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ZipVitals

ZIP code

77478

in Sugar Land, TexasPopulation 23,182

65.90/ 100

Ranked #1,658 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 5.2%)

Ranked #43 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (top 2.4%)

Ranked #13 of 237 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX ZIPs (top 5.5%)

Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.

Robust across all 9 health domains

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

2.6 per 1,000 residents

in the top 0.5% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST99th
US99th
Definition & 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

7.3 per 1,000 residents

in the top 0.6% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST99th
US99th
Definition & 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 ›

Pharmacy access

1.1 per 1,000 residents

in the top 0.7% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST99th
US99th
Definition & 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 ›

Outpatient-care access

1.1 per 1,000 residents

in the top 1.6% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST98th
US98th
Definition & 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 ›

Humid extreme heat

155.5 days/year

in the top 3.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST87th
US97th
Definition & 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 ›

Recreation access

1.5 per 1,000 residents

in the top 3.4% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST97th
US97th
Definition & 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 ›

Obesity

25.4%

in the bottom 6.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US6th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.

Full methodology ›

Child-care access

0.73 per 1,000 residents

in the top 4.7% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST98th
US95th
Definition & source ›

The number of child day-care services 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 ›

Outer-floodplain exposure

7.9%

in the top 4.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST88th
US95th
Definition & 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 ›

PFAS in drinking water

100%

at the national maximum

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US99th
Definition & 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

Overall, ZIP 77478, one of several in Sugar Land, Texas lands in the top 5.2% healthiest ZIPs nationally (1,658th) and the top 2.4% of Texas (43rd).

continue reading

A number of measures pull each way for this area: dental providers rests in the top 0.5% nationally, and physicians stands in the top 0.6% nationally. Pharmacy lies in the top 0.7% nationally, and outpatient lands in the top 1.6% nationally. Recreation sits in the top 3.4% nationally, modeled obesity is in the bottom 6.2% nationally, and childcare settles in the top 4.7% nationally. Set against that, modeled humid heat resides in the top 3.2% nationally, outer-floodplain exposure registers in the top 4.8% nationally, and PFAS in drinking water rests at the national maximum.

Set beside the nearby areas, physicians runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. A note on the terms: PFAS in drinking water is the family of man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. Outer-floodplain exposure is land with a lower but real 1-in-500 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "500-year floodplain". For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 77479, 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.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 82%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 98%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 71%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 92%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 98%

8%

Disability

healthier than 88%

7%

Healthcare Access

in the top 0.00%

5%

About typical

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 59%

14%

Holding it back

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 17%

5%

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 74%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 99%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 96%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 98%

11%

Mental Health

in the top 0.4%

8%

Disability

healthier than 87%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 88%

5%

Healthcare Access

in the top 0.00%

5%

Holding it back

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 39%

14%

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 62%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 98%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 75%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 98%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 98%

11%

Mental Health

in the top 0.9%

8%

Disability

healthier than 82%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 82%

5%

Healthcare Access

in the top 0.00%

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 ›

Nearby & similar ZIPs

Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.

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
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Arthritis among adults23.9%21.1–27.1
High blood pressure among adults35.5%31.7–39.7
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults8.1%7.4–9.0
Current asthma among adults8.3%7.3–9.4
Coronary heart disease among adults6.1%5.5–6.8
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults4.9%4.3–5.5
Depression among adults16.5%14.0–19.4
Diagnosed diabetes among adults13.6%11.9–15.6
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened40.9%36.6–45.5
Obesity among adults25.4%20.0–31.7
Stroke among adults3.2%2.9–3.4
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years6.7%5.4–8.3
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years9.1%7.9–10.4
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure81.5%78.9–84.0
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults78.6%75.3–81.8
Cholesterol screening among adults90.1%88.9–91.3
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years64.9%60.0–69.9
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults65.4%62.0–68.7
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years76.8%69.3–83.4
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults12.8%10.5–15.4
Current cigarette smoking among adults8.4%7.2–9.8
No leisure-time physical activity among adults23.7%20.1–27.8
Short sleep duration among adults33.9%28.1–40.1
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults16.0%14.0–18.3
Frequent mental distress among adults12.2%10.8–13.8
Frequent physical distress among adults10.6%9.4–12.1
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults9.7%8.5–10.9
Any disability among adults24.0%20.8–27.7
Hearing disability among adults6.5%5.8–7.3
Independent living disability among adults5.7%5.0–6.4
Mobility disability among adults12.0%10.4–13.7
Self-care disability among adults2.8%2.6–3.1
Vision disability among adults4.1%3.7–4.5
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)TX median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate5.2%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,36412.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869
Uninsured 18–649.6%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,28622.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862
No HS diploma (25+)5.0%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,50512.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881
Bachelor's or higher (25+)61.2%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50521.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881
Unemployment rate (16+)2.8%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2744.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865
Households without a vehicle3.5%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3223.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868
Broadband subscription94.4%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32289.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)28.7%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32226.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868
Homeownership rate75.7%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32275.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868
Crowded housing (>1 per room)2.4%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3223.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868
Foreign-born population34.5%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5538.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886
Single-parent households61.4%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08748.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861
Population 65+25.6%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55316.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886
Median age45.9 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29238.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866
Median household income$118,495$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737
Median home value$404,600$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693
Median gross rent$1,768$1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670$1,154 ($764–$1,815) n=1,508
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)TX median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth80.8 yr ± 0.6078.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,30878.2 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 0.60 years of 80.8, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.

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