |
Trends (ACS 5-year, 2019–2023)
| ZIP 78538 | ZIP 78542 | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 11,137 → 10,740 (-3.6%) | 77,336 → 86,111 (+11.3%) |
| Median household income | $35,077 → $38,904 (+10.9%) | $42,332 → $52,962 (+25.1%) |
| Median home value | $61,000 → $87,300 (+43.1%) | $83,800 → $123,500 (+47.4%) |
| Median gross rent | $479 → $586 (+22.3%) | $652 → $876 (+34.4%) |
ZIP 78538
11,13710,740
$35,077$38,904
$61,000$87,300
$479$586
ZIP 78542
77,33686,111
$42,332$52,962
$83,800$123,500
$652$876
Age & race/ethnicity
Age distribution (share)
| ZIP 78538 | ZIP 78542 | |
|---|---|---|
| Under 5 | 7.3% | 8.6% |
| 5 to 17 | 23.2% | 25.5% |
| 18 to 24 | 11.6% | 12.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 9.3% | 15.3% |
| 35 to 44 | 13.2% | 12.6% |
| 45 to 54 | 12.9% | 11.4% |
| 55 to 64 | 10.3% | 7.0% |
| 65 to 74 | 7.4% | 4.7% |
| 75 and over | 4.7% | 2.9% |
Race & ethnicity (share)
| ZIP 78538 | ZIP 78542 | |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 1.6% | 4.0% |
| Black or African American | 0.0% | 0.7% |
| American Indian & Alaska Native | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Asian | 0.5% | 0.3% |
| Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| Some other race | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| Two or more races | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 97.9% | 94.7% |
Educational attainment (age 25+)
Share of adults 25+
| ZIP 78538 | ZIP 78542 | |
|---|---|---|
| No high school diploma | 35.2% | 35.5% |
| High school graduate | 36.3% | 29.0% |
| Some college or associate's | 17.3% | 22.2% |
| Bachelor's degree | 7.0% | 9.7% |
| Graduate or professional degree | 4.2% | 3.6% |
Commute to work
How workers get to work (share)
| ZIP 78538 | ZIP 78542 | |
|---|---|---|
| Drove alone | 77.6% | 74.4% |
| Carpooled | 5.8% | 9.5% |
| Public transit | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Walked | 0.9% | 0.4% |
| Bicycle | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Worked from home | 7.2% | 10.5% |
| Other means | 8.5% | 5.2% |
Housing
Units in structure (share)
| ZIP 78538 | ZIP 78542 | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-unit, detached | 77.2% | 67.4% |
| 1-unit, attached | 0.1% | 0.6% |
| 2 to 4 units | 6.4% | 5.8% |
| 5 to 19 units | 2.6% | 4.4% |
| 20 or more units | 1.8% | 0.9% |
| Mobile home & other | 12.0% | 20.9% |
Poverty & households
| ZIP 78538 | ZIP 78542 | |
|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 35.6% | 30.9% |
| Average household size | 3.26 | 3.60 |
| Mean commute (minutes) | 24 | 23 |
| Median year structure built | 1999 | 2004 |