ZIP code
77521
in Baytown, TexasPopulation 69,038
44.93/ 100
Ranked #22,491 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 30%)
Ranked #985 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (bottom 47%)
Ranked #142 of 237 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX ZIPs (bottom 40%)
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.
Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 0.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Uninsured (under 65)
23.1%
in the top 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST76thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
42.8 per million
in the top 1.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$1
in the top 1.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Outer-floodplain exposure
14.2%
in the top 2.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 2.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS97thDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
552 units
in the top 3.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
55.2%
in the bottom 5.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST18thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
150.1 days/year
in the top 4.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST71stUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
0.9 mi
in the bottom 6.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST5thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, ZIP 77521, one of several in Baytown, Texas lands in the bottom 30% nationally (22,491st) and the bottom 47% of Texas (985th).
Several measures weigh most on this area's profile, and they come first: modeled industrial-pollution burden settles in the top 0.5% nationally, and uninsured resides in the top 2.9% nationally. Modeled air-toxics cancer risk registers in the top 1.7% nationally, and expected annual loss rests in the top 1.7% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure stands in the top 2.7% nationally, modeled disaster risk lies in the top 2.8% nationally, and modeled colon screening lands in the bottom 5.1% nationally. Modeled humid heat sits in the top 4.7% nationally. On the better side, subsidized affordable housing is in the top 3.9% nationally. Distance to an emergency room settles at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs.
Set beside the nearby areas, industrial-pollution burden runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. A note on the terms: industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 77523, 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.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 81%
21%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 52%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 51%
8%
Disability
healthier than 43%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 1%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 4%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 22%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 12%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 72%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 62%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 50%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 52%
8%
Disability
healthier than 53%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 2%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 17%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 34%
11%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 59%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 40%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 42%
11%
Disability
healthier than 46%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 55%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 11%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 27%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 34%
8%
“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 77.3 ± 1.4 years. A median household income of $73,629 predicts 78.9 years — 1.6 years below.
Ranked #1,964 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 1.5 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 81.0 — 80 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #17,154 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 42.8 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 77.3 ± 1.4 years.
Ranked #332 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
77520
Texasshares a border
Score 36.49
Closest healthier
77523
Texasshares a border
Score 51.91
Similar health profile
99503
Alaska97% similar profile
Score 48.26
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 | 19.6% | 17.7–21.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.0% | 29.3–34.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 5.2% | 4.8–5.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.7% | 8.7–10.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.3% | 4.8–5.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.9% | 5.3–6.5 |
| Depression among adults | 21.1% | 18.6–23.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.5% | 11.2–14.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.3% | 31.3–37.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.0% | 33.7–42.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.3% | 3.0–3.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 15.1% | 12.8–17.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 23.1% | 20.9–25.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 72.3% | 69.7–74.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 71.9% | 68.8–74.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 82.3% | 80.5–84.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 55.2% | 51.4–59.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 50.7% | 47.9–53.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 70.9% | 64.8–76.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.8% | 15.4–20.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.9% | 12.2–15.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.5% | 24.4–30.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 41.1% | 37.6–44.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 22.6% | 20.4–24.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.1% | 16.3–19.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.5% | 12.1–14.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.4% | 15.8–19.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.8% | 29.7–36.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.9% | 5.3–6.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.1% | 8.2–10.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.1% | 12.7–15.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.5% | 4.1–4.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.4–7.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 15.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 30.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 18.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 16.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 9.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 34.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 58.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 20.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 37.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 10.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 32.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $73,629 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $231,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $1,390 | $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 | 77.3 yr ± 0.70 | 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 0.70 years of 77.3, 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