ZIP code
77587
in South Houston, TexasPopulation 16,033
39.04/ 100
Ranked #27,363 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 14.7%)
Ranked #1,538 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (bottom 18%)
Ranked #194 of 237 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX ZIPs (bottom 18%)
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.
Uninsured (under 65)
39.7%
in the top 0.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
49.6%
in the bottom 1.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST5thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Vision disability
11.4%
in the top 2.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 0.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & 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
43.9%
in the top 1.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Air-toxics cancer risk
40.7 per million
in the top 2.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Walkability
210 intersections/sq mi
in the top 2.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Mammography
65.7%
in the bottom 3.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST3rdUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Fair or poor health
32.3%
in the top 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
153.9 days/year
in the top 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST81stUS96thDefinition & 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 ›The read
Judged by its overall standing, South Houston, Texas (ZIP 77587) sits in the bottom 14.7% nationally (27,363rd) and the bottom 18% of Texas (1,538th).
A demanding profile, and several measures drive it: modeled uninsured lands in the top 0.2% nationally, colon screening rests in the bottom 1.8% nationally, and vision disability settles in the top 2.8% nationally. Modeled industrial-pollution burden lands in the top 0.6% nationally, outer-floodplain exposure rests in the top 1.0% nationally, and modeled air-toxics cancer risk settles in the top 2.0% nationally. Modeled mammography lands in the bottom 3.6% nationally, and fair or poor health rests in the top 5.0% nationally. Modeled humid heat settles in the top 3.6% nationally. On the stronger side, walkability lands in the top 2.4% nationally.
Placed beside its immediate neighbors, industrial-pollution burden runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put plainly, industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Outer-floodplain exposure is land with a lower but real 1-in-500 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "500-year floodplain". A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 77034, 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 72%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 64%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 75%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 43%
16%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 3%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 1%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 10%
11%
Disability
healthier than 10%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 7%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 62%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 70%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 69%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 38%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 4%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 3%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 14%
11%
Disability
healthier than 11%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 35%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 48%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 55%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 47%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 26%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 17%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 7%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 19%
11%
Disability
healthier than 14%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 37%
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.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 3.7 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 72.5 — 69 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #16,286 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 40.7 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 76.6 ± 1.8 years.
Ranked #401 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
77017
Texasshares a border
Score 37.54
Closest healthier
77034
Texasshares a border
Score 42.52
Similar health profile
79927
Texas99% similar profile
Score 43.06
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 | 19.2% | 17.1–21.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 33.0% | 30.1–36.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 4.2% | 3.8–4.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 8.7% | 7.7–9.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.5% | 5.8–7.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.2% | 5.4–7.0 |
| Depression among adults | 19.5% | 17.0–22.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 16.9% | 15.1–18.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.1% | 33.9–40.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 41.5% | 36.8–46.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.7% | 3.4–4.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 16.3% | 13.6–19.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 39.7% | 35.4–44.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 72.4% | 69.4–75.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 69.6% | 66.1–72.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 79.0% | 76.6–81.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 49.6% | 45.4–53.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 41.6% | 38.7–44.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 65.7% | 58.8–72.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.3% | 13.9–18.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.9% | 12.8–17.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 37.7% | 33.5–42.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 41.0% | 37.4–44.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 32.3% | 29.0–35.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.8% | 16.0–19.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.0% | 15.1–18.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 20.9% | 18.7–23.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 40.1% | 36.2–44.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.5% | 6.7–8.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.1% | 9.9–12.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 19.0% | 17.0–21.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 6.5% | 5.9–7.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 11.4% | 10.3–12.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 26.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 40.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 41.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 10.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 8.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 86.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 40.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 55.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 11.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 33.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 39.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 11.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 31.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $53,497 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $189,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $1,212 | $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 | 76.6 yr ± 0.91 | 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 0.91 years of 76.6, 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