ZIP code
77059
in Houston, TexasPopulation 18,767
62.70/ 100
Ranked #3,125 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 9.8%)
Ranked #100 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (top 5.4%)
Ranked #23 of 237 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX ZIPs (top 9.8%)
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.
Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 0.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Air-toxics cancer risk
51.9 per million
in the top 0.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Median household income
$161,944
in the top 2.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
19.5%
in the top 2.0% 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 ›Transportation noise
19.3%
in the top 2.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Humid extreme heat
151.2 days/year
in the top 4.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST73rdUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Independent-living disability
4.7%
in the bottom 1.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.
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 ›Cognitive disability
9.4%
in the bottom 3.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
99.2%
in the top 5.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›The read
In overall standing, ZIP 77059, one of several in Houston, Texas comes out in the top 9.8% healthiest ZIPs nationally (3,125th) and the top 5.4% of Texas (100th).
The measures fall on both sides of the ledger for this area: household income settles in the top 2.8% nationally, modeled independent living disability registers in the bottom 1.6% nationally, and modeled cognitive disability stands in the bottom 3.0% nationally. Home broadband subscription lands in the top 5.8% nationally. Set against that, modeled industrial-pollution burden is in the top 0.2% nationally, and air-toxics cancer risk resides in the top 0.6% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure rests in the top 2.0% nationally, and modeled transportation noise lies in the top 2.7% nationally. Modeled humid heat sits in the top 4.4% nationally, and PFAS in drinking water settles at the national maximum.
Relative to the ZIPs around it, industrial-pollution burden runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain 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. PFAS in drinking water is the family of man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. Locally, no neighbor ranks healthier overall than this ZIP.
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 92%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 89%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 66%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 91%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 95%
8%
Disability
healthier than 96%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 72%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
in the bottom 0.2%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 16%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 87%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 91%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 95%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 98%
11%
Mental Health
in the top 0.7%
8%
Disability
healthier than 95%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 85%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 66%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
in the bottom 0.2%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 85%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 88%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 97%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 97%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 98%
8%
Disability
healthier than 94%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 75%
5%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 41%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
in the bottom 0.9%
14%
“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.
Above its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 81.5 ± 2.2 years. The 43 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 77.3 years — 4.2 years above them.
Ranked #290 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 0.0 (bottom 1%); chronic-disease standing 92.5 (top 10%) — 93 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #18,010 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 51.9 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 81.5 ± 2.2 years.
Ranked #91 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
77034
Texasshares a border
Score 42.52
Similar health profile
85044
Arizona99% similar profile
Score 59.11
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 | 20.7% | 18.4–23.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 30.6% | 27.6–33.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.1% | 7.4–8.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 8.2% | 7.3–9.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.8% | 4.3–5.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.1% | 3.5–4.7 |
| Depression among adults | 18.6% | 16.3–21.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.1% | 8.9–11.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.7% | 35.4–42.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 27.7% | 23.9–31.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.5% | 2.3–2.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 5.2% | 4.2–6.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.7% | 6.6–9.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.9% | 74.9–80.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.0% | 74.1–79.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.8% | 88.5–91.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.0% | 62.2–69.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 69.5% | 66.8–72.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.4% | 69.4–80.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.2% | 14.9–19.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 7.3% | 6.1–8.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 15.8% | 13.5–18.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.3% | 30.0–36.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 11.8% | 10.3–13.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 12.2% | 10.8–13.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 9.3% | 8.2–10.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 9.4% | 8.3–10.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 21.6% | 19.0–24.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.4% | 4.8–6.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 4.7% | 4.1–5.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 9.1% | 7.9–10.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.3% | 2.0–2.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.2% | 2.8–3.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 3.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 6.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 64.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 99.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 19.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 94.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 19.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 58.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 20.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 46.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $161,944 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $416,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $1,815 | $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 | 81.5 yr ± 1.13 | 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 1.13 years of 81.5, 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