ZIP code
78121
in La Vernia, TexasPopulation 16,120
54.40/ 100
Ranked #10,188 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 32%)
Ranked #304 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (top 16%)
Ranked #34 of 117 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX ZIPs (top 29%)
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.
Dry extreme heat
95.3 days/year
in the top 1.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS98thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
151.8 days/year
in the top 4.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST75thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Binge drinking
19.3%
in the top 9.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report binge drinking — five or more drinks on one occasion for men, four or more for women.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$120,048
in the top 9.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS90thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Radon
0.8 pCi/L
in the bottom 7.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST42ndUS7thDefinition & 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 ›The read
La Vernia, Texas (ZIP 78121), by its overall standing, sits in the top 32% healthiest ZIPs nationally (10,188th) and the top 16% of Texas (304th).
The profile opens balanced, with readings on either hand: household income settles in the top 9.7% nationally, modeled radon registers in the bottom 7.5% nationally, and modeled energy burden stands in the bottom 11.3% nationally. Distance to a nursing home lands at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Modeled coronary heart disease is in the bottom 17% nationally, and distance to a hazardous-chemical facility resides in the top 19% nationally. By contrast, modeled extreme heat rests in the top 1.8% nationally, and humid heat lies in the top 4.3% nationally. Modeled binge drinking sits in the top 9.3% nationally, and crowded housing settles in the top 12.1% nationally.
Defined in plain terms, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. Extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. The nearest ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 78154, about 5.1 miles away.
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 San Antonio-New Braunfels, 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 79%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 81%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 91%
14%
Disability
healthier than 75%
7%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 43%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 57%
8%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 30%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 5%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 33%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 70%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 84%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 86%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 74%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 62%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 61%
8%
Disability
healthier than 80%
7%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 20%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 32%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 63%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 74%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 86%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 71%
13%
Disability
healthier than 73%
7%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 59%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 47%
8%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 12%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 18%
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
78101
Texasshares a border
Score 52.99
Closest healthier
78154
Texasabout 5.1 mi away
Score 56.71
Similar health profile
32530
Florida99% similar profile
Score 56.07
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 | 24.8% | 21.9–27.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.7% | 29.1–36.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.8% | 7.1–8.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.9% | 8.8–11.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.6% | 5.1–6.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.9% | 5.2–6.6 |
| Depression among adults | 22.6% | 19.4–26.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.3% | 9.9–12.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.9% | 32.8–41.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 33.9% | 27.3–40.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.0% | 2.7–3.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.9% | 7.3–10.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.3% | 10.8–13.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.0% | 72.9–78.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 75.6% | 71.8–79.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.5% | 85.9–88.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 63.3% | 58.4–67.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 60.3% | 56.8–63.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.9% | 66.2–80.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.3% | 16.1–22.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.4% | 10.7–14.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 22.8% | 19.4–26.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.4% | 31.1–43.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.2% | 16.0–20.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.4% | 14.6–18.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.6% | 11.2–14.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.3% | 11.9–14.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 28.5% | 25.0–32.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.4% | 5.7–7.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.0% | 6.3–7.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.6% | 11.1–14.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.3% | 3.0–3.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.4% | 4.0–4.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 10.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 8.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 32.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 16.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 86.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 5.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 6.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 54.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 11.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 38.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $120,048 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $402,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $1,192 | $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 | 79.5 yr ± 0.95 | 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 0.95 years of 79.5, 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