ZIP code
77612
in Buna, TexasPopulation 9,101
36.84/ 100
Ranked #28,610 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 10.8%)
Ranked #1,659 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (bottom 11.2%)
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.
Arsenic in groundwater
0.88%
in the bottom 0.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms per liter.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›Mammography
64.6%
in the bottom 2.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST2ndUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 2.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Humid extreme heat
156.5 days/year
in the top 3.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Unemployment rate
15.4%
in the top 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
8.2%
in the top 6.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
35.1 per million
in the top 9.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Floodplain exposure
30.7%
in the top 9.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST85thUS90thDefinition & 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 ›Radon
0.6 pCi/L
in the bottom 1.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST13thUS2ndDefinition & 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 ›Pharmacy access
0.32 per 1,000 residents
in the top 12.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS88thDefinition & source ›
The number of pharmacies located inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
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
On the composite measure, Buna, Texas (ZIP 77612) stands in the bottom 10.8% nationally (28,610th) and the bottom 11.2% of Texas (1,659th).
A number of readings press hard on the profile and set its tone: modeled mammography resides in the bottom 2.5% nationally, and industrial-pollution burden stands in the top 2.7% nationally. Modeled humid heat sits in the top 3.1% nationally, and unemployment resides in the top 3.6% nationally. Crowded housing stands in the top 6.4% nationally, modeled air-toxics cancer risk sits in the top 9.0% nationally, and floodplain exposure resides in the top 9.7% nationally. On the brighter side, modeled arsenic stands in the bottom 0.7% nationally, modeled radon sits in the bottom 1.8% nationally, and pharmacy resides in the top 12.2% nationally.
Set beside the wider area around it, industrial-pollution burden runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For clarity, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. 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. ZIP 77615, just across the boundary, ranks better overall among the ZIPs nearby.
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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 53%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 42%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 23%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 30%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 9%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 11%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 13%
8%
Disability
healthier than 20%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 6%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 11%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 21%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 35%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 31%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 16%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 4%
8%
Disability
healthier than 24%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 30%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 40%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
70661
Louisianashares a border
Score 29.42
Closest healthier
77615
Texasshares a border
Score 40.99
Similar health profile
75969
Texas99% similar profile
Score 36.96
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 | 30.7% | 27.6–34.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 40.5% | 36.7–44.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.1% | 8.3–9.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.1% | 9.9–12.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.6% | 7.8–9.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.6% | 9.6–11.9 |
| Depression among adults | 26.1% | 22.7–29.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.5% | 12.9–16.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.1% | 36.0–44.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.3% | 31.6–47.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.6% | 4.3–5.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 20.9% | 17.8–24.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 14.0% | 12.0–16.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.4% | 75.7–80.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 74.8% | 71.1–78.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.2% | 82.3–86.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 59.0% | 54.1–63.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 48.2% | 44.8–51.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 64.6% | 56.2–72.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.3% | 13.6–19.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 19.5% | 17.1–22.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 31.7% | 27.4–36.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.7% | 33.5–46.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 25.8% | 23.1–28.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 20.0% | 18.0–22.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.0% | 15.4–18.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.1% | 16.3–20.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 37.9% | 33.8–42.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.3% | 8.4–10.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.2% | 10.1–12.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 19.3% | 17.3–21.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.8–5.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.6% | 6.0–7.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 21.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 18.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 13.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 13.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 15.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 94.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 16.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 89.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 8.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 49.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 17.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 37.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $64,415 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $118,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $816 | $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 | 78.1 yr ± 0.79 | 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 0.79 years of 78.1, 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