ZIP code
77563
in Hitchcock, TexasPopulation 9,955
46.99/ 100
Ranked #20,170 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 37%)
Ranked #772 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (top 41%)
Ranked #129 of 237 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX ZIPs (bottom 46%)
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
83.4%
in the top 1.0% 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 ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 2.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Outer-floodplain exposure
15.4%
in the top 2.6% 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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
0.4 mi
in the bottom 5.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST3rdUS5thDefinition & 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 ›Humid extreme heat
148.1 days/year
in the top 5.2% 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 ›Loud transportation noise
2.3%
in the top 5.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›Radon
0.6 pCi/L
in the bottom 0.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Unemployment rate
9.6%
in the top 10.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS90thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
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
Hitchcock, Texas (ZIP 77563), overall, ranks in the bottom 37% nationally (20,170th) and the top 41% of Texas (772nd).
This area's pressures are easy to read across the measures: floodplain exposure rests in the top 1.0% nationally, modeled industrial-pollution burden registers in the top 2.3% nationally, and outer-floodplain exposure resides in the top 2.6% nationally. Distance to a Superfund site settles in the bottom 5.0% nationally, modeled humid heat is in the top 5.2% nationally, and modeled loud transportation noise sits in the top 5.8% nationally. Unemployment lands in the top 10.4% nationally, and crowded housing lies in the top 11.4% nationally. Modeled expected annual loss stands in the top 12.2% nationally. On the brighter side, modeled radon rests in the bottom 0.9% nationally.
Measured against the nearby ZIPs, industrial-pollution burden runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. ZIP 77510, just across the boundary, comes out 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
Healthcare Access
healthier than 66%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 57%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 57%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 50%
8%
Disability
healthier than 46%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 18%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 31%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 35%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 2%
5%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 75%
13%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 45%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 56%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 52%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 50%
8%
Disability
healthier than 56%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 58%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 12%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 6%
5%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 79%
13%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 48%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 54%
11%
Disability
healthier than 48%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 28%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 38%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 31%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 12%
5%
Healthcare Access
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
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 74.3 ± 1.8 years. A median household income of $75,806 predicts 79.0 years — 4.7 years below.
Ranked #5,441 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 74.3 ± 1.8 years. The 46 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 77.9 years — 3.7 years below them.
Ranked #2,848 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, 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
77554
Texasshares a border
Score 57.45
Similar health profile
31558
Georgia98% similar profile
Score 47.98
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 | 27.0% | 23.9–30.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 39.3% | 35.3–43.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.8% | 7.1–8.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.5% | 9.3–11.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.7% | 6.0–7.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.2% | 6.4–8.1 |
| Depression among adults | 22.3% | 19.0–25.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.0% | 12.2–15.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.5% | 33.3–41.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.1% | 29.0–43.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.9% | 3.6–4.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.7% | 9.3–14.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 15.2% | 13.3–17.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.0% | 75.1–80.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 76.0% | 72.2–79.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.1% | 85.4–88.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 64.9% | 60.1–69.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 57.8% | 54.1–61.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.7% | 68.5–81.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.0% | 14.0–20.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.1% | 12.1–16.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.6% | 23.5–32.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.2% | 33.4–43.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 22.0% | 19.5–24.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.4% | 15.5–19.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.3% | 12.7–16.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.9% | 13.3–16.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.4% | 28.4–36.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.0% | 6.2–7.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.8% | 7.9–9.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.1% | 14.1–18.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.5% | 4.1–4.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.9% | 5.4–6.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 14.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 23.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 12.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 20.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 9.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 84.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 32.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 73.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 5.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 7.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 55.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 18.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 39.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $75,806 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $220,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $1,370 | $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 | 74.3 yr ± 0.92 | 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 0.92 years of 74.3, 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