Zip Code 78521
Brownsville, Texas — Cameron County
📍 ZIP code 78521 is in Brownsville, Cameron County, Texas.
ZIP code 78521 is located in Brownsville, Cameron County, Texas. It is a zip code in the Central (CST/CDT) Time Zone with an estimated population of 87,860. The area code for ZIP code 78521 is 979.
Quick Answer
Zip code 78521 is in Brownsville, Texas (Cameron County). It has a population of 87,860, median household income of $41,276, and median home value of $90,500.
Population
87,860
Income
$41,276
Home Value
$90,500
Climate
95°F / 53°F
About Zip Code 78521
Zip code 78521 is located in Brownsville, Texas, within Cameron County. Home to approximately 87,860 residents, this area sits at an elevation of 6 ft and falls within the Central (CST/CDT) timezone. The local area code is 979.
The median household income is $41,276 per year, which is below the national median of $70,784. Homes in this zip code have a median value of $90,500, and the cost of living index is 60 (40% below the national average of 100).
Summers average a high of 95°F while winters drop to 53°F. The area receives about 27 in of rain annually. The zip code covers 93.2 square miles of land area and 27.8 square miles of water.
Key Statistics
87,860
$41,276
$90,500
Central (CST/CDT)
979
6 ft
93.2 sq mi
31.5
29,576
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Compare With Nearby Zip Codes
| Metric | 78521 | 78578 | 78526 | 78575 | 78566 | 78520 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City | Brownsville, TX | Port Isabel, TX | Brownsville, TX | Brownsville, TX | Los Fresnos, TX | Brownsville, TX |
| Population | 87,860 | 10,231 | 59,719 | 4,728 | 24,927 | 63,337 |
| Median Income | $41,276 | $52,041 | $68,143 | $74,273 | $64,385 | $47,331 |
| Home Value | $90,500 | $193,700 | $158,300 | $220,400 | $138,100 | $129,200 |
| Cost of Living | 60 | 66 | 67 | 75 | 60 | 60 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 48.2 | 29.2 | 40.5 | 34.1 | 31.6 |
Cost of Living
100 = National Average. Brownsville's cost of living is 40% below the national average.
vs. State Avg
Below
Affordability
Very Affordable
Income-to-Home
2.2x
Demographics
Zip code 78521 has a population of 87,860 people with a median age of 31.5. There are 29,576 housing units in this area.
Racial & Ethnic Composition
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey estimates.
Population History
Brownsville (78521) population trend from 2010 to 2024
↑ 12.3%Source: U.S. Census Bureau estimates and American Community Survey data.
Climate & Weather
95°F
53°F
27 in
0 in
Brownsville experiences hot summers with average highs around 95°F. Winters are mild with lows averaging 53°F. The area receives virtually no snowfall.
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Housing & Economy
Median Home Value
$90,500
Median Household Income
$41,276
With 29,576 housing units across 93.2 square miles, 78521 has a housing density of 317 units per square mile. The home price-to-income ratio is 2.2x.
Location & Geography
Latitude
25.9439°
Longitude
-97.3179°
Land Area
93.2 sq mi
Water Area
27.8 sq mi
Nearby Zip Codes
Zip codes closest to 78521 (Brownsville, TX) with distances:
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ZIP Codes with Similar Income Nationwide
The five U.S. ZIP codes whose median household income is closest to 78521's $41,276. A way to compare Brownsville to economically similar communities elsewhere in the country.
Computed from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates by the Zip Code Near Me Data Team.
ZIP Codes with Similar Demographics
The five U.S. ZIP codes whose racial and ethnic composition most closely matches 78521 (Brownsville, TX). Similarity is measured by cosine distance on the five-category ACS demographic vector.
Computed from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates by the Zip Code Near Me Data Team.
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People Also Ask
What zip code is Brownsville, Texas?
Brownsville, Texas uses zip code 78521.
What county is zip code 78521 in?
Zip code 78521 is located in Cameron County, Texas.
What is the population of zip code 78521?
The population of zip code 78521 is 87,860 with a median age of 31.5.
Is 78521 in Brownsville, Texas?
Yes, zip code 78521 is in Brownsville, Cameron County, Texas. The area code is 979.
Frequently Asked Questions
What city is zip code 78521 in?
Zip code 78521 is in Brownsville, Texas. It is part of Cameron County and uses the Central (CST/CDT) timezone.
What is zip code 78521?
Zip code 78521 is a U.S. postal code in Brownsville, Texas (Cameron County). It has a population of 87,860 and covers 93.2 square miles.
What is the population of zip code 78521?
The population of zip code 78521 (Brownsville, TX) is 87,860 with a median age of 31.5. There are approximately 29,576 housing units in this area.
What is the median income in zip code 78521?
The median household income in zip code 78521 (Brownsville, TX) is $41,276 per year. The cost of living index is 60 (100 = national average).
What is the average home price in zip code 78521?
The median home value in zip code 78521 (Brownsville, TX) is $90,500. The cost of living index is 60 compared to the national average of 100.
What county is zip code 78521 in?
Zip code 78521 is located in Cameron County, Texas. The primary city is Brownsville.
What is the area code for zip code 78521?
Zip code 78521 in Brownsville, TX uses area code 979. It is located in the Central (CST/CDT) timezone.
Is zip code 78521 a good place to live?
Zip code 78521 (Brownsville, TX) has a cost of living index of 60 (100 = national average), a median household income of $41,276, and median home values of $90,500. The median age is 31.5. Visit the full page for demographics, climate, and nearby zip code comparisons.
What is the cost of living in zip code 78521?
The cost of living index for zip code 78521 (Brownsville, TX) is 60, where 100 represents the national average. This area is below the national average. Median home value: $90,500.
What schools serve zip code 78521?
Zip code 78521 in Brownsville, Texas is served by the local school district of Cameron County. For specific school information, check your state's department of education or GreatSchools.org.
All demographic data on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates. ZIP code boundary and delivery data is sourced from the United States Postal Service (USPS). Data is updated periodically and may not reflect the most current figures. Census Bureau ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) may differ slightly from USPS ZIP code boundaries.
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Data Sources
- Population, income, housing, age, and demographics
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2019-2023 vintage.
- ZIP to city and county mapping
- USPS and HUD-USPS ZIP-County Crosswalk.
- Time zones and area codes
- IANA tz database and NANPA.
- Elevation
- U.S. Geological Survey National Elevation Dataset (NED), via the USGS Elevation Point Query Service. Mapped to each ZCTA centroid coordinates. Last refreshed 2026-05-19.
- Last refreshed
- 2026-05-18.