ZIP Code · TX

ZIP 78596

Part of Weslaco, TX

Pop. 39,518·Hidalgo County·654th most expensive ZIP in Texas

Median rent (all units)

$1,127/mo

Year-over-Year

-1.1%

Month-over-Month

Stable

vs US Median

-$805

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss 78596 rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 78596 · $1,127

More affordable than 94% 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

$850

1 BR

$860

2 BR

$1,070

3 BR

$1,390

4 BR+

$1,540

Research median

$1,070/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

Past year vs. the rest of Texas

Rent in ZIP 78596 changed -1.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 629 Texas ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.2%.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($58,411) is $1,460 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,390); a 4-bedroom is $1,540.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 78596. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$13,524/yr

At $1,127/mo median

Location

CityWeslaco

StateTX

CountyHidalgo County

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (-1.1% YoY, +0.0% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 78596 (Weslaco, TX) is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 21.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

39,518

Median income

$58,411

Median age

31.7

Renters

36%

Age distribution

30%

23%

23.3%

15.9%

Under 1830%

18–3423%

35–5423.3%

55–647.8%

65+15.9%

Gender

48.9%

51.1%

Male48.9%

Female51.1%

Race & ethnicity

45.5%

86.5%

White45.5%

Hispanic86.5%

Education (25+)

23.9%

27.7%

27.1%

21.2%

No HS diploma23.9%

HS diploma27.7%

Some college27.1%

Bachelor's+21.2%

Housing tenure

64%

36%

Owner64%

Renter36%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 78596 in Weslaco, TX has changed in 5 years

Income

$47,597 → $58,411

up 22.7%

Population

36,852 → 39,518

up 7.2%

Renter share

34.5% → 36%

+1.5 pts

Bachelor's+

21.2% → 21.2%

+0.0 pts

Median age

32.5 → 31.7

-0.8 yrs

Median household income rose from $47,597 to $58,411 between 2021 and 2024, a 22.7% shift. The population has grown by 7.2% since 2021, moving from about 36,852 residents to roughly 39,518. Renters now make up 36% of households, compared with 34.5% five years ago.

Community

Discussions about ZIP 78596

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 78596

About renting in ZIP 78596

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 78596 covers Weslaco, TX. The median rent here is $1,127/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $860/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,070/mo.

At 23% of local median household income ($58,411/yr), ZIP 78596 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 1.1% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 78596?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $45,000/year (about $22/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,127/mo in ZIP 78596. The local median household income is $58,411/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 78596?

Rent in ZIP 78596 has fallen 1.1% over the past year.

How does ZIP 78596 compare to other ZIPs in Texas?

ZIP 78596 is one of the more affordable among Texas ZIP codes for rent, ranking #654 of 693 at $1,127/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 78596 changed -1.1%, against a typical +1.2% across the 629 Texas ZIP codes Zillow tracks.