Area data
Harlingen, TX — ZIP 78550
Population: 53,335 (Census ACS)
The median home value in ZIP 78550 (Harlingen, TX) is $179,935 — down 3.0% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $72,000 after a median 57 days on market. Typical rent runs $1,053/month. 26 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively High, with coldwave, hurricane, hail the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 3.5% below the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).
$179,935
Median home value
-3.0%
1-year change
57
Median days on market
Relatively High
Hazard risk (county)
Home values & appreciation
- Median home value
- $179,935
- 1-year appreciation
- -3.0%
- 3-year appreciation
- -5.7%
- 5-year appreciation
- +11.4%
- 10-year appreciation
- +45.5%
- All-time peak (2023-05)
- $192,501
- House Price Index (state)
- 440.1 (-0.8% YoY)
Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)
Market activity
- Median sale price
- $72,000
- Median price per sqft
- $105
- Median days on market
- 57 days
- Homes sold (recent period)
- 1
- For-sale inventory
- 184
- Active listings
- 1
- 1-year forecast
- +0.8%
- Days to pending
- 71 days
- New listings (monthly)
- 36
Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)
Rents
- Typical rent
- $1,053/mo
- 1-year rent change
- +2.7%
- Studio fair-market rent
- $828/mo
- 1BR fair-market rent
- $1,035/mo
- 2BR fair-market rent
- $1,261/mo
- 3BR fair-market rent
- $1,640/mo
- 4BR fair-market rent
- $1,892/mo
Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)
Affordability
- Cost of living index (Average)
- 96.5 (100 = US avg)
- Electricity rate (state-level)
- 15.5¢/kWh
- Natural gas rate (state-level)
- $19.40/MCF
- 30-year mortgage rate (national)
- 6.66%
- 15-year mortgage rate (national)
- 6.00%
Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)
Schools
- Total schools
- 26
- Elementary schools
- 16
- Middle schools
- 3
- High schools
- 4
- Charter schools
- 2
- School districts serving the area
- HORIZON MONTESSORI PUBLIC SCHOOLS, JUBILEE ACADEMIES, HARLINGEN CISD
- Schools include
- HORIZON MONTESSORI III - STEM ACADEMY, JUBILEE HARLINGEN, AUSTIN EL, BEN MILAM EL, BONHAM EL
Source: NCES school directory, 2022-23 (school-address-based)
Natural hazards & flood risk
- Overall hazard risk (county)
- Relatively High
- Top hazards (county)
- coldWave, hurricane, hail, heatWave, iceStorm
- Notable hazard ratings (county)
- coastalFlooding: Relatively Moderate · coldWave: Very High · drought: Relatively Moderate · hail: Relatively High · heatWave: Relatively High · hurricane: Very High
- FEMA flood zone
- X
- Flood risk level
- Minimal
- Wildfire risk to homes (county)
- Higher than 78% of US counties
- Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
- 24.3%
- Radon potential (county)
- Low radon potential — EPA Zone 3 of 3
- EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
- None
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA flood data (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL
Climate (30-year normals)
- Average annual temperature
- 78.0°F
- Average high
- 86.0°F
- Average low
- 69.0°F
- Annual precipitation
- 28.0 in
- USDA plant hardiness zone
- 10a (extreme annual low 30 to 35°F)
Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
Air quality
- Air quality rating
- Moderate
- Median AQI (annual)
- 54
- Days with Good air quality
- 161
- Days with Moderate air quality
- 198
- Highest AQI recorded (year)
- 141
Source: EPA air quality data (nearest monitoring station, annual)
Walkability & transit
- Walkability index
- 7.7 / 20
- Transit service frequency
- -99,999
- Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
- 33,759
- Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
- 31,453
Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)
Amenities
- National parks within ~60 mi
- 2
- Nearest national park
- Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park (20 mi)
- National parks include
- Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park, Padre Island National Seashore
- Airports within 30 mi
- 23
- Nearest airport
- Valley International Airport (HRL) (2 mi)
- Nearest major airport
- Valley International Airport (HRL) (2 mi)
- Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
- 3
- Hospitals include
- VHS HARLINGEN HOSPITAL COMPANY LLC, HARLINGEN MEDICAL CENTER, PALMS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
- Avg hospital rating (CMS)
- 3.0 / 5
- Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
- 4.0 / 5
- Solar radiation rating
- Good (4.9 kWh/m²/day)
Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)
Migration
- Net migration (county)
- -312 tax filers
Source: IRS county-to-county migration data (county-level, ~12-month lag)
Housing stock
- Median year housing built
- 1,985
- Housing built before 1970
- 28.5%
- Housing built 2000 or later
- 22.8%
- Median annual property tax
- $1,820
- Mean commute to work
- 16 min
- Households with broadband internet
- 61.1%
Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)
Employment & development
- Total county employment
- 127,456
- Average weekly wage
- $755
- Top industries (by employment)
- Health Care, Accommodation & Food, Administrative Services
- Annual residential building permits (county)
- 1,564
Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)
How it compares
| ZIP 78550 | State median | US median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $179,935 | $260,151 | $289,727 |
| Median sale price | $72,000 | $285,000 | $325,000 |
| Median days on market | 57 days | 71 days | 51 days |
| Typical rent | $1,053/mo | $1,580/mo | $1,808/mo |
| Median annual property tax | $1,820 | $2,390 | $2,006 |
State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.
Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →
Common questions
- What is the median home value in ZIP 78550?
- $179,935.
- What is the median sale price in ZIP 78550?
- $72,000.
- How long do homes take to sell in ZIP 78550?
- Median days on market: 57 days.
- What is typical rent in ZIP 78550?
- Typical rent: $1,053/month.
- What is the natural-hazard risk in ZIP 78550?
- Overall risk: Relatively High (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: coldWave, hurricane, hail, heatWave, iceStorm.
- Is ZIP 78550 in a flood zone?
- Minimal (FEMA NFIP). FEMA flood zone X.
- What is the wildfire risk in ZIP 78550?
- Risk to homes is higher than 78% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
- What is the radon potential in ZIP 78550?
- Low radon potential — EPA Zone 3 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
- Are there Superfund sites near ZIP 78550?
- No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
- How many schools serve ZIP 78550?
- 26 schools (16 elementary, 3 middle, 4 high) (NCES, 2022-23).
- Is ZIP 78550 walkable?
- Walkability index: 7.7/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
- What is the air quality in ZIP 78550?
- Moderate. Median AQI: 54. (EPA AQI).
- What is the cost of living in ZIP 78550?
- Regional Price Parity: 96.5 (100 = US average) (Average) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).
Nearby ZIP codes
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Data last updated
Most recent source refresh: Sep 2026. See all data sources →