ZIP Code · TX

ZIP 78503

Part of McAllen, TX

Pop. 22,621·Hidalgo County·593rd most expensive ZIP in Texas

Median rent (all units)

$1,251/mo

Year-over-Year

+3.3%

Month-over-Month

+1.4%

vs US Median

-$681

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 78503 · $1,251

More affordable than 89% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

Rent check

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Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$980

1 BR

$990

2 BR

$1,240

3 BR

$1,610

4 BR+

$1,780

Research median

$1,240/mo

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

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of Texas

Rent in ZIP 78503 changed +3.3% 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 ($53,322) is $1,333 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,240); a 3-bedroom is $1,610.

Rank in McAllen

2nd cheapest of 3 ZIP codes in McAllen.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 78577, 4 miles away, rents for 11% less ($1,112/mo), about $1,700 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 78503. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$15,012/yr

At $1,251/mo median

Location

CityMcAllen

StateTX

CountyHidalgo County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (3.3% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+3.3% YoY, +1.4% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 78503 (McAllen, TX) is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 25.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

22,621

Median income

$53,322

Median age

32.3

Renters

38.9%

Age distribution

27.6%

28.3%

20.8%

13.5%

Under 1827.6%

18–3428.3%

35–5420.8%

55–649.7%

65+13.5%

Gender

49.9%

50.1%

Male49.9%

Female50.1%

Race & ethnicity

28.5%

94%

White28.5%

Black1%

Hispanic94%

Asian1.2%

Education (25+)

28.8%

20.2%

25.6%

25.3%

No HS diploma28.8%

HS diploma20.2%

Some college25.6%

Bachelor's+25.3%

Housing tenure

61.1%

38.9%

Owner61.1%

Renter38.9%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 78503 in McAllen, TX has changed in 5 years

Income

$40,012 → $53,322

up 33.3%

Population

20,444 → 22,621

up 10.6%

Renter share

38.9% → 38.9%

+0.0 pts

Bachelor's+

25.3% → 25.3%

+0.0 pts

Median household income climbed from $40,012 to $53,322 between 2021 and 2024, a 33.3% shift. Census counts show ZIP 78503 in McAllen, TX adding about 2,177 residents over the five-year window, up 10.6% on net.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 78503

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 78503 covers McAllen, TX. The median rent here is $1,251/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $990/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,240/mo.

At 28% of local median household income ($53,322/yr), ZIP 78503 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.3% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 78503?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $50,000/year (about $24/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,251/mo in ZIP 78503. The local median household income is $53,322/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 78503?

Rent in ZIP 78503 has risen 3.3% over the past year.

How does ZIP 78503 compare to other ZIPs in Texas?

ZIP 78503 is one of the more affordable among Texas ZIP codes for rent, ranking #593 of 693 at $1,251/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 78503 changed +3.3%, against a typical +1.2% across the 629 Texas ZIP codes Zillow tracks.