ZIP code
78520
in Brownsville, TexasPopulation 64,740
42.26/ 100
Ranked #25,000 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 22%)
Ranked #1,270 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (bottom 32%)
Ranked #10 of 16 Brownsville-Harlingen, TX ZIPs (bottom 38%)
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)
36.9%
in the top 0.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Vision disability
12.7%
in the top 1.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
50.5%
in the bottom 2.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST7thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
187.2 days/year
in the top 1.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS98thDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›Fair or poor health
33.1%
in the top 4.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›Self-care disability
7.3%
in the top 4.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
19.5%
in the top 4.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
552 units
in the top 3.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
10.6%
in the top 4.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite measure, ZIP 78520, one of several in Brownsville, Texas sits in the bottom 22% nationally (25,000th) and the bottom 32% of Texas (1,270th).
Where this area is stretched, the data is unambiguous: modeled uninsured rests in the top 0.4% nationally, vision disability sits in the top 1.5% nationally, and colon screening registers in the bottom 2.3% nationally. Modeled humid heat lands in the top 1.2% nationally, expected annual loss resides in the top 2.1% nationally, and fair or poor health lies in the top 4.2% nationally. Modeled self-care disability settles in the top 4.7% nationally, and diabetes stands in the top 4.6% nationally. Crowded housing is in the top 4.2% nationally. Better still, subsidized affordable housing rests in the top 3.9% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs that surround it, expected annual loss runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain language, expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. ZIP 78526, just across the boundary, ranks 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 Brownsville-Harlingen, 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 62%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 94%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 76%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 89%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 21%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 4%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 16%
11%
Disability
healthier than 7%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 4%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 90%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 84%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 89%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 50%
21%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 12%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 14%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 25%
11%
Disability
healthier than 8%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 18%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 64%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 64%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 79%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 43%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 43%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 29%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 29%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 29%
11%
Disability
healthier than 36%
7%
“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 what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 78.4 ± 0.8 years. A median household income of $50,116 predicts 77.4 years — 1.1 years above.
Ranked #1,436 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
78521
Texasshares a border
Score 36.21
Closest healthier
78526
Texasshares a border
Score 51.78
Similar health profile
78852
Texas99% similar profile
Score 39.29
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 | 20.2% | 18.1–22.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.3% | 31.4–37.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 4.7% | 4.2–5.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 8.8% | 7.8–9.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.4% | 6.7–8.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.6% | 5.9–7.3 |
| Depression among adults | 18.9% | 16.5–21.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 19.5% | 17.6–21.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.8% | 33.7–40.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 41.0% | 36.3–46.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.1% | 3.8–4.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 17.9% | 15.1–20.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 36.9% | 33.8–40.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.0% | 73.4–78.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 71.7% | 68.4–75.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 82.3% | 80.3–84.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 50.5% | 46.1–54.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 46.3% | 43.1–49.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 72.0% | 65.4–77.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.3% | 12.9–17.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.6% | 12.0–15.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 38.6% | 35.0–42.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 40.0% | 35.6–44.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 33.1% | 30.3–36.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.7% | 14.9–18.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.1% | 15.4–18.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 19.0% | 17.1–20.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 38.0% | 34.6–41.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.3% | 7.5–9.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 12.0% | 10.9–13.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 20.2% | 18.3–22.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.7–7.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 12.7% | 11.7–13.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 23.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 39.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 30.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 23.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 11.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 83.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 31.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 60.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 10.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 27.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 34.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 13.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 31.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $50,116 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $146,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $865 | $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 | 78.4 yr ± 0.43 | 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 0.43 years of 78.4, 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