ZIP code
77039
in Houston, TexasPopulation 27,862
31.89/ 100
Ranked #30,339 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 5.4%)
Ranked #1,795 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (bottom 4.0%)
Ranked #225 of 237 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX ZIPs (bottom 5.1%)
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)
43.4%
in the top 0.08% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Vision disability
13.9%
in the top 0.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
45.4%
in the bottom 0.8% 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 ›Fair or poor health
37.2%
in the top 1.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›Self-care disability
8.2%
in the top 2.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
24%
in the top 1.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 0.9% 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 ›Outer-floodplain exposure
17.8%
in the top 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Air-toxics cancer risk
40 per million
in the top 2.4% 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 ›Mammography
65.8%
in the bottom 3.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST3rdUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
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
Overall, ZIP 77039, one of several in Houston, Texas places in the bottom 5.4% nationally (30,339th) and the bottom 4.0% of Texas (1,795th).
The measures that matter most for this area lead the way: modeled uninsured rests in the top 0.08% nationally, and vision disability resides in the top 0.8% nationally. Modeled colon screening is in the bottom 0.8% nationally, and fair or poor health lands in the top 1.5% nationally. Modeled self-care disability stands in the top 2.5% nationally, cognitive disability registers in the top 1.6% nationally, and industrial-pollution burden settles in the top 0.9% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure sits in the top 2.2% nationally, modeled air-toxics cancer risk lies in the top 2.4% nationally, and modeled mammography rests in the bottom 3.7% nationally.
Beside the areas that surround it, industrial-pollution burden runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For readers new to these 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. Outer-floodplain exposure is land with a lower but real 1-in-500 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "500-year floodplain". Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 77032, 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 70%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 48%
21%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 28%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 11%
14%
Preventive Care
in the bottom 0.5%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 3%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 39%
8%
Disability
healthier than 3%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 4%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 62%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 35%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 19%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 8%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 1%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 3%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 33%
8%
Disability
healthier than 3%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 16%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 18%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 15%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 29%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 3%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 6%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 17%
8%
Disability
healthier than 5%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 23%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 37%
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 75.5 ± 1.7 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
77016
Texasshares a border
Score 28.78
Closest healthier
77032
Texasshares a border
Score 35.00
Similar health profile
79836
Texas99% similar profile
Score 39.41
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 | 20.4% | 18.3–22.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.7% | 32.7–38.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 4.0% | 3.6–4.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.4% | 8.4–10.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.2% | 6.6–8.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.9% | 7.1–8.7 |
| Depression among adults | 20.6% | 18.0–23.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 18.7% | 16.8–20.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.1% | 34.0–40.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 44.4% | 39.6–49.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.4% | 4.1–4.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 27.1% | 23.3–31.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 43.4% | 39.6–47.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 72.3% | 69.5–74.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 69.2% | 65.7–72.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 76.2% | 73.7–78.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 45.4% | 41.4–49.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 36.7% | 33.8–39.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 65.8% | 58.7–72.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.5% | 13.3–18.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.6% | 16.5–21.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 42.1% | 38.0–46.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 43.2% | 39.5–47.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 37.2% | 34.0–40.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.8% | 17.8–21.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 18.9% | 17.0–20.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 24.0% | 21.7–26.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 44.5% | 40.7–48.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.0% | 7.2–8.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 13.7% | 12.4–15.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 22.0% | 19.8–24.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 8.2% | 7.5–8.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 13.9% | 12.8–15.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 24.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 52.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 41.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 8.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 9.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 82.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 37.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 59.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 11.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 38.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 42.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 11.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 32.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $47,119 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $165,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $1,246 | $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 | 75.5 yr ± 0.85 | 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 0.85 years of 75.5, 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