The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 78597 sells for about $636,870, or $450 per square foot.
Prices are up +2% from a year ago, so sellers still have some momentum. Homes take about 79 days to sell, which is slow. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $2,200 a month.
ZIP 78597 — South Padre Island
The 78597 market is characterized by high-value coastal real estate with strong demand driven by tourism and the SpaceX aerospace boom. While inventory is sufficient, prices remain elevated due to the limited supply of beachfront property and high insurance costs. The market shows resilience with steady year-over-year growth.
This ZIP is best suited for investors seeking vacation rental income, affluent retirees, and second-home buyers attracted to the coastal lifestyle and proximity to island amenities.
Median prices moved up 2.0% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 79 days on market with 1.5 months of supply — a fast-moving market.
12% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 97.5% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 4.5% · poverty 12.0% — a stable, low-distress profile.
Researched annual trajectory for this ZIP, from published historical series
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 8.3%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Median annual property tax paid on this ZIP's residential parcels
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 8.4%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
net influx — more people moved in than out
ZCTA 78597, Cameron County TX
Crime rates in South Padre Island are generally lower than the regional average for the Rio Grande Valley, with property crime being the primary concern for the seasonal tourist population.
Schools serving the area are part of the Point Isabel Independent School District, which generally maintains stable performance ratings within the state accountability system.
The area faces significant exposure to hurricane-force winds, storm surge, and coastal flooding, necessitating high-cost windstorm and flood insurance policies for residential properties.
Economic momentum is heavily tied to seasonal tourism and the proximity to the SpaceX Starbase facility, which has increased demand for short-term rentals and luxury coastal housing.
Composed from the ARED governance burden registry — tier-native tax structure (state + county + city + special districts), never averaged. State (Texas) — Senior (65+) and Disabled Homestead Exemption and School Tax Ceiling: Grants an additional mandatory $10,000 exemption from ISD appraised value (Taxable Value_ISD = Appraised Value - $100,000 - $10,000) and establishes an absolute statutory tax freeze (school tax ceiling): total ISD property taxes cannot exceed the dollar ceiling established in the… State (Texas) — General Residence Homestead Exemption and 10% Valuation Growth Cap: Imposes mandatory state-level valuation deductions and growth limitations on the qualifying homestead: (1) Mandates a $100,000 deduction from appraised value for independent school district (ISD) maintenance and operations/debt taxation: Taxable Value_ISD = Appraised Value - $100… State (Texas) — Ad Valorem Real Property Taxation and Assessment Ratio: Mandates ad valorem appraisal of all real property at 100% of fair market value as of January 1 each tax year (Assessment Ratio = 1.00).
Commuting is primarily via the Queen Isabella Causeway toward Port Isabel and Brownsville, which can experience significant traffic congestion during peak tourist seasons.
The ZIP features extensive beach access, the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center, and multiple marinas, golf courses, and shopping districts catering to tourists.
The rental market is dominated by short-term vacation rentals, leading to high seasonal vacancy fluctuations and elevated rental costs compared to the mainland.
The local economy is driven by tourism, hospitality, and the rapidly expanding aerospace sector centered around the SpaceX facility in nearby Boca Chica.
Transportation is limited to road access via the Queen Isabella Causeway; public transit is minimal, relying on seasonal shuttles.
Development is focused on high-density luxury condominiums and mixed-use hospitality projects along the Gulf coast.
The Cameron County Appraisal District manages assessments, with properties often subject to market-value adjustments based on coastal proximity.
Parcels are subject to Point Isabel ISD taxes and various municipal utility districts related to coastal infrastructure maintenance.
Property insurance is highly sensitive to windstorm and flood risk, with premiums significantly higher than inland Texas markets.
Data retrieved from data.census.gov ZCTA 78597 profile.
Public schools whose reported address is in this area (NCES). Not attendance boundaries — schools that serve residents may sit outside it. Check the district's address locator for assignment.
- Beach Waterpark4.213.6 mi
- Gravity Park4.411.9 mi
- Bobz World4.317.8 mi
- Margaritaville Beach Resort - South Padre Island413.3 mi
- Clayton's Beach Bar & Event Venue4.39.7 mi
- LongBoard Bar and Grill4.512.2 mi
- Louie's Backyard3.911.9 mi
- South Padre Island Convention Center4.59.3 mi
- Sea Turtle, Inc.4.79.6 mi
- Gravity Park4.411.9 mi
- South Padre Island Adventure Park4.73.9 mi
- Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge4.66.8 mi
- South Padre Island Birding & Nature Center4.89.5 mi
- Port Isabel Lighthouse State Historic Site4.612.8 mi
- Bobz World4.317.8 mi
- South Padre Island Texas4.813.1 mi
- Starhopper4.818.9 mi
- South Texas EcoTourism Center4.812 mi
- Gravity Park4.411.9 mi
- Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge4.66.8 mi
- Adolph Thomae Jr County Park4.512.1 mi
- Laguna Madre Nature Trail4.69.3 mi
- Edwin King Atwood Park4.67.9 mi
- Jim's Pier4.511.7 mi
- South Padre Island Golf Club4.210.9 mi
- Blue Marlin Supermarket South Padre Island4.311.7 mi
- Los Tortugos Seafood Market4.612.9 mi
- South Padre Island Farmers' Market4.48.6 mi
- Gulf Seafood Market4.812.8 mi
- Valley International Airport4.526.1 mi
- Brownsville South Padre Island International Airport4.327.2 mi
Theme parks, venues, golf, airports, museums, water and shopping across the area ranked by popularity within the radius shown.
Primary coastal attraction with public access points.
Educational facility and boardwalks for wildlife viewing.
Premier golf facility located on the mainland side of the causeway.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.