ZIP code
77021
in Houston, TexasPopulation 26,153
42.46/ 100
Ranked #24,862 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 22%)
Ranked #1,254 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (bottom 33%)
Ranked #168 of 237 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX ZIPs (bottom 29%)
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 1.5% 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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
945 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 ›Short sleep
45.7%
in the top 2.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
40.1 per million
in the top 2.3% 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
153.5 days/year
in the top 3.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST80thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Vision disability
9.4%
in the top 6.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST85thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›Households without a vehicle
20.3%
in the top 4.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Walkability
150 intersections/sq mi
in the top 5.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
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 ›Uninsured (under 65)
18.2%
in the top 6.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST60thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, ZIP 77021, one of several in Houston, Texas ranks in the bottom 22% nationally (24,862nd) and the bottom 33% of Texas (1,254th).
Where this area bears down hardest, the measures speak first: modeled industrial-pollution burden rests in the top 1.5% nationally, and short sleep is in the top 2.3% nationally. Modeled air-toxics cancer risk stands in the top 2.3% nationally, and humid heat settles in the top 3.7% nationally. Modeled vision disability lies in the top 6.3% nationally, households without a vehicle resides in the top 4.4% nationally, and PFAS in drinking water lands at the national maximum. Modeled uninsured registers in the top 6.3% nationally. On the encouraging side, subsidized affordable housing sits in the top 1.6% nationally, and walkability rests in the top 5.0% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs it borders, outer-floodplain exposure runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plainer 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. PFAS in drinking water is the family of man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 77004, 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
Mental Health
healthier than 64%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 86%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 41%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 57%
16%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 2%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 13%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 18%
11%
Disability
healthier than 17%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 21%
5%
Lifting this score
Mental Health
healthier than 69%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 94%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 85%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 56%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 45%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 28%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 3%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 28%
11%
Disability
healthier than 20%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 91%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 79%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 47%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 57%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 54%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 12%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 14%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 36%
11%
Disability
healthier than 22%
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 74.0 ± 0.9 years. A median household income of $45,574 predicts 77.0 years — 3.0 years below.
Ranked #4,129 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 74.0 ± 0.9 years. The 43 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 78.4 years — 4.4 years below them.
Ranked #3,180 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 40.1 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 74.0 ± 0.9 years.
Ranked #471 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
77004
Texasshares a border
Score 51.46
Closest healthier
77023
Texasshares a border
Score 43.78
Similar health profile
66104
Kansas94% similar profile
Score 37.90
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 | 23.6% | 21.2–25.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 42.1% | 39.0–45.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 5.0% | 4.6–5.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.1% | 9.9–12.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.8% | 6.1–7.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.5% | 6.7–8.2 |
| Depression among adults | 19.0% | 16.5–21.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 17.5% | 15.6–19.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.2% | 32.1–38.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 43.2% | 38.5–47.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.2% | 4.8–5.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 18.4% | 15.6–21.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 18.2% | 16.1–20.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.2% | 76.0–80.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.7% | 74.9–80.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.1% | 82.3–85.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 58.3% | 54.2–62.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 47.6% | 44.6–50.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.3% | 68.4–79.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.8% | 11.8–15.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.2% | 13.3–17.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 30.6% | 27.2–34.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 45.7% | 42.0–49.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 26.4% | 23.8–28.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.2% | 16.4–20.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.2% | 12.7–15.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.6% | 15.9–19.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 36.4% | 33.0–39.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.8% | 5.2–6.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.6% | 10.5–12.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 19.3% | 17.3–21.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 6.7% | 6.2–7.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 9.4% | 8.6–10.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 29.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 30.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 16.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 33.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 11.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 20.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 84.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 44.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 41.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 11.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 32.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 17.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 36.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $45,574 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $227,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $1,236 | $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 | 74.0 yr ± 0.48 | 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 0.48 years of 74.0, 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