ZIP code
77003
in Houston, TexasPopulation 10,164
55.95/ 100
Ranked #8,328 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 26%)
Ranked #253 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (top 13.6%)
Ranked #60 of 237 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX ZIPs (top 25%)
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.
Loud transportation noise
7.6%
in the top 0.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
38.6%
in the top 0.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›Walkability
280 intersections/sq mi
in the top 0.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 1.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
950 units
in the top 1.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Pharmacy access
0.76 per 1,000 residents
in the top 2.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of pharmacies located inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
154 days/year
in the top 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST82ndUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Air-toxics cancer risk
40 per million
in the top 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS96thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air toxics, in cases per million people exposed over a lifetime.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
0.00%
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Households without a vehicle
19.1%
in the top 4.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›The read
By its overall health score, ZIP 77003, one of several in Houston, Texas lands in the top 26% healthiest ZIPs nationally (8,328th) and the top 13.6% of Texas (253rd).
Strengths and concerns sit side by side across the measures here: walkability registers in the top 0.9% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing sits in the top 1.6% nationally. Pharmacy rests in the top 2.0% nationally. On the other hand, modeled loud transportation noise is in the top 0.6% nationally, transportation noise stands in the top 0.8% nationally, and industrial-pollution burden settles in the top 1.3% nationally. Modeled humid heat lies in the top 3.6% nationally, air-toxics cancer risk resides in the top 4.5% nationally, and tree cover lands at the national minimum. Households without a vehicle registers in the top 4.9% nationally.
Weighed against the ZIPs nearby, loud transportation noise runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To translate a couple of terms, industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Loud transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to road, rail, and air noise at or above 65 decibels, near conversation volume. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 77002, 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area.
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 95%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
in the top 0.2%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 79%
8%
Disability
healthier than 79%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 73%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
in the bottom 0.5%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 6%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 39%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 23%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 91%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
in the top 0.3%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 86%
8%
Disability
healthier than 81%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 95%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 67%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 56%
11%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
in the bottom 0.6%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 24%
13%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 91%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
in the top 0.00%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 75%
8%
Disability
healthier than 74%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 92%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 59%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 44%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 3%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 35%
13%
“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 ›
Findings that name this ZIP
One of our published findings lists this ZIP code. Each finding compares one published measure against a stated benchmark, and names only the ZIP codes whose estimates are reliable enough to rank. See all surprising findings.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 0.1 (bottom 1%); chronic-disease standing 94.7 (top 10%) — 95 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #18,099 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
77002
Texasshares a border
Score 56.83
Closest healthier
77007
Texasabout 0.4 mi away
Score 66.78
Similar health profile
77580
Texas97% similar profile
Score 50.59
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 | 15.4% | 13.6–17.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 28.5% | 25.7–31.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 4.0% | 3.6–4.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 8.7% | 7.7–9.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.1% | 3.7–4.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.0% | 3.5–4.5 |
| Depression among adults | 19.5% | 17.0–22.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.8% | 9.4–12.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 31.5% | 28.4–34.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.2% | 31.8–40.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.5% | 2.3–2.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.6% | 11.4–15.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 17.2% | 15.1–19.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 69.1% | 66.1–72.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 71.2% | 67.9–74.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.6% | 81.6–85.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 56.3% | 52.2–60.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 54.3% | 51.3–57.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 71.2% | 65.0–77.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.7% | 17.1–22.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 10.8% | 9.2–12.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 21.9% | 18.9–24.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 40.1% | 36.6–43.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.8% | 15.7–19.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.8% | 14.0–17.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 10.7% | 9.4–12.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.0% | 12.4–15.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 26.3% | 23.2–29.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 4.7% | 4.1–5.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.8% | 6.0–7.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.5% | 9.2–11.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.5% | 3.2–3.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.5% | 5.0–6.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 19.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 17.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 45.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 19.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 88.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 30.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 41.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 16.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 56.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 7.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 36.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $83,980 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $384,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $1,486 | $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 unavailable for this ZIP — fewer than 80% of the census tracts that make it up could be matched across the 2010→2020 tract-boundary revision, so no value is published rather than an unreliable one. See how coverage gaps are handled. | |||
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