ZIP Code · TX

ZIP 78501

Part of McAllen, TX

Pop. 58,935·Hidalgo County·625th most expensive ZIP in Texas

Median rent (all units)

$1,183/mo

Year-over-Year

+1.8%

Month-over-Month

+0.8%

vs US Median

-$749

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss 78501 rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 78501 · $1,183

More affordable than 92% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$920

1 BR

$930

2 BR

$1,160

3 BR

$1,510

4 BR+

$1,670

Research median

$1,160/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 78501 is 0% below its high of $1,183 in February 2026, at $1,183 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Texas

Rent in ZIP 78501 changed +1.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 629 Texas ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.2%.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 7 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($48,071) is $1,202 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,160); a 3-bedroom is $1,510.

Rank in McAllen

1st cheapest of 3 ZIP codes in McAllen.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 78501. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$14,196/yr

At $1,183/mo median

Location

CityMcAllen

StateTX

CountyHidalgo County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (1.8% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+1.8% YoY, +0.8% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 78501 (McAllen, TX) is roughly split between renters and owners, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 28.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

58,935

Median income

$48,071

Median age

Renters

50.7%

Age distribution

26.1%

23%

24.6%

16.2%

Under 1826.1%

18–3423%

35–5424.6%

55–6410.1%

65+16.2%

Gender

48.4%

51.6%

Male48.4%

Female51.6%

Race & ethnicity

40%

89.4%

White40%

Black0.8%

Hispanic89.4%

Asian1.4%

Education (25+)

23.5%

23.8%

24.6%

28.2%

No HS diploma23.5%

HS diploma23.8%

Some college24.6%

Bachelor's+28.2%

Housing tenure

49.3%

50.7%

Owner49.3%

Renter50.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2022 vs 2026

How ZIP 78501 in McAllen, TX has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,101 → $1,183

up 7.4%

Income

$43,679 → $48,071

up 10.1%

Population

60,855 → 58,935

down 3.2%

Renter share

49.1% → 50.7%

+1.6 pts

Bachelor's+

27.7% → 28.2%

+0.5 pts

Rent in ZIP 78501 in McAllen, TX has climbed 7.4% since 2022, going from about $1,101 per month to roughly $1,183 today. On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 78501 in McAllen, TX now reports about $48,071, up from $43,679 in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 60,855 to 58,935 between 2021 and 2024, a 3.2% change. About 50.7% of households rent today, against 49.1% in 2021. For context, the 2022 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and ZIP 78501 in McAllen, TX reflects that arc in its own way.

Community

Discussions about ZIP 78501

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 78501

About renting in ZIP 78501

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 78501 covers McAllen, TX. The median rent here is $1,183/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $930/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,160/mo.

At 30% of local median household income ($48,071/yr), ZIP 78501 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 78501?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $47,000/year (about $23/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,183/mo in ZIP 78501. The local median household income is $48,071/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 78501?

Rent in ZIP 78501 has risen 1.8% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 0% below its high of $1,183 in February 2026.

How does ZIP 78501 compare to other ZIPs in Texas?

ZIP 78501 is one of the more affordable among Texas ZIP codes for rent, ranking #625 of 693 at $1,183/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 78501 changed +1.8%, against a typical +1.2% across the 629 Texas ZIP codes Zillow tracks.