ZIP code
77020
in Houston, TexasPopulation 23,686
34.92/ 100
Ranked #29,429 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 8.3%)
Ranked #1,731 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (bottom 7.4%)
Ranked #215 of 237 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX ZIPs (bottom 9.3%)
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)
35.9%
in the top 0.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Vision disability
12.5%
in the top 1.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
49.2%
in the bottom 1.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST5thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 1.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Transportation noise
29.7%
in the top 1.2% 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 ›Self-care disability
7.8%
in the top 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full methodology ›Fair or poor health
34.2%
in the top 3.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
804 units
in the top 2.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Walkability
180 intersections/sq mi
in the top 3.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & 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
ZIP 77020, one of several in Houston, Texas, by its composite score, sits in the bottom 8.3% nationally (29,429th) and the bottom 7.4% of Texas (1,731st).
The data opens on real and measurable burdens: modeled uninsured lands in the top 0.5% nationally, and vision disability stands in the top 1.7% nationally. Modeled colon screening registers in the bottom 1.7% nationally, and industrial-pollution burden settles in the top 1.0% nationally. Modeled transportation noise sits in the top 1.2% nationally, self-care disability lies in the top 3.3% nationally, and fair or poor health rests in the top 3.2% nationally. Distance to a Superfund site resides at the national minimum. More encouragingly, subsidized affordable housing is in the top 2.2% nationally, and walkability lands in the top 3.5% nationally.
Next to the surrounding area, outer-floodplain exposure runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For anyone unfamiliar, 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. Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. For a healthier comparison close by, see 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
Healthcare Access
healthier than 71%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 46%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 51%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 55%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
in the bottom 0.7%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 2%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 5%
11%
Disability
healthier than 5%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 19%
5%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 92%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 65%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 48%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 59%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 32%
21%
Environmental Hazard
in the bottom 1.0%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 6%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 6%
11%
Disability
healthier than 6%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 88%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 41%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 40%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 16%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 37%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 5%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 13%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 9%
11%
Disability
healthier than 8%
7%
“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 75.2 ± 1.5 years. A median household income of $50,119 predicts 77.4 years — 2.2 years below.
Ranked #2,956 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 75.2 ± 1.5 years. The 45 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 77.3 years — 2.2 years below them.
Ranked #1,686 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, 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 75.2 ± 1.5 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
77003
Texasshares a border
Score 55.95
Similar health profile
77045
Texas98% similar profile
Score 41.18
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 | 21.4% | 19.2–23.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.0% | 35.0–41.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 4.2% | 3.8–4.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.7% | 8.6–10.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.3% | 6.7–8.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.5% | 6.7–8.3 |
| Depression among adults | 19.6% | 17.1–22.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 19.2% | 17.2–21.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.4% | 34.1–40.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 44.5% | 39.7–49.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.7% | 4.3–5.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 22.5% | 19.1–26.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 35.9% | 32.5–39.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 74.7% | 72.0–77.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 71.9% | 68.7–75.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 79.9% | 77.7–81.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 49.2% | 45.1–53.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 38.9% | 36.0–41.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 68.6% | 61.7–74.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.0% | 12.8–17.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.4% | 15.3–19.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 39.0% | 35.2–43.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 43.7% | 40.0–47.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 34.2% | 31.2–37.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.7% | 16.8–20.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.7% | 15.9–19.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 21.4% | 19.3–23.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 41.8% | 38.2–45.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.6% | 6.8–8.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 12.6% | 11.3–13.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 21.6% | 19.4–23.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 7.8% | 7.1–8.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 12.5% | 11.5–13.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 26.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 36.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 34.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 13.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 10.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 17.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 81.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 35.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 53.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 10.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 24.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 36.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 14.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 38.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $50,119 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $163,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $972 | $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 | 75.2 yr ± 0.79 | 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 0.79 years of 75.2, 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