ZIP code
77539
in Dickinson, TexasPopulation 49,375
47.41/ 100
Ranked #19,663 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 39%)
Ranked #738 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (top 40%)
Ranked #125 of 237 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX ZIPs (bottom 47%)
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.
Expected annual disaster loss
$1
in the top 0.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 0.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS99thDefinition & 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 1.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Outer-floodplain exposure
22.7%
in the top 1.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & 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
51.6%
in the top 3.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Uninsured (under 65)
18.4%
in the top 6.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST61stUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Humid extreme heat
148 days/year
in the top 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST68thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Radon
0.6 pCi/L
in the bottom 0.8% 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
248 units
in the top 10.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST83rdUS90thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
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
Dickinson, Texas (ZIP 77539), on the composite measure, lands in the bottom 39% nationally (19,663rd) and the top 40% of Texas (738th).
The main burdens in the data show plainly and lead the picture: modeled expected annual loss sits in the top 0.6% nationally, industrial-pollution burden registers in the top 0.9% nationally, and disaster risk lands in the top 1.5% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure resides in the top 1.8% nationally, floodplain exposure lies in the top 3.7% nationally, and modeled uninsured settles in the top 6.0% nationally. PFAS in drinking water stands at the national maximum, and modeled humid heat is in the top 5.3% nationally. More positively, modeled radon rests in the bottom 0.8% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing sits in the top 10.0% nationally.
Set against the neighboring ZIPs, expected annual loss runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In everyday language, expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. 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. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 77510, 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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 78%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 66%
16%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 77%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 51%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 23%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 10%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 25%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 39%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 3%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 69%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 65%
16%
Disability
healthier than 60%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 72%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 15%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 36%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 38%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 33%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 9%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 55%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 57%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 44%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 49%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 45%
11%
Disability
healthier than 51%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 57%
5%
Holding it back
Mental Health
healthier than 16%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 16%
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
2 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 77.9 ± 1.3 years. A median household income of $89,111 predicts 79.6 years — 1.7 years below.
Ranked #2,184 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 23.2; chronic-disease standing 77.5 — 54 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #14,834 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
77510
Texasshares a border
Score 51.08
Closest healthier
77573
Texasshares a border
Score 60.07
Similar health profile
77302
Texas99% similar profile
Score 46.37
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 | 22.8% | 20.1–25.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.3% | 30.5–38.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.3% | 5.7–6.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.2% | 9.0–11.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.7% | 5.1–6.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.4% | 5.7–7.1 |
| Depression among adults | 22.9% | 19.5–26.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.2% | 10.7–13.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.4% | 30.4–38.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.3% | 28.1–43.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.2% | 3.0–3.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.2% | 9.8–15.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 18.4% | 16.3–20.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 73.7% | 70.6–76.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 72.8% | 68.8–76.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.5% | 82.6–86.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 59.7% | 54.8–64.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 55.6% | 52.0–59.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 72.8% | 65.3–79.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.5% | 15.4–21.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.1% | 12.3–16.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.7% | 23.7–32.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.6% | 33.8–43.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 22.0% | 19.5–24.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.2% | 16.2–20.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.8% | 12.3–15.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.9% | 14.2–17.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.4% | 27.6–35.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.3% | 5.6–7.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.7% | 7.8–9.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.3% | 12.6–16.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.8–4.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.9% | 5.4–6.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 10.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 25.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 16.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 26.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 26.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 75.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 12.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 41.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 11.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 35.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $89,111 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $264,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $1,393 | $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 | 77.9 yr ± 0.65 | 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 0.65 years of 77.9, 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