ZIP code
77535
in Dayton, TexasPopulation 39,504
43.76/ 100
Ranked #23,649 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 26%)
Ranked #1,117 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (bottom 40%)
Ranked #159 of 237 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX ZIPs (bottom 33%)
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 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 2.6% 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 ›Humid extreme heat
158.5 days/year
in the top 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Uninsured (under 65)
18.7%
in the top 5.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST62ndUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
7.9%
in the top 4.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Crowded housing
7.7%
in the top 7.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST85thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Radon
0.6 pCi/L
in the bottom 0.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
278 units
in the top 8.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST84thUS91stDefinition & 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
57.7%
in the bottom 8.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST29thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite measure, Dayton, Texas (ZIP 77535) sits in the bottom 26% nationally (23,649th) and the bottom 40% of Texas (1,117th).
Where this area is stretched, the data is unambiguous: modeled industrial-pollution burden resides in the top 2.1% nationally, disaster risk lies in the top 2.6% nationally, and humid heat settles in the top 2.9% nationally. Modeled expected annual loss stands in the top 3.6% nationally, modeled uninsured is in the top 5.7% nationally, and outer-floodplain exposure rests in the top 4.8% nationally. Crowded housing sits in the top 7.2% nationally, and modeled colon screening registers in the bottom 8.6% nationally. Better still, modeled radon lands in the bottom 0.7% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing resides in the top 8.9% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs that surround it, industrial-pollution burden runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain language, industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. ZIP 77521, just across the boundary, ranks healthier 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 69%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 87%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 48%
16%
Disability
healthier than 42%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 23%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 7%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 17%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 21%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 6%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 87%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 58%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 44%
16%
Disability
healthier than 51%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 15%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 27%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 26%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 9%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 30%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 82%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 41%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 43%
14%
Disability
healthier than 44%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 30%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 39%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 32%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 6%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 32%
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 76.0 ± 1.2 years. A median household income of $84,497 predicts 79.4 years — 3.4 years below.
Ranked #4,564 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
77327
Texasshares a border
Score 37.10
Closest healthier
77521
Texasshares a border
Score 44.93
Similar health profile
75152
Texas98% similar profile
Score 44.93
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 | 23.7% | 21.0–26.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.1% | 30.3–38.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.5% | 5.9–7.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.8% | 9.6–12.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.9% | 5.3–6.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.1% | 6.4–7.9 |
| Depression among adults | 24.4% | 21.0–28.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.2% | 10.8–13.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.2% | 31.4–39.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.9% | 30.3–46.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.3% | 3.1–3.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 16.4% | 13.8–19.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 18.7% | 16.7–20.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 73.4% | 70.5–76.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 72.4% | 68.6–76.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.4% | 81.7–85.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 57.7% | 52.8–62.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 52.0% | 48.5–55.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 71.3% | 63.7–78.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.0% | 15.1–21.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.3% | 14.3–18.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.8% | 25.5–34.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.6% | 32.3–45.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 23.6% | 21.0–26.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.6% | 17.6–21.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.8% | 13.3–16.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.5% | 15.7–19.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 33.7% | 29.7–38.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.6% | 5.9–7.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.5% | 8.6–10.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.0% | 13.3–16.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.3% | 4.0–4.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.0% | 5.5–6.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 14.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 25.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 16.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 14.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 21.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 83.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 7.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 8.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 48.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 11.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 34.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $84,497 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $225,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $1,082 | $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 | 76.0 yr ± 0.63 | 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 0.63 years of 76.0, 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