ZIP code
77546
in Friendswood, TexasPopulation 54,789
60.05/ 100
Ranked #4,826 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 15%)
Ranked #145 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (top 7.8%)
Ranked #37 of 237 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX ZIPs (top 16%)
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 1.0% 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$1
in the top 1.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & 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
11.0%
in the top 3.5% 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 ›Humid extreme heat
149.5 days/year
in the top 4.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST70thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 6.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Air-toxics cancer risk
39.5 per million
in the top 7.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Median household income
$123,756
in the top 8.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
247 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 ›Radon
0.7 pCi/L
in the bottom 2.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST17thUS2ndDefinition & 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 ›Independent-living disability
5.9%
in the bottom 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.
Full methodology ›The read
In overall standing, Friendswood, Texas (ZIP 77546) comes out in the top 15% healthiest ZIPs nationally (4,826th) and the top 7.8% of Texas (145th).
The measures fall on both sides of the ledger for this area: household income lies in the top 8.5% nationally, subsidized affordable housing sits in the top 10.0% nationally, and modeled radon settles in the bottom 2.3% nationally. Modeled independent living disability registers in the bottom 8.3% nationally. Set against that, modeled industrial-pollution burden stands in the top 1.0% nationally, and expected annual loss lands in the top 1.4% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure is in the top 3.5% nationally, and modeled humid heat resides in the top 4.9% nationally. Modeled disaster risk rests in the top 6.9% nationally, and air-toxics cancer risk lies in the top 7.1% nationally.
Relative to the ZIPs around it, industrial-pollution burden runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain terms, industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 77573, 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 89%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 87%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 75%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 81%
8%
Disability
healthier than 89%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 81%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 45%
13%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 18%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 14%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 81%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 88%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 88%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 89%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 88%
8%
Disability
healthier than 88%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 78%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 78%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 12%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 74%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 84%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 89%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 86%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 78%
8%
Disability
healthier than 83%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 66%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 68%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 38%
14%
“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
4 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 79.6 ± 1.0 years. A median household income of $123,756 predicts 80.9 years — 1.3 years below.
Ranked #1,617 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Above its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 79.6 ± 1.0 years. The 45 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 77.4 years — 2.3 years above them.
Ranked #1,257 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 18.3; chronic-disease standing 88.5 — 70 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #16,406 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 39.5 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 79.6 ± 1.0 years.
Ranked #1,534 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
77034
Texasshares a border
Score 42.52
Closest healthier
77573
Texasshares a border
Score 60.07
Similar health profile
77079
Texas99% similar profile
Score 63.65
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 | 22.3% | 20.3–24.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 31.8% | 29.1–34.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.9% | 7.3–8.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.2% | 8.3–10.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.0% | 4.6–5.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.7% | 4.3–5.2 |
| Depression among adults | 20.8% | 18.5–23.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.1% | 9.1–11.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.3% | 33.4–39.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 30.1% | 25.9–34.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.7% | 2.5–2.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 7.2% | 6.0–8.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.4% | 9.4–11.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.4% | 73.9–78.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 75.5% | 72.8–77.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.5% | 87.4–89.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 64.0% | 60.7–67.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 65.6% | 63.3–67.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.2% | 71.2–80.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.6% | 16.4–20.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 9.4% | 8.3–10.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 19.2% | 16.9–21.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.9% | 31.7–38.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 14.5% | 13.1–15.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.5% | 13.3–15.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 10.8% | 9.8–11.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.4% | 10.4–12.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 24.8% | 22.4–27.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.8% | 5.3–6.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 5.9% | 5.4–6.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.7% | 9.7–11.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.7% | 2.5–2.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.7% | 3.4–4.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 3.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 9.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 50.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 96.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 25.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 76.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 10.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 51.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 15.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 40.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $123,756 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $380,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $1,734 | $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 | 79.6 yr ± 0.51 | 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 0.51 years of 79.6, 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