ZIP code
77048
in Houston, TexasPopulation 21,151
40.00/ 100
Ranked #26,758 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 17%)
Ranked #1,452 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (bottom 22%)
Ranked #188 of 237 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX ZIPs (bottom 21%)
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.
Short sleep
47.6%
in the top 1.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 1.4% 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 ›Uninsured (under 65)
20.8%
in the top 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST70thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
18.4%
in the top 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
602 units
in the top 3.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
154 days/year
in the top 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST82ndUS96thDefinition & 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
9.5%
in the top 6.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
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 ›Self-care disability
6.9%
in the top 6.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
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 ›The read
In its overall standing, ZIP 77048, one of several in Houston, Texas lands in the bottom 17% nationally (26,758th) and the bottom 22% of Texas (1,452nd).
Reading across the data, the real pressures come first: modeled short sleep resides in the top 1.1% nationally, industrial-pollution burden settles in the top 1.4% nationally, and uninsured is in the top 4.0% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure sits in the top 2.1% nationally, modeled humid heat lands in the top 3.6% nationally, and modeled vision disability lies in the top 6.0% nationally. Modeled air-toxics cancer risk stands in the top 4.5% nationally, and self-care disability rests in the top 6.3% nationally. PFAS in drinking water registers at the national maximum. More encouragingly, subsidized affordable housing resides in the top 3.5% nationally.
Against the wider neighborhood, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put simply, 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. On the overall standing, ZIP 77047, just across the boundary, ranks healthier.
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 75%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 55%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 38%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 37%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 8%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 8%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 10%
11%
Disability
healthier than 15%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 16%
5%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 85%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 69%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 59%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 24%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 30%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 7%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 31%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 14%
11%
Disability
healthier than 18%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 75%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 43%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 40%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 47%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 10%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 22%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 24%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 18%
11%
Disability
healthier than 21%
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 75.0 ± 2.0 years. A median household income of $56,747 predicts 77.8 years — 2.8 years below.
Ranked #3,919 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 75.0 ± 2.0 years. The 45 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 78.6 years — 3.6 years below them.
Ranked #2,822 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 40.0 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 75.0 ± 2.0 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
77033
Texasshares a border
Score 25.89
Closest healthier
77047
Texasshares a border
Score 51.24
Similar health profile
77701
Texas98% similar profile
Score 35.29
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 | 23.0% | 20.7–25.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.7% | 38.6–44.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 4.3% | 3.9–4.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.3% | 10.1–12.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.5% | 5.8–7.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.4% | 6.6–8.3 |
| Depression among adults | 19.2% | 16.8–21.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 17.8% | 16.0–19.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.7% | 31.6–37.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 45.4% | 40.7–50.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.1% | 4.7–5.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 24.6% | 21.0–28.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 20.8% | 18.3–23.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.2% | 74.9–79.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 76.9% | 74.1–79.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.0% | 82.1–85.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 56.0% | 51.9–59.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 44.2% | 41.2–47.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.6% | 67.5–79.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.8% | 11.8–16.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.2% | 14.1–18.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 32.4% | 28.7–36.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 47.6% | 43.9–51.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 27.8% | 24.9–30.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.0% | 17.1–21.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.8% | 13.2–16.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.5% | 16.5–20.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 37.1% | 33.6–40.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.5% | 4.9–6.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.8% | 10.5–13.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 19.5% | 17.5–21.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.2–7.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 9.5% | 8.7–10.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 26.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 23.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 16.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 22.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 12.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 9.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 44.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 58.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 12.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 31.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 10.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 30.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $56,747 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $210,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $1,441 | $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 | 75.0 yr ± 1.01 | 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 1.01 years of 75.0, 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