ZIP code
78542
in Edinburg, TexasPopulation 89,401
35.36/ 100
Ranked #29,249 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 8.8%)
Ranked #1,716 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (bottom 8.2%)
Ranked #16 of 27 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX ZIPs (bottom 41%)
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)
41.7%
in the top 0.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Vision disability
12.8%
in the top 1.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
47.2%
in the bottom 1.2% 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 ›Fair or poor health
36.7%
in the top 1.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›Dry extreme heat
107 days/year
in the top 1.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
186.8 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
$1
in the top 1.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
887 units
in the top 1.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 1.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
22.5%
in the top 3.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite health measure, ZIP 78542, one of several in Edinburg, Texas ranks in the bottom 8.8% nationally (29,249th) and the bottom 8.2% of Texas (1,716th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
Where the load on this area runs deepest, the data leads: modeled uninsured settles in the top 0.2% nationally, and vision disability resides in the top 1.5% nationally. Modeled colon screening registers in the bottom 1.2% nationally, and fair or poor health rests in the top 1.7% nationally. Modeled extreme heat stands in the top 1.2% nationally, humid heat lies in the top 1.2% nationally, and expected annual loss lands in the top 1.8% nationally. Modeled disaster risk sits in the top 1.9% nationally, and cognitive disability is in the top 3.1% nationally. More encouragingly, subsidized affordable housing settles in the top 1.8% nationally.
Read against the ZIPs closest to it, expected annual loss runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To spell things out, expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. Close by, ZIP 78516, 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.
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 74%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 63%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 83%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 23%
16%
Preventive Care
in the bottom 0.6%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 5%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 33%
8%
Disability
healthier than 5%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
in the bottom 0.01%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 65%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 81%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 43%
14%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 15%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 2%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 5%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 24%
8%
Disability
healthier than 7%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
in the bottom 0.03%
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 79.7 ± 1.6 years. A median household income of $55,243 predicts 77.7 years — 2.0 years above.
Ranked #960 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
78516
Texasshares a border
Score 36.34
Closest healthier
78539
Texasshares a border
Score 49.98
Similar health profile
78223
Texas99% similar profile
Score 40.25
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 | 18.2% | 16.4–20.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 31.9% | 29.2–34.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 3.4% | 3.1–3.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.0% | 8.0–10.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.9% | 5.4–6.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.0% | 5.4–6.6 |
| Depression among adults | 21.2% | 18.7–23.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 16.9% | 15.4–18.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 33.4% | 30.6–36.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 46.2% | 41.8–50.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.4% | 3.2–3.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 19.8% | 16.8–23.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 41.7% | 38.7–44.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 69.8% | 67.1–72.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 69.3% | 66.0–72.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 76.6% | 74.5–78.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 47.2% | 42.9–51.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 39.4% | 36.5–42.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 67.1% | 60.0–73.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.4% | 15.0–20.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.8% | 14.1–17.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 40.1% | 36.5–43.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 41.3% | 37.1–45.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 36.7% | 34.0–39.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 20.1% | 18.2–22.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.5% | 15.9–19.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 22.5% | 20.5–24.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 41.3% | 37.9–44.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.6–8.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 13.0% | 11.8–14.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 19.3% | 17.5–21.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.8–7.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 12.8% | 11.9–13.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 30.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 43.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 33.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 12.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 9.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 86.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 22.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 75.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 14.6% | 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 | 32.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 7.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 27.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $55,243 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $150,200 | $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 | 79.7 yr ± 0.84 | 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 0.84 years of 79.7, 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