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US ZIP Code Profile

ZIP Code 78520
Brownsville, Texas

ZIP code 78520 is in Brownsville, located in Cameron County, Texas, within the Brownsville-Harlingen metro area. Its 2020 Census population was 64,949. The estimated median adjusted gross income per tax return is $30,721, and about 2% of filers report $200,000 or more.

2020 Population
64,949
Census ZCTA
County
Cameron
FIPS 48061
Median income (est.)
$30,721
IRS SOI 2022
Land Area
36.91 mi²
+ 2.434 mi² water

01Location & Geography

Authoritative geographic identifiers from the U.S. Census Bureau, ANSI, and FIPS standards.

Primary CityBrownsville, TX
CountyCameron County (FIPS 48061)
StateTexas (FIPS 48)
Metro Area (MSA)Brownsville-Harlingen, TX Metro Area (15180)
Census Region / DivisionSouth Region · West South Central Division
Coordinates25.963264, -97.55045
Land / Water Area36.91 mi² land · 2.434 mi² water

02Income & Economics

Distribution of the 28,310 individual tax returns filed in 78520 by adjusted gross income bracket (IRS SOI, 2022).

< $25K
43.4%
$25K–$50K
28.8%
$50K–$75K
13.0%
$75K–$100K
5.8%
$100K–$200K
7.1%
$200K+
1.9%
The $200,000+ bracket accounts for 17% of 78520's total adjusted gross income, from 2% of returns — a concentration that drives the gap between the median ($30,721) and the average.
Estimated median = median adjusted gross income per tax return, interpolated from IRS SOI brackets. Differs from U.S. Census household income.

03Income Over Time

Year-over-year change in 78520's IRS income metrics, 2020–2022.

Median income (2021→2022)
$30,721
▲ 11.1%
Filers earning $200K+
1.9%
▲ 0.2 pt
Total filers
28,310
▲ 0.6%
GET /zipc/v2/zipcodes/78520/soi?year=… $25K 2020 $28K 2021 $31K 2022
Median = adjusted gross income per return, interpolated from IRS SOI brackets. Figures are nominal (not inflation-adjusted).

04Population Trend

Decennial U.S. Census population for the 78520 ZCTA.

2000
48,601
 
2010
59,408
▲ +22.2%
2020
64,949
▲ +9.3%

05USPS Postal Details

Delivery and facility attributes from the monthly USPS dataset.

ZIP ClassificationNon-Unique Zip
Facility TypePost Office
Carrier Route SortD
USPS Finance Number481130
City AliasesAcacia Lake, Boca Chica, Brownsville, Bville, El Jardin, Keller Corner, Kennedy Shores, Palm Village, Palo Alto Battlefield Nation, Portway Acres, Villa Cavazos, Villa Nueva

06Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 78520 in?

ZIP code 78520 is in Cameron County, Texas (county FIPS code 48061).

What city is ZIP code 78520?

The primary USPS city for 78520 is Brownsville, TX.

What metro area (MSA) is 78520 in?

78520 is part of the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX Metro Area (MSA code 15180).

What is the population of ZIP code 78520?

The 2020 Census population of 78520 was 64,949 residents.

What is the median income in ZIP code 78520?

Based on IRS Statistics of Income data, the estimated median adjusted gross income per tax return in 78520 is about $30,721, with around 2% of filers reporting $200,000 or more. Note that adjusted gross income is a tax measure and differs from U.S. Census household income.