ZIP code
77040
in Houston, TexasPopulation 50,977
44.56/ 100
Ranked #22,850 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 29%)
Ranked #1,024 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (bottom 45%)
Ranked #147 of 237 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX ZIPs (bottom 38%)
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)
25.4%
in the top 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST80thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
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 ›Outer-floodplain exposure
28.2%
in the top 1.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Colon-cancer screening
54.6%
in the bottom 4.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST17thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS97thDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
154.8 days/year
in the top 3.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST85thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 5.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS94thDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
383 units
in the top 6.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST89thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Floodplain exposure
36.7%
in the top 7.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
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 ›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 77040, one of several in Houston, Texas places in the bottom 29% nationally (22,850th) and the bottom 45% of Texas (1,024th).
The data opens on real and measurable burdens: modeled uninsured resides in the top 2.1% nationally, and industrial-pollution burden is in the top 1.0% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure lands in the top 1.5% nationally, and modeled colon screening stands in the bottom 4.6% nationally. Modeled expected annual loss registers in the top 3.3% nationally, modeled humid heat settles in the top 3.4% nationally, and crowded housing sits in the top 5.6% nationally. Modeled disaster risk lies in the top 5.9% nationally, and floodplain exposure rests in the top 7.3% nationally. More encouragingly, subsidized affordable housing resides in the top 6.3% 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. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 77041, 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 80%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 66%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 82%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 48%
16%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 2%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 4%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 27%
11%
Disability
healthier than 36%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 3%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 71%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 73%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 80%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 44%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 42%
11%
Disability
healthier than 44%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 3%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 16%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 11%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 70%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 58%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 47%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 59%
8%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 31%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 15%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 24%
13%
Disability
healthier than 40%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 18%
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
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 its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 77.2 ± 1.3 years. The 41 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 79.0 years — 1.8 years below them.
Ranked #1,522 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 1.7 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 80.2 — 79 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #17,082 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 38.8 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 77.2 ± 1.3 years.
Ranked #1,644 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
77041
Texasshares a border
Score 52.31
Closest healthier
77064
Texasshares a border
Score 51.65
Similar health profile
75050
Texas99% similar profile
Score 43.08
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 | 19.5% | 17.4–21.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.7% | 29.7–35.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 5.2% | 4.8–5.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.3% | 8.2–10.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.5% | 4.9–6.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.9% | 5.3–6.6 |
| Depression among adults | 20.0% | 17.5–22.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.7% | 12.1–15.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.0% | 32.8–39.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.8% | 33.4–42.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.3% | 3.1–3.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.4% | 11.3–15.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 25.4% | 23.0–28.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 72.9% | 69.9–75.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 72.4% | 69.2–75.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 82.3% | 80.5–84.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 54.6% | 50.6–58.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 50.4% | 47.5–53.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 70.3% | 63.9–76.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.5% | 14.2–19.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.9% | 12.1–15.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.1% | 25.7–32.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 40.4% | 36.8–44.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 24.2% | 21.7–26.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.2% | 15.4–19.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.9% | 12.4–15.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.3% | 15.6–19.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 33.3% | 29.9–36.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.1% | 5.4–6.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.3% | 8.4–10.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.9% | 13.2–16.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.9% | 4.5–5.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.8% | 7.2–8.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 21.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 26.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 22.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 26.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 40.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 50.5% | 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 | 32.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 40.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 11.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 34.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $65,028 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $244,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $1,382 | $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 | 77.2 yr ± 0.65 | 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 0.65 years of 77.2, 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