ZIP code
78261
in San Antonio, TexasPopulation 26,657
63.00/ 100
Ranked #2,971 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 9.3%)
Ranked #95 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (top 5.1%)
Ranked #10 of 117 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX ZIPs (top 8.6%)
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.
Median household income
$147,727
in the top 4.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
3.7%
in the bottom 2.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Dry extreme heat
84.4 days/year
in the top 4.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST56thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
4.4%
in the bottom 3.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Stroke
2.1%
in the bottom 2.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
1.4%
in the bottom 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
142.5 days/year
in the top 6.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST62ndUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Mobility disability
8.8%
in the bottom 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
5.2%
in the bottom 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
31.3%
in the bottom 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 78261, one of several in San Antonio, Texas, overall, ranks in the top 9.3% healthiest ZIPs nationally (2,971st) and the top 5.1% of Texas (95th).
Reading the numbers as a whole, the picture lands somewhere in between: household income lands in the top 4.1% nationally, modeled coronary heart disease lies in the bottom 2.5% nationally, and modeled hearing disability stands in the bottom 3.2% nationally. Modeled stroke rests in the bottom 2.8% nationally, energy burden registers in the bottom 3.3% nationally, and mobility disability resides in the bottom 5.0% nationally. Modeled independent living disability settles in the bottom 3.6% nationally, and high cholesterol is in the bottom 5.1% nationally. On the other side, modeled extreme heat sits in the top 4.4% nationally, and humid heat lands in the top 6.7% nationally.
Measured against the nearby ZIPs, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. Energy burden is the share of household income that goes to home energy bills. Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. ZIP 78258, just across the boundary, comes out healthier overall.
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 96%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 90%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 87%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 65%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 75%
8%
Disability
healthier than 95%
7%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 59%
5%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 35%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 9%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 94%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 92%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 78%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 80%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 82%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 82%
8%
Disability
healthier than 95%
7%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 44%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 51%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 92%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 87%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 71%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 75%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 81%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 77%
8%
Disability
in the top 1.0%
7%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 56%
5%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 35%
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
One of our published findings lists 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 its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 81.6 ± 1.8 years. The 42 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 79.1 years — 2.6 years above them.
Ranked #1,085 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
78163
Texasshares a border
Score 60.24
Closest healthier
78258
Texasshares a border
Score 65.04
Similar health profile
75071
Texas100% similar profile
Score 60.31
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 | 19.8% | 17.7–22.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 28.9% | 26.2–31.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 5.9% | 5.3–6.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 8.9% | 7.8–10.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 3.7% | 3.3–4.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 3.4% | 3.0–3.9 |
| Depression among adults | 22.1% | 19.4–24.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.6% | 8.4–10.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 31.3% | 28.3–34.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 29.0% | 25.1–33.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.1% | 1.9–2.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 7.4% | 6.1–8.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.3% | 9.6–13.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 71.3% | 68.1–74.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 73.3% | 70.0–76.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.1% | 86.6–89.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.1% | 61.4–68.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 67.9% | 65.3–70.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.5% | 71.0–81.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.7% | 16.0–21.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 8.8% | 7.5–10.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 19.7% | 17.1–22.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.3% | 34.9–42.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 13.7% | 12.1–15.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.6% | 13.0–16.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 10.2% | 9.0–11.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.1% | 9.8–12.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 22.3% | 19.7–24.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 4.4% | 3.9–4.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.6–5.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 8.8% | 7.7–9.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.4% | 2.1–2.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.3% | 3.0–3.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 2.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 59.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.2% | 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 | 94.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 21.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 79.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 11.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 44.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 9.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 36.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $147,727 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $430,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $1,799 | $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 | 81.6 yr ± 0.90 | 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 0.90 years of 81.6, 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