ZIP code
77023
in Houston, TexasPopulation 24,281
43.78/ 100
Ranked #23,629 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 26%)
Ranked #1,112 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (bottom 40%)
Ranked #156 of 237 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX ZIPs (bottom 34%)
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)
32.3%
in the top 0.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 1.1% 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 ›Colon-cancer screening
52.1%
in the bottom 2.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST9thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Walkability
190 intersections/sq mi
in the top 2.9% 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 ›Humid extreme heat
154.8 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 ›Transportation noise
14.0%
in the top 4.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›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 ›Crowded housing
8.9%
in the top 5.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Vision disability
9.1%
in the top 7.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST83rdUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite health measure, ZIP 77023, one of several in Houston, Texas ranks in the bottom 26% nationally (23,629th) and the bottom 40% of Texas (1,112th).
A number of measures mark where this area is under strain: modeled uninsured resides in the top 0.8% nationally, and industrial-pollution burden registers in the top 1.1% nationally. Modeled colon screening rests in the bottom 2.9% nationally, and humid heat stands in the top 3.4% nationally. Modeled air-toxics cancer risk lies in the top 4.5% nationally, modeled transportation noise lands in the top 4.9% nationally, and PFAS in drinking water sits at the national maximum. Crowded housing is in the top 5.6% nationally, and modeled vision disability settles in the top 7.2% nationally. On the brighter side, walkability resides in the top 2.9% nationally.
Read against the ZIPs closest to it, outer-floodplain exposure runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To spell things out, 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. Close by, ZIP 77003, 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 81%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 77%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 86%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 28%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 2%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 2%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 21%
11%
Disability
healthier than 26%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 17%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 72%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 84%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 87%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 85%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 20%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 2%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 8%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 33%
11%
Disability
healthier than 31%
7%
Lifting this score
Mental Health
healthier than 71%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 80%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 80%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 59%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 41%
11%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 16%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 12%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 17%
13%
Disability
healthier than 28%
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
2 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.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 0.5 (bottom 1%); chronic-disease standing 80.9 — 80 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #17,223 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 79.2 ± 2.1 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
77003
Texasshares a border
Score 55.95
Closest healthier
77004
Texasshares a border
Score 51.46
Similar health profile
85034
Arizona97% similar profile
Score 44.48
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 | 18.5% | 16.4–20.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.0% | 29.0–34.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 4.5% | 4.1–5.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 8.5% | 7.5–9.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.9% | 5.3–6.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.3% | 4.7–5.9 |
| Depression among adults | 19.0% | 16.6–21.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.1% | 13.5–16.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.2% | 33.1–39.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.4% | 34.9–44.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.3% | 3.0–3.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 15.6% | 13.1–18.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 32.3% | 28.7–35.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 72.4% | 69.5–75.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 70.6% | 67.3–73.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 81.2% | 79.1–83.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 52.1% | 47.9–56.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 46.2% | 43.2–49.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 69.1% | 62.3–75.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.1% | 14.7–19.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.0% | 11.3–14.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 32.2% | 28.7–35.9 |
| 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 | 26.9% | 24.2–29.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.6% | 14.9–18.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.7% | 13.2–16.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.0% | 16.1–19.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 35.5% | 32.0–39.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.1–7.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.3% | 8.3–10.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.1% | 14.3–18.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.8–5.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 9.1% | 8.3–9.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 14.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 29.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 25.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 24.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 15.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 77.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 35.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 48.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 8.9% | 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 | 46.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 14.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 37.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $51,430 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $302,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $1,106 | $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 | 79.2 yr ± 1.07 | 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 1.07 years of 79.2, 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