ZIP code
77551
in Galveston, TexasPopulation 21,696
47.74/ 100
Ranked #19,269 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 40%)
Ranked #711 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (top 38%)
Ranked #122 of 237 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX ZIPs (bottom 49%)
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.
Floodplain exposure
90.4%
in the top 0.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Walkability
170 intersections/sq mi
in the top 3.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
8.7%
in the top 4.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Lead in tap water
0 ppb
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
US1stDefinition & source ›
The lead level at the 90th percentile of tap-water samples reported by the public water systems serving this ZIP, in parts per billion — the EPA requires action above 15 ppb.
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 ›Tree cover
0.00%
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Uninsured (under 65)
18.3%
in the top 6.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST60thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 6.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Housing-cost burden
41.9%
in the top 8.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
48.2%
in the bottom 8.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST11thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 77551, one of several in Galveston, Texas, in overall standing, comes out in the bottom 40% nationally (19,269th) and the top 38% of Texas (711th).
A few readings account for most of this area's strain: floodplain exposure lands in the top 0.7% nationally, outer-floodplain exposure rests in the top 4.3% nationally, and modeled expected annual loss settles in the top 4.5% nationally. Modeled tree cover lands at the national minimum, uninsured rests in the top 6.2% nationally, and industrial-pollution burden settles in the top 6.0% nationally. Housing-cost burden lands in the top 8.1% nationally, and homeownership rests in the bottom 8.1% nationally. On the better side, walkability settles in the top 3.7% nationally, and lead in tap water lands at the national minimum.
Set within its surrounding area, walkability runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, for reference, expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 77554, 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
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 62%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 84%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 76%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 52%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 58%
8%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 17%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 32%
11%
Disability
healthier than 34%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 8%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 61%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 72%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 63%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 70%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 53%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 48%
11%
Disability
healthier than 41%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 39%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 37%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 94%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 63%
13%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 53%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 50%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 44%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 51%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 21%
21%
Disability
healthier than 38%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 39%
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 76.4 ± 1.5 years. A median household income of $58,344 predicts 78.0 years — 1.5 years below.
Ranked #1,868 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
77550
Texasshares a border
Score 44.37
Closest healthier
77554
Texasshares a border
Score 57.45
Similar health profile
78016
Texas99% similar profile
Score 47.60
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 | 26.5% | 23.5–29.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 39.9% | 35.9–44.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.5% | 6.8–8.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.0% | 8.8–11.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.4% | 6.6–8.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.5% | 6.7–8.3 |
| Depression among adults | 21.5% | 18.4–24.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.3% | 13.5–17.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.8% | 33.7–42.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.7% | 29.5–44.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.1% | 3.8–4.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.2% | 11.5–17.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 18.3% | 15.9–20.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.1% | 75.3–80.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 75.5% | 71.7–79.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.0% | 84.3–87.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 62.2% | 57.3–67.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 53.1% | 49.4–56.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.3% | 65.9–79.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.3% | 13.5–19.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.1% | 12.2–16.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.8% | 25.4–34.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.7% | 33.9–43.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 24.2% | 21.5–27.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.1% | 15.2–19.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.8% | 13.2–16.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.4% | 13.8–17.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 34.0% | 29.9–38.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.7% | 6.8–8.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.3% | 8.3–10.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.2% | 15.2–19.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.0% | 4.6–5.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.3–7.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 18.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 27.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 15.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 30.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 8.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 94.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 41.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 48.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 16.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 55.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 19.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 39.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $58,344 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $290,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $1,352 | $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 | 76.4 yr ± 0.77 | 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 0.77 years of 76.4, 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