ZIP code
77098
in Houston, TexasPopulation 17,210
68.85/ 100
Ranked #798 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 2.5%)
Ranked #12 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (top 0.7%)
Ranked #4 of 237 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX ZIPs (top 1.7%)
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.
Dental provider access
2.8 per 1,000 residents
in the top 0.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of dental offices located inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Physician access
5.7 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of physicians’ offices located inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Recreation access
2.3 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of places for physical recreation — gyms, sports, and fitness venues — inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Outpatient-care access
1 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of outpatient clinics located inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Pharmacy access
0.76 per 1,000 residents
in the top 2.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of pharmacies located inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 2.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS98thDefinition & 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 ›High blood pressure
23.6%
in the bottom 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
3.3%
in the bottom 1.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
6.3%
in the bottom 1.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Stroke
1.7%
in the bottom 1.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 77098, one of several in Houston, Texas ranks in the top 2.5% healthiest ZIPs nationally (798th) and the top 0.7% of Texas (12th).
A profile of give and take, with clear readings each way: dental providers registers in the top 0.5% nationally, and physicians lies in the top 1.0% nationally. Recreation is in the top 1.1% nationally, and outpatient registers in the top 1.8% nationally. Pharmacy lies in the top 2.0% nationally, modeled high blood pressure is in the bottom 2.2% nationally, and modeled coronary heart disease registers in the bottom 1.8% nationally. Modeled mobility disability lies in the bottom 1.4% nationally, and stroke is in the bottom 1.5% nationally. On the other side, modeled industrial-pollution burden registers in the top 2.0% nationally.
Against its neighbors, outer-floodplain exposure runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For context, industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 77005, 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 98%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 99%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 87%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 88%
8%
Disability
in the top 0.7%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 76%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 20%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 37%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 24%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 98%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 99%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 82%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 95%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 95%
8%
Disability
in the top 0.4%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 96%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 70%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 13%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 99%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 99%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 86%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 94%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 91%
8%
Disability
in the top 0.5%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 95%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 40%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 51%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
“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 81.9 ± 1.7 years. The 42 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 77.9 years — 4.0 years above them.
Ranked #348 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 8.0 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 98.3 (top 10%) — 90 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #17,901 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 40.0 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 81.9 ± 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
77005
Texasshares a border
Score 69.48
Closest healthier
77401
Texasabout 1.3 mi away
Score 69.26
Similar health profile
30339
Georgia99% similar profile
Score 68.03
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 | 15.2% | 13.5–17.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 23.6% | 21.2–26.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.1% | 5.5–6.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 8.3% | 7.4–9.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 3.3% | 3.0–3.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 2.9% | 2.5–3.2 |
| Depression among adults | 20.5% | 18.0–23.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 6.8% | 5.9–7.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 31.2% | 28.3–34.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 27.9% | 24.1–31.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 1.7% | 1.6–1.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 3.8% | 3.1–4.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.3% | 7.3–9.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 69.7% | 66.7–72.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 72.6% | 69.4–75.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.0% | 85.4–88.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.2% | 62.5–69.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 69.8% | 67.1–72.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.3% | 70.6–81.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 21.1% | 18.3–24.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 6.1% | 5.2–7.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 13.0% | 11.1–15.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.9% | 29.6–36.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 9.7% | 8.6–11.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 13.3% | 11.8–14.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 7.6% | 6.7–8.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 9.6% | 8.6–10.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 18.9% | 16.6–21.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.7–4.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.8–4.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 6.3% | 5.5–7.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 1.7% | 1.6–1.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 2.6% | 2.4–2.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 9.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 10.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 1.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 80.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 7.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 96.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 32.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 34.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 20.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 55.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 13.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 37.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $116,650 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $787,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $1,892 | $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 | 81.9 yr ± 0.87 | 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 0.87 years of 81.9, 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