ZIP code
78538
in Edcouch, TexasPopulation 11,982
31.45/ 100
Ranked #30,441 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 5.1%)
Ranked #1,801 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (bottom 3.6%)
Ranked #20 of 27 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX ZIPs (bottom 26%)
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)
43.7%
in the top 0.07% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Vision disability
14.1%
in the top 0.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›Fair or poor health
39.7%
in the top 0.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
47.6%
in the bottom 1.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST3rdUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Self-care disability
8.1%
in the top 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
186.4 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 ›Dry extreme heat
99.9 days/year
in the top 1.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
22.8%
in the top 2.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Mammography
65.8%
in the bottom 3.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST3rdUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
13.8%
in the top 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›The read
Edcouch, Texas (ZIP 78538), in overall standing, comes out in the bottom 5.1% nationally (30,441st) and the bottom 3.6% of Texas (1,801st), based on limited data; treat as directional.
The profile carries real weight, and several readings make that plain: modeled uninsured lies in the top 0.07% nationally, vision disability registers in the top 0.8% nationally, and fair or poor health is in the top 0.8% nationally. Modeled colon screening lies in the bottom 1.3% nationally, self-care disability registers in the top 2.6% nationally, and humid heat is in the top 1.2% nationally. Modeled extreme heat lies in the top 1.5% nationally, and cognitive disability registers in the top 2.7% nationally. Modeled mammography is in the bottom 3.7% nationally, and independent living disability lies in the top 4.5% nationally.
Defined simply, for reference, humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. Extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 78542, 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 70%
14%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 54%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 53%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 7%
16%
Preventive Care
in the bottom 0.8%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 4%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 38%
8%
Disability
healthier than 3%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
in the bottom 0.01%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 42%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 50%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 47%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 1%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 2%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 5%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 31%
8%
Disability
healthier than 3%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
in the bottom 0.04%
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 what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 78.2 ± 1.5 years. A median household income of $40,399 predicts 76.5 years — 1.7 years above.
Ranked #1,156 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
78542
Texasshares a border
Score 35.36
Closest healthier
78543
Texasshares a border
Score 41.77
Similar health profile
73950
Oklahoma99% similar profile
Score 43.28
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 | 21.0% | 19.0–23.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.1% | 32.3–38.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 4.0% | 3.6–4.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.1% | 8.1–10.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.2% | 6.6–7.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.9% | 6.2–7.6 |
| Depression among adults | 20.9% | 18.3–23.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 19.7% | 17.8–21.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.3% | 33.3–39.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 46.8% | 42.2–51.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.1% | 3.8–4.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 21.7% | 18.4–25.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 43.7% | 40.0–47.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 73.7% | 71.1–76.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 70.7% | 67.5–73.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 77.8% | 75.6–79.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 47.6% | 43.2–52.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 36.3% | 33.3–39.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 65.8% | 58.7–72.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.9% | 13.6–18.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.1% | 14.2–18.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 43.4% | 39.6–47.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 41.8% | 37.5–46.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 39.7% | 36.7–42.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.8% | 17.9–21.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 19.0% | 17.3–20.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 22.8% | 20.8–25.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 44.2% | 40.8–47.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.6% | 7.8–9.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 13.8% | 12.5–15.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 22.6% | 20.6–24.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 8.1% | 7.5–8.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 14.1% | 13.1–15.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 37.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 42.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 33.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 12.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 8.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 8.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 78.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 32.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 72.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 11.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 25.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 40.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 11.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 32.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $40,399 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $92,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $556 | $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 | 78.2 yr ± 0.78 | 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 0.78 years of 78.2, 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