ZIP code
77371
in Shepherd, TexasPopulation 7,800
37.17/ 100
Ranked #28,446 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 11.3%)
Ranked #1,641 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (bottom 12.2%)
Ranked #204 of 237 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX ZIPs (bottom 14.0%)
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)
19.5%
in the top 4.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST65thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Distance to an emergency room
25 mi
in the top 3.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
153.9 days/year
in the top 3.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST81stUS96thDefinition & 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
10.8%
in the top 4.0% 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 ›Fatal road crashes
44.9 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
56.4%
in the bottom 6.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST22ndUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
36.1 per million
in the top 8.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Dry extreme heat
50.8 days/year
in the top 9.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST20thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›Floodplain exposure
31.5%
in the top 9.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Mammography
68.7%
in the bottom 9.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST15thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
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
By its overall health score, Shepherd, Texas (ZIP 77371) lands in the bottom 11.3% nationally (28,446th) and the bottom 12.2% of Texas (1,641st).
Neither strongly one way nor the other, the measures sit mixed: modeled uninsured stands in the top 4.9% nationally. Against that, distance to an emergency room settles in the top 3.1% nationally, and modeled humid heat lies in the top 3.7% nationally. Crowded housing resides in the top 4.0% nationally, fatal road crashes lands in the top 5.3% nationally, and modeled colon screening registers in the bottom 6.5% nationally. Modeled air-toxics cancer risk sits in the top 8.7% nationally, modeled extreme heat rests in the top 9.2% nationally, and floodplain exposure is in the top 9.3% nationally. Modeled mammography stands in the bottom 9.4% nationally.
To translate a couple of terms, air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. Extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 77328, 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
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 78%
14%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 40%
16%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 58%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 33%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 6%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 8%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 13%
8%
Disability
healthier than 16%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 4%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 63%
14%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 19%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 34%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 23%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 9%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 3%
8%
Disability
healthier than 19%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 17%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 90%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 9%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 25%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 33%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 13%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 2%
8%
Disability
healthier than 22%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 24%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 22%
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
2 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 72.5 ± 1.6 years. A median household income of $83,594 predicts 79.4 years — 6.9 years below.
Ranked #5,800 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 72.5 ± 1.6 years. The 47 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 76.9 years — 4.4 years below them.
Ranked #3,195 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
77327
Texasshares a border
Score 37.10
Closest healthier
77328
Texasshares a border
Score 37.44
Similar health profile
75486
Texas99% similar profile
Score 39.71
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 | 28.1% | 24.8–31.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 39.5% | 35.2–44.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.4% | 6.7–8.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.1% | 9.8–12.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.8% | 7.0–8.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.8% | 8.7–10.8 |
| Depression among adults | 25.5% | 21.8–29.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.1% | 13.2–17.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.0% | 33.6–42.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.2% | 31.7–49.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.4% | 4.0–4.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 21.2% | 17.4–25.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 19.5% | 17.2–22.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.1% | 73.2–79.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 73.8% | 69.8–77.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 82.8% | 80.8–84.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 56.4% | 50.6–61.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 46.7% | 42.7–50.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 68.7% | 59.6–76.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.5% | 13.5–20.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 19.7% | 17.2–22.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 33.1% | 28.3–38.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 40.9% | 33.7–48.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 27.9% | 25.0–31.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 20.5% | 18.3–22.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.3% | 15.4–19.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 19.3% | 17.3–21.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 39.0% | 34.5–43.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.4% | 7.5–9.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.5% | 10.3–12.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 19.3% | 17.1–21.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.7% | 5.2–6.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.6% | 6.9–8.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 14.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 29.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 19.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 6.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 9.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 78.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 20.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 79.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 10.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 6.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 35.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 12.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 37.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $83,594 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $195,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $1,020 | $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 | 72.5 yr ± 0.81 | 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 0.81 years of 72.5, 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