79096 ZIP Code — Wheeler, TX

Wheeler County, Texas

ZIP code 79096 is located in Wheeler, Texas, within Wheeler County. It covers approximately 258.77 square miles and serves a population of 2,001 residents. This is a standard ZIP code in the Central (CT) timezone, served by area code 806.

About ZIP code 79096

The housing stock consists of predominantly single-family detached homes. Most homes were built in the 1970s, giving the area an established character. Median home value is $147,200. Owner-occupancy sits near the national average at 75%.

Median household income is $66,037. 37% of households receive Social Security income, suggesting a notable retiree or disability population.

The dominant occupation class is management, business, and professional, with agriculture and mining as the leading industry. The average commute of 19 minutes is near the national average.

College attainment at 21% is below the national average, consistent with a trades and production-oriented local economy.

17% of residents lack health insurance, above the national average.

2,001

population

258.77

sq mi land

Standard

ZIP type

Central (CT)

timezone

79096 ZIP code map

Cities in ZIP code 79096

Below are the cities the US Postal Service accepts for ZIP code 79096. Using any city not on this list may result in mail delivery delays.

City	Status
Wheeler	Preferred

Nearby ZIP codes

79079 Shamrock (6.7 mi) 79011 Briscoe (10.5 mi) 79061 Mobeetie (14.4 mi)

Demographics updated 06/2026

Population
Total population	2,001
Population density	8 / sq mi
State FIPS	48
County FIPS	483

Geography
Land area	258.77 sq mi
Water area	0.21 sq mi
Latitude	35.3761
Longitude	-100.2123
Timezone	Central (CT)
Area code	806

Total population by age

Gender

Race & ethnicity

Economics updated 06/2026

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	49.9%	52.6%	39.5%
$50k – $100k	27.9%	28.9%	30.1%
$100k – $200k	20.3%	15.6%	22.6%
Over $200k	1.9%	3.0%	7.8%

Demographics & statistics

2,001

Population

People per sq mi

40.6

Median age

$66,037

Median household income

$33,636

Per capita income

$147,200

Median home value

$937

Median monthly rent

75.0%

Home ownership

13.8%

Poverty rate

4.2%

Unemployment

734

Housing units

20.7%

Bachelor's or higher

Age distribution

Male Female

Under 5

5–9

10–14

15–19

20–24

114

25–34

109

148

35–44

142

117

45–54

112

55–59

60–64

109

65–74

104

75–84

85+

← Male

Female →

Age summary

Group	Count	%
Under 18	546	27.3%
18 and over	1,455	72.7%
65 and over	453	22.6%
Median age	40.6 years

Race & ethnicity

White 85.8%

Hispanic or Latino 5.1%

Other race 4.9%

Black or African American 2.1%

Two or more races 2%

Group	Count	%
White	1,809	85.8%
Hispanic or Latino	108	5.1%
Other race	103	4.9%
Black or African American	45	2.1%
Two or more races	43	2%

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	49.9%	52.6%	39.5%
$50k – $100k	27.9%	28.9%	30.1%
$100k – $200k	20.3%	15.6%	22.6%
Over $200k	1.9%	3.0%	7.8%

Under $10k 1.1%

$10k–$15k 3.4%

$15k–$25k 7.2%

$25k–$35k 14.3%

$35k–$50k 11.4%

$50k–$75k 20.1%

$75k–$100k 12.9%

$100k–$150k 15.0%

$150k–$200k 9.7%

$200k+ 4.8%

Range	% of households
Under $10k	1.1%
$10k–$15k	3.4%
$15k–$25k	7.2%
$25k–$35k	14.3%
$35k–$50k	11.4%
$50k–$75k	20.1%
$75k–$100k	12.9%
$100k–$150k	15.0%
$150k–$200k	9.7%
$200k+	4.8%
Median income	$66,037

Housing

Home values

Under $50k 9.8%

$50k–$100k 17.3%

$100k–$150k 25.0%

$150k–$200k 12.9%

$200k–$300k 24.0%

$300k–$500k 3.6%

$500k–$1M 5.6%

$1M+ 1.9%

Housing overview

Metric	Value
Median home value	$147,200
Median rent / month	$937
Owner occupied	75.0%
Renter occupied	25.0%
Vacant	22.0%
Single-family detached	85.3%
Large apartment buildings	0.0%
Mobile homes	12.8%
Median rooms	6.1
Avg household size (owned)	2.44

Year built

Era	%
2020 or later	0.0%
2010–2019	4.9%
2000–2009	10.0%
1990–1999	5.9%
1980–1989	9.6%
1970–1979	20.7%
1960–1969	6.0%
1950–1959	12.1%
1940–1949	13.4%
1939 or earlier	17.3%

Bedrooms

Size	% of units
No bedroom (studio)	0.0%
1 bedroom	1.1%
2 bedrooms	16.1%
3 bedrooms	61.8%
4 bedrooms	17.5%
5+ bedrooms	3.4%

Vehicles per household

Vehicles	% of households
No vehicle	3.9%
1 vehicle	7.7%
2 vehicles	54.3%
3 or more	34.0%

