ZIP code
77488
in Wharton, TexasPopulation 14,548
41.53/ 100
Ranked #25,639 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 20%)
Ranked #1,331 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (bottom 29%)
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)
21%
in the top 3.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST70thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
155.3 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 ›Outer-floodplain exposure
11.3%
in the top 3.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Floodplain exposure
45.8%
in the top 4.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 6.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST85thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Radon
0.6 pCi/L
in the bottom 0.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Dry extreme heat
48.8 days/year
in the top 9.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST18thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›Households without a vehicle
11.6%
in the top 11.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS89thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Obesity
42.1%
in the top 12.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS88thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
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
Wharton, Texas (ZIP 77488) ranks in the bottom 20% nationally (25,639th) and the bottom 29% of Texas (1,331st).
A balanced set of signals defines this area, not any single one: modeled radon resides in the bottom 0.5% nationally. Distance to a community health center stands at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. By contrast, modeled uninsured sits in the top 3.9% nationally, modeled humid heat resides in the top 3.3% nationally, and outer-floodplain exposure stands in the top 3.4% nationally. Floodplain exposure sits in the top 4.9% nationally, modeled expected annual loss resides in the top 6.9% nationally, and modeled extreme heat stands in the top 9.8% nationally. Modeled vision disability sits in the top 10.1% nationally, and households without a vehicle resides in the top 11.5% nationally.
Against its neighbors, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For context, expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 77420, 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 91%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 80%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 52%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 30%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 37%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 12%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 22%
11%
Disability
healthier than 17%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 1%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 85%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 76%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 42%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 55%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 17%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 30%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 34%
11%
Disability
healthier than 20%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 5%
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
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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 76.3 ± 1.2 years. A median household income of $60,327 predicts 78.1 years — 1.8 years below.
Ranked #2,288 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 76.3 ± 1.2 years. The 48 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 79.4 years — 3.1 years below them.
Ranked #2,439 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 91.0 (top 10%); chronic-disease standing 30.1 — 61 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #1,665 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
77414
Texasshares a border
Score 40.03
Closest healthier
77420
Texasshares a border
Score 50.13
Similar health profile
34691
Florida99% similar profile
Score 42.94
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% | 24.7–31.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.7% | 37.3–45.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.4% | 6.7–8.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.5% | 9.2–11.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.1% | 7.3–9.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.6% | 7.7–9.5 |
| Depression among adults | 21.3% | 17.9–24.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 17.2% | 15.0–19.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.6% | 34.1–43.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 42.1% | 33.4–50.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.7% | 4.4–5.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 19.6% | 16.3–23.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 21.0% | 18.6–23.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.1% | 76.4–81.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 76.5% | 72.7–80.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.4% | 83.7–87.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 61.5% | 56.0–66.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 49.6% | 45.9–53.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 71.3% | 62.7–79.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.4% | 11.7–17.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.7% | 13.6–17.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 34.4% | 29.4–39.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 40.2% | 33.0–47.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 28.1% | 25.0–31.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.8% | 15.8–19.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.3% | 14.5–18.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.2% | 15.3–19.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 38.1% | 33.5–42.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.4% | 7.5–9.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.9% | 9.8–12.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 20.2% | 17.9–22.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 6.0% | 5.5–6.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 8.4% | 7.6–9.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 10.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 19.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 10.9% | 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+) | 4.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 11.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 82.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 29.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 67.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 7.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 53.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 19.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 40.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $60,327 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $163,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $1,078 | $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 | 76.3 yr ± 0.61 | 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 0.61 years of 76.3, 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