ZIP code
77486
in West Columbia, TexasPopulation 7,195
47.91/ 100
Ranked #19,038 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 41%)
Ranked #693 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (top 37%)
Ranked #119 of 237 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX ZIPs (bottom 50%)
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.
Humid extreme heat
154.8 days/year
in the top 3.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Floodplain exposure
33.6%
in the top 8.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Radon
0.6 pCi/L
in the bottom 0.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS1stDefinition & source ›
The modeled typical indoor radon level for this area, in picocuries per liter — the EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or above.
Modeled from indoor-radon measurements. In Alaska and Hawaii, where those measurements are not published, a US Geological Survey geologic radon-potential category stands in — a coarser input, disclosed rather than hidden.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
3.7%
in the top 9.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST79thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Short sleep
41.9%
in the top 9.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Child-care access
0.4 per 1,000 residents
in the top 16% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS84thDefinition & 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 ›Dry extreme heat
18.3 days/year
in the top 24% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS76thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
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
On balance, and by the composite measure, West Columbia, Texas (ZIP 77486) ranks in the bottom 41% nationally (19,038th) and the top 37% of Texas (693rd).
Neither strongly one way nor the other, the measures sit mixed: modeled radon is in the bottom 0.9% nationally, and grocery stands in the top 13.8% nationally. Dental providers settles in the top 15% nationally, and childcare lies in the top 16% nationally. Against that, modeled humid heat resides in the top 3.4% nationally, floodplain exposure lands in the top 8.5% nationally, and outer-floodplain exposure registers in the top 9.5% nationally. Modeled short sleep sits in the top 9.5% nationally, industrial-pollution burden rests in the top 10.9% nationally, and uninsured is in the top 11.6% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs it borders, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plainer terms, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 77430, 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
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 64%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 68%
14%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 57%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 46%
8%
Disability
healthier than 50%
7%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 22%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 25%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 7%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 29%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 64%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 63%
13%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 44%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 48%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 44%
8%
Disability
healthier than 59%
7%
Holding it back
Risk Behavior
healthier than 38%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 35%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 29%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 82%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 69%
13%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 56%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 45%
11%
Disability
healthier than 50%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 27%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 28%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 38%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 9%
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
One of our published findings lists 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 77.1 ± 1.8 years. A median household income of $74,857 predicts 78.9 years — 1.9 years below.
Ranked #2,409 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
77422
Texasshares a border
Score 42.99
Closest healthier
77430
Texasshares a border
Score 47.99
Similar health profile
76041
Texas98% similar profile
Score 48.01
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 | 27.0% | 24.4–29.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.9% | 35.7–42.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.4% | 7.6–9.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.2% | 9.1–11.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.9% | 6.2–7.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.4% | 6.5–8.4 |
| Depression among adults | 22.8% | 20.0–25.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.3% | 11.7–15.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.5% | 34.2–40.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.8% | 33.2–42.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.8% | 3.4–4.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.3% | 9.3–13.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 14.9% | 13.0–17.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.1% | 75.4–80.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 76.9% | 73.9–79.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.5% | 84.8–88.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 63.7% | 59.6–67.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 56.7% | 53.5–59.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 70.5% | 63.6–76.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.7% | 14.2–19.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.2% | 12.2–16.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.2% | 23.8–31.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 41.9% | 37.5–45.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 22.0% | 19.5–24.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.5% | 15.7–19.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.2% | 12.6–15.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.0% | 13.4–16.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.8% | 28.5–35.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.4% | 6.6–8.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.7% | 7.8–9.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.3% | 13.5–17.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.7–4.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.4% | 4.9–6.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 9.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 27.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 21.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 28.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 77.8% | 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 | 4.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 46.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 21.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 34.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $74,857 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $240,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $983 | $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 | 77.1 yr ± 0.90 | 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 0.90 years of 77.1, 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