Heating fuel

Fuel type	%
Utility gas	55.4%
Electricity	37.0%
Propane / LP gas	4.1%
Wood	1.5%

Households & families

Household type	Count	%
Married-couple family	430	60.5%
Cohabiting couple	3	0.4%
Male householder, no spouse	81	11.4%
Female householder, no spouse	197	27.7%
Households with children under 18	279	39.2%
Households with seniors (65+)	283	39.8%
Average household size	2.70

Marital status

Status	Male	Female
Never married	13.3%	20.3%
Married	69.7%	50.1%
Separated	1.8%	1.5%
Widowed	8.5%	18.2%
Divorced	6.7%	9.9%

Education

Less than 9th grade 9.6%

Some HS, no diploma 5.4%

HS graduate 32.8%

Some college, no degree 26.7%

Associate's degree 4.9%

Bachelor's degree 16.8%

Graduate / professional 3.8%

Metric	%
HS diploma or higher	85.1%
Bachelor's or higher	20.7%

School enrollment (ages 3–17)

Type	Count	%
Nursery / preschool	6	1.3%
Kindergarten	68	14.2%
Elementary school	234	48.8%
High school	146	30.4%
College / grad school	26	5.4%

Employment

Industry of employment

Agriculture & mining 26.8%

Education & healthcare 22.3%

Arts, food & hospitality 11.4%

Construction 7.9%

Retail trade 7.2%

Other services 6.7%

Public administration 6.0%

Transportation & utilities 3.7%

Finance & real estate 2.9%

Wholesale trade 2.1%

Professional & management 1.8%

Manufacturing 1.2%

Occupation

Category	%
Management, business & arts	30.4%
Service	27.6%
Sales & office	11.4%
Natural resources & construction	23.2%
Production & transportation	7.3%

Employment type

Type	%
Private sector	61.3%
Government	18.2%
Self-employed	19.9%
Unpaid family workers	0.6%

Commute

Method	%
Drive alone	70.8%
Carpool	12.7%
Public transit	0.0%
Walk	1.8%
Work from home	6.0%
Other means	8.7%
Avg commute (minutes)	19.3

Poverty

All people 13.8%

Under 18 years 16.8%

18 and over 12.6%

Married-couple families 4.9%

Female-led households 16.0%

Income support

Source	% of households
Social Security	36.8%
Retirement income	21.0%
Supplemental Security	5.9%
Cash public assistance	0.0%
Food stamps / SNAP	7.0%

Health indicators

Condition	%
Obesity	34.9%
High blood pressure	34.8%
High cholesterol	35.4%
Diabetes	11.7%
Heart disease	7.3%
Stroke	3.3%
Asthma	9.1%
Arthritis	24.4%
Kidney disease	3.2%
Pulmonary disease	7.7%
Cancer	6.7%

Behavior / access	%
Smoking	18.6%
Binge drinking	18.2%
No physical activity	26.7%
Less than 7 hrs sleep	33.2%
Depression	22.3%
Fair or poor health	18.3%
Poor mental health	15.5%
Poor physical health	12.1%
No health insurance	29.8%
Visited doctor (checkup)	70.4%
Visited dentist	52.8%
Cholesterol screening	88.2%
Teeth loss	16.4%

Veterans & disability

Veterans	Count	%
Civilian veterans	86	5.9%

Disability	%
Any disability	11.9%
Under 18	6.6%
18–64 years	8.9%
65 and over	26.1%

Health insurance coverage

Type	%
Private insurance	65.7%
Public insurance	34.9%
No insurance	17.0%
Uninsured under 19	20.7%

Language & origin

Language spoken at home (age 5+)

Language	Count	%
English only	1,861	93.0%
Spanish	155	8.3%
Other Indo-European	155	8.3%
Asian & Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Other languages	0	0.0%

Place of birth & citizenship

Origin	Count	%
Native born (US)	1,841	92.0%
Born in same state	1,832	91.6%
Born in different state	1,333	66.6%
Foreign born	9	0.4%
Naturalized citizen	160	8.0%
Not a US citizen	40	25.0%

Ancestry

Ancestry	Count	%
Italian	281	14%
French	168	8.4%
English	140	7%

Ancestry	Count	%
Arab	73	3.6%
Polish	17	0.8%

Technology access

Metric	% of households
Computer access	35.5%
Internet access	89.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2025 estimates.

Frequently asked questions about ZIP code 79096

What city is ZIP code 79096 in?

ZIP code 79096 is primarily assigned to Wheeler, Texas.

What county is ZIP code 79096 in?

ZIP code 79096 falls within Wheeler County, Texas.

Does ZIP code 79096 have a large retiree population?

37% of households in ZIP code 79096 receive Social Security income, suggesting a significant retiree or disability population.

What is the typical home value in ZIP code 79096?

The median home value in ZIP code 79096 is $147,200.

What is the population of ZIP code 79096?

ZIP code 79096 has an estimated population of 2,001 residents, with a density of 8 people per square mile.

What is the median household income in ZIP code 79096?

The median household income in ZIP code 79096 is $66,037, below the national median of ~$75,000.

What timezone is ZIP code 79096 in?

ZIP code 79096 observes the CST timezone.