ZIP code
77038
in Houston, TexasPopulation 32,637
36.42/ 100
Ranked #28,798 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 10.2%)
Ranked #1,679 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (bottom 10.2%)
Ranked #210 of 237 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX ZIPs (bottom 11.4%)
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)
36.9%
in the top 0.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
45%
in the bottom 0.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Vision disability
12.0%
in the top 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›Fair or poor health
33.2%
in the top 4.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
14.8%
in the top 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Cognitive disability
22.1%
in the top 3.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
44.4%
in the top 3.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
155.6 days/year
in the top 3.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Self-care disability
7.1%
in the top 5.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full methodology ›Cross-source signals
Combined exposures in this ZIP
More than one environmental exposure stands out in this ZIP. Each is established independently and shown on its own above; they are grouped here for context — not because one causes the other.
This area ranks among the highest 10% of US ZIP codes for both humid-heat days and flood exposure.
See the full flooding, evacuation & humid-heat analysis →
The read
ZIP 77038, one of several in Houston, Texas ranks in the bottom 10.2% nationally (28,798th) and the bottom 10.2% of Texas (1,679th).
The weightiest signals in the profile are worth naming up front: modeled uninsured is in the top 0.4% nationally, and colon screening registers in the bottom 0.7% nationally. Modeled vision disability lies in the top 2.1% nationally, and fair or poor health is in the top 4.1% nationally. Crowded housing registers in the top 2.2% nationally, modeled industrial-pollution burden lies in the top 2.2% nationally, and modeled cognitive disability is in the top 3.7% nationally. Modeled short sleep registers in the top 3.9% nationally, humid heat lies in the top 3.2% nationally, and self-care disability is in the top 5.4% nationally.
Against its neighbors, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For context, industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 77066, 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 66%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 73%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 46%
8%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 26%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 29%
14%
Preventive Care
in the bottom 0.8%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 4%
11%
Disability
healthier than 7%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 4%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 66%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 55%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 45%
8%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 17%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 18%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 2%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 4%
11%
Disability
healthier than 8%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 14%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 49%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 43%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 37%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 12%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 5%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 7%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 28%
8%
Disability
healthier than 11%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 21%
5%
“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
One of our published findings lists 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.
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 77.0 ± 2.4 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
77037
Texasshares a border
Score 31.48
Closest healthier
77066
Texasshares a border
Score 48.77
Similar health profile
75224
Texas99% similar profile
Score 41.30
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% | 16.5–20.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.2% | 31.2–37.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 3.4% | 3.1–3.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.5% | 8.5–10.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.9% | 5.3–6.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.8% | 6.1–7.6 |
| Depression among adults | 20.0% | 17.5–22.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 16.9% | 15.2–18.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.2% | 32.2–38.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 43.0% | 38.3–47.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.9% | 3.6–4.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 24.1% | 20.7–27.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 36.9% | 33.8–40.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 71.0% | 67.9–73.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 69.9% | 66.5–73.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 77.5% | 75.0–79.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 45.0% | 40.9–49.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 39.2% | 36.3–41.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 67.1% | 60.3–73.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.5% | 13.2–17.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.9% | 15.8–20.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 38.7% | 34.9–42.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 44.4% | 40.7–48.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 33.2% | 30.2–36.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.5% | 17.5–21.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.9% | 15.2–18.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 22.1% | 20.0–24.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 40.2% | 36.6–43.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.4% | 5.8–7.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 12.5% | 11.3–13.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 19.0% | 17.1–21.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 7.1% | 6.5–7.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 12.0% | 11.0–13.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 21.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 44.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 35.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 15.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 44.6% | 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) | 14.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 37.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 35.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 7.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 30.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $57,232 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $194,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $1,372 | $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 | 77.0 yr ± 1.22 | 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 1.22 years of 77.0, 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