ZIP code
77072
in Houston, TexasPopulation 57,108
39.55/ 100
Ranked #27,053 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 16%)
Ranked #1,486 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (bottom 20%)
Ranked #191 of 237 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX ZIPs (bottom 19%)
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)
29.6%
in the top 1.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
46.6%
in the bottom 1.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST2ndUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Vision disability
10.5%
in the top 3.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
20.5%
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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 2.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Floodplain exposure
57.5%
in the top 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Humid extreme heat
155.2 days/year
in the top 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Mammography
66.2%
in the bottom 4.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST4thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Walkability
180 intersections/sq mi
in the top 3.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
11.2%
in the top 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
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 77072, one of several in Houston, Texas lands in the bottom 16% nationally (27,053rd) and the bottom 20% of Texas (1,486th).
A number of measures mark where this area is under strain: modeled uninsured lands in the top 1.2% nationally, and colon screening sits in the bottom 1.1% nationally. Modeled vision disability is in the top 3.9% nationally, and outer-floodplain exposure settles in the top 2.0% nationally. Modeled expected annual loss resides in the top 2.7% nationally, floodplain exposure registers in the top 2.9% nationally, and modeled humid heat rests in the top 3.3% nationally. Modeled mammography stands in the bottom 4.2% nationally, and crowded housing lies in the top 3.8% nationally. On the brighter side, walkability lands in the top 3.4% nationally.
Set beside the nearby areas, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. A note on the terms: expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Outer-floodplain exposure is land with a lower but real 1-in-500 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "500-year floodplain". Floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 77042, just across the boundary, ranks better overall.
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 63%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 67%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 72%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 85%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 22%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 2%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 11%
11%
Disability
healthier than 14%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the bottom 0.2%
5%
Lifting this score
Mental Health
healthier than 78%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 84%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 51%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 47%
14%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 13%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 5%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 16%
11%
Disability
healthier than 16%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 1%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 81%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 64%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 77%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 35%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 10%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 11%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 23%
11%
Disability
healthier than 19%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 1%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
77036
Texasshares a border
Score 34.50
Closest healthier
77042
Texasshares a border
Score 52.77
Similar health profile
78061
Texas99% similar profile
Score 39.40
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 | 19.8% | 17.7–22.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.2% | 33.1–39.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 4.0% | 3.6–4.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.1% | 8.1–10.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.5% | 5.9–7.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.0% | 6.3–7.7 |
| Depression among adults | 18.4% | 16.0–20.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 18.1% | 16.2–20.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.1% | 34.8–41.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.7% | 34.3–43.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.1% | 3.8–4.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 20.9% | 17.8–24.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 29.6% | 27.0–32.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 74.7% | 72.0–77.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 72.5% | 69.4–75.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 80.2% | 78.2–82.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 46.6% | 42.5–50.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 41.2% | 38.3–44.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 66.2% | 59.3–72.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.7% | 11.7–15.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.6% | 14.6–18.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 36.9% | 33.0–40.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 43.6% | 39.9–47.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 30.4% | 27.5–33.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.7% | 15.9–19.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.9% | 14.2–17.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 19.2% | 17.4–21.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 37.8% | 34.2–41.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.8% | 6.1–7.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.2% | 10.1–12.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.7% | 16.8–20.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 6.4% | 5.9–6.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 10.5% | 9.7–11.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 23.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 38.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 29.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 18.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.7% | 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 | 86.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 47.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 45.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 11.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 50.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 43.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 13.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 35.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $51,070 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $187,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $1,300 | $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 | 78.6 yr ± 0.73 | 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 0.73 years of 78.6, 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