ZIP code
76666
in Mertens, TexasPopulation 261
46.65/ 100
Ranked #20,585 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 36%)
Ranked #791 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (top 42%)
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.
Dry extreme heat
89 days/year
in the top 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST68thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFAS — man-made “forever chemicals” that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down — were detected in EPA testing.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Distance to an emergency room
18.6 mi
in the top 6.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Radon
0.7 pCi/L
in the bottom 3.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST22ndUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The modeled typical indoor radon level for this area, in picocuries per liter — the EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or above.
Modeled from indoor-radon measurements. In Alaska and Hawaii, where those measurements are not published, a US Geological Survey geologic radon-potential category stands in — a coarser input, disclosed rather than hidden.
Full methodology ›Uninsured (under 65)
15.8%
in the top 9.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST48thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the bottom 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS16thDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite health measure, Mertens, Texas (ZIP 76666) ranks in the bottom 36% nationally (20,585th) and the top 42% of Texas (791st).
The picture here is genuinely mixed, with readings on both sides: households without a vehicle settles at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Modeled radon resides in the bottom 3.2% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise registers at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. On the other side, modeled extreme heat rests in the top 3.3% nationally, PFAS in drinking water stands at the national maximum, and distance to an emergency room lies in the top 6.6% nationally. Modeled humid heat lands in the top 12.0% nationally, modeled uninsured sits in the top 9.6% nationally, and slow internet speeds is in the top 13.1% nationally. Homeownership settles in the bottom 13.5% nationally.
To spell things out, PFAS in drinking water is the family of man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. Close by, ZIP 76041, about 7.2 miles away, ranks healthier overall.
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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 62%
21%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 43%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 49%
8%
Disability
healthier than 48%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 31%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 15%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 34%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 9%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 18%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 50%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 50%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 51%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 49%
8%
Disability
healthier than 58%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 42%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 22%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 27%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 20%
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
76628
Texasshares a border
Score 45.32
Closest healthier
76041
Texasabout 7.2 mi away
Score 48.01
Similar health profile
79511
Texas99% similar profile
Score 47.09
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 | 26.4% | 23.4–29.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.0% | 32.0–39.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.5% | 7.7–9.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.1% | 8.9–11.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.0% | 6.2–7.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.0% | 6.0–8.0 |
| Depression among adults | 22.7% | 19.5–26.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.5% | 10.8–14.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.3% | 33.1–41.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.6% | 27.2–42.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.6% | 3.3–4.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.9% | 12.2–17.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 15.8% | 13.4–18.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.3% | 74.5–79.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 75.0% | 71.2–78.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.6% | 83.7–87.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 61.3% | 56.2–66.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 55.4% | 51.8–59.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 70.8% | 62.9–77.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.1% | 14.2–20.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.7% | 10.7–15.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.4% | 23.1–32.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.8% | 33.4–46.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.0% | 18.3–24.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.2% | 15.3–19.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.0% | 12.3–15.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.1% | 13.3–17.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 33.6% | 29.5–38.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.1% | 7.1–9.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.5% | 7.5–9.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.3% | 13.2–17.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.4–4.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.4% | 4.9–6.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 4.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 9.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 8.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 83.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 24.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 57.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 6.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 58.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 10.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 30.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | — | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $93,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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 | 81.0 yr ± 1.24 | 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 1.24 years of 81.0, 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