ZIP code
77018
in Houston, TexasPopulation 31,031
58.58/ 100
Ranked #5,920 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 18%)
Ranked #176 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (top 9.5%)
Ranked #41 of 237 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX ZIPs (top 17%)
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.
Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 1.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›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 ›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 ›Median household income
$127,017
in the top 7.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 7.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST83rdUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Energy-cost burden
1.5%
in the bottom 4.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›Radon
0.5 pCi/L
in the bottom 0.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Outer-floodplain exposure
4.4%
in the top 8.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST81stUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 0.2%-annual-chance flood band — the “500-year” zone, a lower but real 1-in-500 yearly chance.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Walkability
110 intersections/sq mi
in the top 9.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST89thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›The read
By its overall health score, ZIP 77018, one of several in Houston, Texas lands in the top 18% healthiest ZIPs nationally (5,920th) and the top 9.5% of Texas (176th).
Neither strongly one way nor the other, the measures sit mixed: household income is in the top 7.7% nationally, and modeled energy burden stands in the bottom 4.8% nationally. Modeled radon settles in the bottom 0.3% nationally, and walkability lies in the top 9.5% nationally. Against that, modeled industrial-pollution burden resides in the top 1.7% nationally, humid heat lands in the top 3.4% nationally, and air-toxics cancer risk registers in the top 4.5% nationally. Modeled tree cover sits at the national minimum, modeled expected annual loss rests in the top 7.8% nationally, and outer-floodplain exposure is in the top 8.1% nationally.
Weighed against the ZIPs nearby, outer-floodplain exposure runs far lower 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. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 77008, 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 89%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 90%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 67%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 83%
8%
Disability
healthier than 83%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 89%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 21%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 23%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 15%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 82%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 92%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 64%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 84%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 90%
8%
Disability
healthier than 84%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 80%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 89%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 13%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 75%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 90%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 70%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 80%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 83%
8%
Disability
healthier than 77%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 69%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 87%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 41%
14%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
“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 78.2 ± 1.1 years. A median household income of $127,017 predicts 81.0 years — 2.9 years below.
Ranked #3,929 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 8.6 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 89.3 — 81 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #17,241 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 78.2 ± 1.1 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
77008
Texasshares a border
Score 65.40
Closest healthier
77024
Texasabout 1.3 mi away
Score 67.46
Similar health profile
85016
Arizona99% similar profile
Score 59.69
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 | 19.8% | 17.6–22.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 30.4% | 27.5–33.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.8% | 6.2–7.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 8.8% | 7.8–9.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.9% | 4.4–5.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.7% | 4.1–5.3 |
| Depression among adults | 20.4% | 17.9–23.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.6% | 9.3–11.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.5% | 32.3–38.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 33.8% | 29.4–38.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.8% | 2.5–3.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.1% | 8.4–11.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 13.9% | 12.3–15.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 74.0% | 71.0–76.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 74.1% | 71.0–77.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.1% | 85.7–88.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 61.8% | 58.0–65.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 62.3% | 59.5–64.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.1% | 68.0–79.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.9% | 16.3–21.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 10.2% | 8.7–11.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 19.7% | 17.1–22.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.9% | 32.5–39.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.0% | 14.2–17.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.5% | 12.9–16.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 10.9% | 9.6–12.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.4% | 11.0–13.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 25.6% | 22.8–28.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.6% | 5.0–6.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.4% | 5.7–7.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.1% | 9.7–12.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.2% | 2.9–3.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.7% | 4.3–5.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 11.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 16.9% | 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+) | 63.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 31.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 67.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 12.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 37.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 12.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 36.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $127,017 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $584,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $1,293 | $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 | 78.2 yr ± 0.58 | 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 0.58 years of 78.2, 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