ZIP code
77970
in La Ward, TexasPopulation 217
44.54/ 100
Ranked #22,873 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 29%)
Ranked #1,027 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (bottom 45%)
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.
Unemployment rate
17.9%
in the top 2.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
100%
at the national maximum
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
153.8 days/year
in the top 3.7% 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 ›Poverty rate
36.4%
in the top 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Mammography
67.4%
in the bottom 6.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST8thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Distance to a community health center
24.3 mi
in the top 6.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS94thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest federally funded community health center, which serves patients regardless of ability to pay.
Full methodology ›Slow internet speeds
1.9%
in the top 6.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›Uninsured (under 65)
17.6%
in the top 6.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST57thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
44.4%
in the bottom 6.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST9thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
43.3%
in the top 6.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›The read
On the composite measure, La Ward, Texas (ZIP 77970) stands in the bottom 29% nationally (22,873rd) and the bottom 45% of Texas (1,027th).
Several signals sit on each side of the ledger here: home broadband subscription rests at the national maximum. Working the other way, unemployment lands in the top 2.5% nationally, and modeled humid heat settles in the top 3.7% nationally. Poverty rests in the top 4.0% nationally, modeled mammography lands in the bottom 6.3% nationally, and distance to a community health center settles in the top 6.0% nationally. Slow internet speeds rests in the top 6.2% nationally, modeled uninsured lands in the top 6.9% nationally, and homeownership settles in the bottom 6.7% nationally. Housing-cost burden rests in the top 6.7% nationally.
For clarity, humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. ZIP 77465, 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.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 62%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 79%
14%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 42%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 27%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 9%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 34%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 33%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 10%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 4%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 63%
14%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 49%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 51%
11%
Disability
healthier than 52%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 19%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 33%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 24%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 2%
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
77465
Texasshares a border
Score 47.48
Closest healthier
77961
Texasshares a border
Score 45.23
Similar health profile
67837
Kansas98% similar profile
Score 46.76
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 | 25.6% | 22.5–28.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.0% | 31.0–39.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.8% | 7.0–8.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.3% | 9.1–11.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.9% | 6.0–7.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.1% | 6.1–8.2 |
| Depression among adults | 23.9% | 20.4–27.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.9% | 11.2–14.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.1% | 32.8–41.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.1% | 27.9–45.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.6% | 3.2–4.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 16.0% | 13.2–19.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 17.6% | 14.8–20.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.1% | 74.3–79.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 74.4% | 70.5–78.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.9% | 82.7–87.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 56.7% | 51.4–62.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 56.2% | 52.5–60.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 67.4% | 58.2–75.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.1% | 14.1–20.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.8% | 11.6–16.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.1% | 24.3–34.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.5% | 30.5–45.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 22.5% | 19.5–25.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.2% | 16.1–20.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.6% | 12.8–16.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.2% | 14.2–18.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 34.3% | 29.7–39.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.9% | 7.0–8.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.9% | 7.9–10.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.7% | 13.6–18.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.6–4.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.9% | 5.2–6.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 36.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 14.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 40.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 30.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 17.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 100.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 43.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 44.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 9.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 34.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 27.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 34.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | — | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $137,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $972 | $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 | 80.9 yr ± 1.50 | 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 1.50 years of 80.9, 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