ZIP code
77009
in Houston, TexasPopulation 35,769
49.10/ 100
Ranked #17,521 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 45%)
Ranked #601 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (top 32%)
Ranked #109 of 237 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX ZIPs (top 46%)
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.
Uninsured (under 65)
24.9%
in the top 2.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST79thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Walkability
260 intersections/sq mi
in the top 1.2% 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
ST95thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
In this ZIP
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Air-toxics cancer risk
40 per million
in the top 2.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Humid extreme heat
154.7 days/year
in the top 3.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Transportation noise
16.1%
in the top 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Colon-cancer screening
55.5%
in the bottom 5.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST19thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 5.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS94thDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite measure, ZIP 77009, one of several in Houston, Texas sits in the bottom 45% nationally (17,521st) and the top 32% of Texas (601st).
What the numbers press hardest on defines much of the story here: modeled uninsured sits in the top 2.3% nationally, modeled industrial-pollution burden registers in the top 1.3% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site lands at the national minimum. Modeled air-toxics cancer risk resides in the top 2.5% nationally, humid heat lies in the top 3.4% nationally, and transportation noise settles in the top 3.8% nationally. Modeled colon screening stands in the bottom 5.4% nationally, and tree cover is at the national minimum. Modeled expected annual loss rests in the top 5.8% nationally. On the encouraging side, walkability sits in the top 1.2% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs that surround it, walkability runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain language, industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. ZIP 77002, just across the boundary, 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. 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 84%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 74%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 78%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 75%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 42%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 2%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 5%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 37%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 18%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 76%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 76%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 85%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 91%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 70%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 54%
11%
Disability
healthier than 52%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 3%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 19%
13%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 65%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 66%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 73%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 85%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 55%
11%
Disability
healthier than 45%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 14%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 29%
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
3 of our published findings list 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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 77.4 ± 1.2 years. A median household income of $83,148 predicts 79.4 years — 1.9 years below.
Ranked #2,530 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 0.8 (bottom 1%); chronic-disease standing 84.5 — 84 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #17,466 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Highest-risk tenth
Air toxics and the years between the two ends of the risk scale
Modeled air-toxics cancer risk is 40.0 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 77.4 ± 1.2 years.
Ranked #504 of the 4,173 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by modeled air-toxics risk, 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
Texasshares a border
Score 66.78
Similar health profile
77075
Texas96% similar profile
Score 45.43
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 | 18.7% | 16.7–20.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 30.9% | 28.1–33.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 5.2% | 4.7–5.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 8.7% | 7.8–9.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.5% | 5.0–6.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.2% | 4.6–5.7 |
| Depression among adults | 19.8% | 17.4–22.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.4% | 11.9–14.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.6% | 32.5–38.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.9% | 32.4–41.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.1% | 2.9–3.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.8% | 12.5–17.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 24.9% | 22.4–27.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 72.7% | 69.8–75.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 71.8% | 68.5–74.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.6% | 81.7–85.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 55.5% | 51.5–59.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 53.3% | 50.5–56.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 70.6% | 64.3–76.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.2% | 15.6–20.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.1% | 10.6–13.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.4% | 24.4–30.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.0% | 34.5–41.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 23.0% | 20.7–25.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.8% | 14.2–17.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.3% | 11.9–14.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.9% | 14.3–17.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.6% | 28.5–34.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.4% | 5.7–7.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.4% | 7.5–9.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.4% | 12.8–16.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.7% | 4.2–5.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.7% | 7.0–8.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 11.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 19.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 21.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 41.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 9.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.4% | 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 | 57.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 19.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 49.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 15.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 38.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $83,148 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $420,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $1,305 | $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 | 77.4 yr ± 0.60 | 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 0.60 years of 77.4, 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