ZIP code
75831
in Buffalo, TexasPopulation 4,881
37.88/ 100
Ranked #28,083 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 12.5%)
Ranked #1,609 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (bottom 13.9%)
Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.
What defines this ZIP
Metrics where this ZIP sits in the tails of the national distribution — the ones that most set it apart. Select any tile for its definition and methodology.
Fatal road crashes
84 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 0.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›Uninsured (under 65)
19.2%
in the top 5.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST64thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
7.5%
in the bottom 4.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›Dry extreme heat
78.4 days/year
in the top 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST48thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
72.3 mi
in the top 6.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS94thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›Slow internet speeds
1.3%
in the top 9.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
131.9 days/year
in the top 9.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST54thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year when modeled heat stress — temperature, humidity, sun, and wind combined — reaches levels hard on the body outdoors.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
34%
in the top 33% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS67thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, Buffalo, Texas (ZIP 75831) ranks in the bottom 12.5% nationally (28,083rd) and the bottom 13.9% of Texas (1,609th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
Strengths and concerns sit side by side across the measures here: modeled pfas settles in the bottom 4.2% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site lies in the top 6.2% nationally. On the other hand, fatal road crashes resides in the top 0.8% nationally, and modeled uninsured lands in the top 5.2% nationally. Modeled extreme heat registers in the top 5.1% nationally, slow internet speeds sits in the top 9.1% nationally, and modeled humid heat rests in the top 9.4% nationally. Modeled fair or poor health is in the top 12.0% nationally, mobility disability stands in the top 12.5% nationally, and mammography settles in the bottom 12.0% nationally.
In plainer terms, pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 75833, just across the boundary.
What’s driving this score
Nine domains make up the ZipVitals Score — here is how this ZIP does on each, and how much each one counts.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 89%
14%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 47%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 19%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 31%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 12%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 19%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 29%
8%
Disability
healthier than 14%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
in the bottom 0.9%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 81%
14%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 42%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 43%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 7%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 22%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 30%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 20%
8%
Disability
healthier than 16%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 4%
5%
“Share” is how much of this ZIP’s score the domain accounts for. Percentages are rounded; higher is healthier in every domain. How the score works, and who it compares you with ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
75833
Texasshares a border
Score 46.25
Closest healthier
75840
Texasshares a border
Score 44.26
Similar health profile
79095
Texas99% similar profile
Score 40.10
How these were chosen: only ZIPs with a published Score appear — a nearby ZIP with too little data to score won’t. Nearby means closest by distance between ZIP boundaries, which can cross state lines. A similar health profile is a close match across the nine Score domains, not similar demographics. Distances are measured between ZIP boundaries — ZIPs that touch share a border. How distance is measured
Evidence
Every measure this page draws on, by source. Collapsed by default — the full data stays in the page for search engines either way.
Health OutcomesCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Arthritis among adults | 31.9% | 28.8–35.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 42.8% | 39.0–47.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.2% | 8.4–10.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.8% | 9.6–12.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.2% | 8.3–10.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.7% | 9.6–11.8 |
| Depression among adults | 24.0% | 20.9–27.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 16.8% | 14.9–18.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 41.1% | 37.2–45.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.9% | 31.8–47.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.0% | 4.6–5.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 17.8% | 14.9–20.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 19.2% | 17.0–21.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.1% | 77.7–82.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 76.5% | 73.2–79.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.4% | 83.8–86.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 61.1% | 56.3–65.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 49.3% | 45.7–52.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 69.5% | 61.6–76.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.6% | 12.3–17.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.3% | 16.0–20.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 34.3% | 29.8–39.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.2% | 32.0–44.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 28.3% | 25.5–31.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.6% | 16.7–20.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.6% | 15.8–19.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.8% | 16.0–19.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 39.6% | 35.5–43.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.7% | 8.8–10.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.4% | 10.4–12.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 21.2% | 18.9–23.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.9% | 5.4–6.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.8% | 7.2–8.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 16.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 25.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 15.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 12.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 82.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 17.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 71.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 8.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 61.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 20.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 42.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $51,935 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $117,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $920 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $1,154 ($764–$1,815) n=1,508 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 80.4 yr ± 0.95 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 78.2 yr (75.1–81.7) n=1,772 |
About the ± — it’s this estimate’s give-or-take (statisticians call it the standard error). The true life expectancy for this ZIP most likely falls within 0.95 years of 80.4, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.
More ZIPs to explore ▾More ZIPs to explore ▴
How these lists were built: they draw only from ZIPs that have a published Score, so ZIPs with too little data to score are not listed. Distance-based lists use distance between ZIP boundaries with no state filter, so an out-of-state ZIP can appear. Statistically similar means a close match across the nine Score domains, not a demographic match: the measure is the cosine similarity between two ZIPs’ domain scores, taken over the domains both ZIPs have data for and only where that overlap covers at least six of the nine — and where no ZIP clears that minimum-overlap floor, that list is left out rather than filled with a weak match. How distance is measured