ZIP code
78550
in Harlingen, TexasPopulation 53,335
44.28/ 100
Ranked #23,142 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 28%)
Ranked #1,057 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (bottom 43%)
Ranked #9 of 16 Brownsville-Harlingen, 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)
33.7%
in the top 0.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Vision disability
11.3%
in the top 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
190 days/year
in the top 1.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Outer-floodplain exposure
23.8%
in the top 1.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 0.2%-annual-chance flood band — the “500-year” zone, a lower but real 1-in-500 yearly chance.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
53.8%
in the bottom 4.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST14thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Physician access
2.6 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of physicians’ 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 ›Lead in tap water
0 ppb
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
US1stDefinition & source ›
The lead level at the 90th percentile of tap-water samples reported by the public water systems serving this ZIP, in parts per billion — the EPA requires action above 15 ppb.
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 ›Fair or poor health
31%
in the top 6.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
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 ›The read
ZIP 78550, one of several in Harlingen, Texas, overall, ranks in the bottom 28% nationally (23,142nd) and the bottom 43% of Texas (1,057th).
Several serious readings shape the profile and deserve first mention: modeled uninsured stands in the top 0.6% nationally, vision disability rests in the top 2.9% nationally, and humid heat registers in the top 1.0% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure resides in the top 1.7% nationally, modeled colon screening settles in the bottom 4.0% nationally, and modeled expected annual loss is in the top 2.6% nationally. Modeled fair or poor health sits in the top 6.6% nationally, and PFAS in drinking water lands at the national maximum. On the better side, physicians lies in the top 4.4% nationally, and lead in tap water stands at the national minimum.
Measured against the nearby ZIPs, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. PFAS in drinking water is the family of man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. ZIP 78535, 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 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
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 95%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 74%
8%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 57%
21%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 29%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 5%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 21%
11%
Disability
healthier than 10%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 14%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 93%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 81%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 76%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 45%
21%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 21%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 20%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 33%
11%
Disability
healthier than 11%
7%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 71%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 93%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 43%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 43%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 57%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 50%
11%
Disability
healthier than 43%
7%
Holding it back
Mental Health
healthier than 29%
8%
“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 78.6 ± 1.0 years. A median household income of $49,007 predicts 77.3 years — 1.4 years above.
Ranked #1,321 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
78535
Texasshares a border
Score 50.02
Closest healthier
78552
Texasshares a border
Score 48.42
Similar health profile
78225
Texas98% similar profile
Score 40.07
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 | 21.8% | 19.6–24.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.5% | 32.5–38.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 5.6% | 5.1–6.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.0% | 8.0–10.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.6% | 6.9–8.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.0% | 6.3–7.7 |
| Depression among adults | 19.5% | 17.0–22.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 18.8% | 16.9–20.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.5% | 34.3–40.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.4% | 35.6–45.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.2% | 3.9–4.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 17.1% | 14.4–20.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 33.7% | 30.8–36.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.2% | 74.6–79.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 72.8% | 69.5–76.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.5% | 81.6–85.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 53.8% | 49.4–58.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 48.2% | 45.1–51.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 72.0% | 65.4–77.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.1% | 12.8–17.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.6% | 11.9–15.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 36.7% | 33.1–40.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.7% | 35.3–43.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 31.0% | 28.2–33.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.6% | 14.9–18.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.6% | 14.9–18.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.1% | 16.3–19.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 37.2% | 33.7–40.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.5% | 7.7–9.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.4% | 10.3–12.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 19.6% | 17.6–21.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 6.6% | 6.1–7.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 11.3% | 10.4–12.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 24.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 36.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 22.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 22.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 7.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 81.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 29.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 50.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 8.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 14.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 40.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 16.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 33.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $49,007 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $131,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $900 | $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 | 78.6 yr ± 0.51 | 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 0.51 years of 78.6, 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