ZIP code
78552
in Harlingen, TexasPopulation 42,332
48.42/ 100
Ranked #18,390 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 43%)
Ranked #647 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (top 35%)
Ranked #5 of 16 Brownsville-Harlingen, TX ZIPs (top 31%)
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)
30.2%
in the top 1.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
189.6 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 ›PFAS in drinking water
83.8%
in the top 1.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
16.8%
in the top 2.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Crowded housing
9.5%
in the top 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Vision disability
9.2%
in the top 6.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›Dry extreme heat
71.9 days/year
in the top 5.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST42ndUS94thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 6.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS93rdDefinition & 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
322 units
in the top 7.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST87thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
57.6%
in the bottom 8.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST28thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 78552, one of several in Harlingen, Texas, overall, ranks in the bottom 43% nationally (18,390th) and the top 35% of Texas (647th).
This area's pressures are easy to read across the measures: modeled uninsured resides in the top 1.1% nationally, humid heat settles in the top 1.0% nationally, and pfas is in the top 1.2% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure sits in the top 2.3% nationally, crowded housing lands in the top 5.0% nationally, and modeled vision disability lies in the top 6.9% nationally. Modeled extreme heat stands in the top 5.7% nationally, and expected annual loss rests in the top 6.9% nationally. Modeled colon screening registers in the bottom 8.4% nationally. On the brighter side, subsidized affordable housing resides in the top 7.6% nationally.
Measured against the nearby ZIPs, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. 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. 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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 68%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 81%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 84%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 85%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 40%
16%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 9%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 38%
11%
Disability
healthier than 23%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 4%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 68%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 92%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 83%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 57%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 55%
11%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 34%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 34%
13%
Disability
healthier than 28%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 16%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 79%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 64%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 71%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 64%
11%
Disability
healthier than 71%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 71%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 50%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 29%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 36%
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 80.5 ± 1.1 years. A median household income of $69,811 predicts 78.7 years — 1.9 years above.
Ranked #1,022 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
78575
Texasabout 8.1 mi away
Score 57.40
Similar health profile
33972
Florida97% similar profile
Score 49.23
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 | 21.5% | 19.3–23.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.7% | 31.7–37.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.1% | 5.5–6.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 8.7% | 7.7–9.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.1% | 6.4–7.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.3% | 5.6–6.9 |
| Depression among adults | 18.7% | 16.3–21.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 17.4% | 15.6–19.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.5% | 34.2–40.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.6% | 34.0–43.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.8% | 3.5–4.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.6% | 10.5–15.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 30.2% | 27.2–33.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.6% | 75.0–80.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 73.4% | 70.3–76.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.4% | 83.8–87.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 57.6% | 53.3–61.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 55.0% | 51.8–58.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.3% | 69.1–80.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.6% | 13.2–18.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.0% | 10.5–13.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 33.2% | 29.6–36.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.2% | 33.9–42.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 27.2% | 24.6–29.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.5% | 13.8–17.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.2% | 13.6–16.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.0% | 14.4–17.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 34.1% | 30.7–37.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.0% | 7.2–8.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.7% | 8.7–10.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.4% | 15.6–19.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.5% | 5.0–6.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 9.2% | 8.4–9.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 21.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 28.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 18.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 24.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 20.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 75.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 9.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 15.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 49.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 14.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 33.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $69,811 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $169,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $1,113 | $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 | 80.5 yr ± 0.54 | 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 0.54 years of 80.5, 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