ZIP code
78238
in San Antonio, TexasPopulation 26,032
48.48/ 100
Ranked #18,337 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 43%)
Ranked #645 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (top 35%)
Ranked #66 of 117 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX ZIPs (bottom 44%)
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)
24.7%
in the top 2.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST79thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
1,300 units
in the top 0.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Dry extreme heat
97.3 days/year
in the top 1.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS98thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
In this ZIP
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Transit access
6 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of public-transit stops 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 ›Humid extreme heat
150.2 days/year
in the top 4.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST71stUS95thDefinition & 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 ›PFAS in drinking water
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFAS — man-made “forever chemicals” that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down — were detected in EPA testing.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Dental provider access
1.1 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of dental offices 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 ›Homeownership rate
44.8%
in the bottom 6.8% 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 ›Child-care access
0.62 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of child day-care services 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 ›The read
ZIP 78238, one of several in San Antonio, Texas, by its composite score, sits in the bottom 43% nationally (18,337th) and the top 35% of Texas (645th).
The measures that matter most for this area lead the way: modeled uninsured lands in the top 2.4% nationally, and extreme heat stands in the top 1.6% nationally. Distance to a Superfund site registers at the national minimum, and modeled humid heat settles in the top 4.7% nationally. PFAS in drinking water sits at the national maximum, and homeownership lies in the bottom 6.8% nationally. On the better side, subsidized affordable housing rests in the top 0.9% nationally, transit resides in the top 3.6% nationally, and dental providers is in the top 5.7% nationally. Childcare lands in the top 6.8% nationally.
Next to the surrounding area, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For anyone unfamiliar, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. PFAS in drinking water is the family of man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. For a healthier comparison close by, see ZIP 78240, 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 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 86%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 69%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 70%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 52%
8%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 6%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 19%
11%
Disability
healthier than 33%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 5%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 70%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 88%
16%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 63%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 50%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 53%
8%
Disability
healthier than 41%
7%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 22%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 30%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 22%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 64%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 82%
16%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 42%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 32%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 31%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 31%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 36%
8%
Disability
healthier than 35%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 15%
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.
Above what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 80.2 ± 1.9 years. A median household income of $57,769 predicts 77.9 years — 2.3 years above.
Ranked #750 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Above its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 80.2 ± 1.9 years. The 41 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 77.4 years — 2.8 years above them.
Ranked #964 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
78227
Texasshares a border
Score 41.10
Closest healthier
78240
Texasshares a border
Score 53.58
Similar health profile
78410
Texas98% similar profile
Score 49.22
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 | 22.7% | 20.5–24.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.8% | 31.9–37.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 5.2% | 4.7–5.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.1% | 8.0–10.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.0% | 5.4–6.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.5% | 5.0–6.1 |
| Depression among adults | 22.1% | 19.4–25.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.6% | 13.9–17.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 33.6% | 30.6–36.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.2% | 31.0–39.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.4% | 3.1–3.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.7% | 10.6–15.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 24.7% | 22.0–27.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 73.5% | 70.9–76.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 72.0% | 68.8–75.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 82.9% | 81.1–84.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 59.3% | 55.4–63.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 52.6% | 49.7–55.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 71.8% | 65.7–77.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.8% | 13.5–18.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.8% | 11.2–14.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 34.1% | 30.5–37.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 41.9% | 38.3–45.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 25.6% | 23.1–28.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.3% | 15.5–19.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.1% | 13.5–16.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.8% | 15.1–18.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 34.7% | 31.4–37.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.2–7.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.1% | 8.2–10.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.3% | 14.6–18.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.8% | 4.4–5.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.8% | 7.1–8.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 13.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 28.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 14.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 21.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 13.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 80.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 36.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 44.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 6.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 12.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 39.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 14.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 34.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $57,769 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $209,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $1,232 | $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 | 80.2 yr ± 0.98 | 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 0.98 years of 80.2, 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