ZIP Code · TX

ZIP 78597

Part of South padre isla, TX

Pop. 2,935·Cameron County·9th most expensive ZIP in Texas

Median rent (all units)

$2,758/mo

Year-over-Year

Stable

Month-over-Month

+9.6%

vs US Median

+$826

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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ZIP 78597 · $2,758

More expensive than 86% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,140

1 BR

$1,280

2 BR

$1,550

3 BR

$2,090

4 BR+

$2,190

Research median

$1,550/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

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($68,421) is $1,711 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,550); a 3-bedroom is $2,090.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 78597. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$33,096/yr

At $2,758/mo median

Location

CitySouth padre isla

StateTX

CountyCameron County

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 0.0% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, +9.6% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 78597 (South padre isla, TX) is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, 53.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

2,935

Median income

$68,421

Median age

Renters

29.4%

Age distribution

14.9%

29.3%

40.9%

Under 189.4%

18–3414.9%

35–545.5%

55–6429.3%

65+40.9%

Gender

54.3%

45.7%

Male54.3%

Female45.7%

Race & ethnicity

74.7%

13.4%

White74.7%

Black7.3%

Hispanic13.4%

Asian3.6%

Other1.1%

Education (25+)

13%

27.2%

53.6%

No HS diploma6.2%

HS diploma13%

Some college27.2%

Bachelor's+53.6%

Housing tenure

70.6%

29.4%

Owner70.6%

Renter29.4%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 78597 in South padre isla, TX has changed in 5 years

Income

$60,688 → $68,421

up 12.7%

Population

2,138 → 2,935

up 37.3%

Renter share

33.9% → 29.4%

-4.5 pts

Bachelor's+

55% → 53.6%

-1.4 pts

Median age

58.5 → 61

+2.5 yrs

On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 78597 in South padre isla, TX now reports about $68,421, up from $60,688 in 2021. The population has grown by 37.3% since 2021, moving from about 2,138 residents to roughly 2,935. Renters now make up 29.4% of households, compared with 33.9% five years ago.

Community

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Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 78597

About renting in ZIP 78597

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 78597 covers South padre isla, TX. The median rent here is $2,758/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,280/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,550/mo.

At 48% of local median household income ($68,421/yr), ZIP 78597 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 78597?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $110,000/year (about $53/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,758/mo in ZIP 78597. The local median household income is $68,421/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.