ZIP code
78559
in La Feria, TexasPopulation 12,169
39.95/ 100
Ranked #26,790 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 16%)
Ranked #1,460 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (bottom 22%)
Ranked #12 of 16 Brownsville-Harlingen, TX ZIPs (bottom 25%)
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%
in the top 0.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Vision disability
12.0%
in the top 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
190.8 days/year
in the top 0.9% 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 ›Colon-cancer screening
53.1%
in the bottom 3.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST12thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
20.1%
in the top 3.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
78.1%
in the top 2.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Fair or poor health
32.9%
in the top 4.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›Self-care disability
7.2%
in the top 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full methodology ›Dry extreme heat
85.7 days/year
in the top 4.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST59thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
8.4%
in the top 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, La Feria, Texas (ZIP 78559) ranks in the bottom 16% nationally (26,790th) and the bottom 22% of Texas (1,460th).
The measures that press hardest set the tone here: modeled uninsured rests in the top 0.5% nationally, and vision disability is in the top 2.1% nationally. Modeled humid heat stands in the top 0.9% nationally, and colon screening settles in the bottom 3.5% nationally. Modeled diabetes lies in the top 3.7% nationally, pfas resides in the top 2.3% nationally, and fair or poor health lands in the top 4.4% nationally. Modeled self-care disability registers in the top 5.1% nationally, modeled extreme heat sits in the top 4.1% nationally, and outer-floodplain exposure rests in the top 4.5% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs it borders, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plainer terms, 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. 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. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 78552, 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. 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
Mental Health
healthier than 75%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 64%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 50%
21%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 21%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 38%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 5%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 18%
11%
Disability
healthier than 6%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 3%
5%
Lifting this score
Mental Health
healthier than 82%
8%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 56%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 36%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 12%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 23%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 19%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 27%
11%
Disability
healthier than 7%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 13%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 43%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 43%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 43%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 14%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 36%
16%
Environmental Hazard
in the bottom 0.00%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 36%
8%
Disability
healthier than 29%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 21%
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.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 77.8 ± 1.2 years. The 46 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 80.3 years — 2.5 years below them.
Ranked #1,954 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
78552
Texasshares a border
Score 48.42
Closest healthier
78550
Texasabout 3.5 mi away
Score 44.28
Similar health profile
78332
Texas99% similar profile
Score 38.27
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 | 22.4% | 20.2–24.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.6% | 33.5–39.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 5.6% | 5.0–6.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.0% | 8.0–10.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.1% | 7.4–8.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.4% | 6.6–8.2 |
| Depression among adults | 19.3% | 16.8–22.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 20.1% | 18.1–22.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.5% | 35.3–42.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 41.1% | 36.3–46.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.4% | 4.1–4.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 17.6% | 14.8–20.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 36.0% | 32.7–39.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.8% | 75.3–80.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 72.8% | 69.6–75.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.5% | 81.7–85.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 53.1% | 48.7–57.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 46.6% | 43.4–49.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 71.0% | 64.1–77.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.7% | 12.4–17.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.1% | 12.4–16.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 38.5% | 34.7–42.5 |
| 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 | 32.9% | 30.0–36.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.6% | 14.8–18.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.5% | 15.7–19.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.6% | 16.8–20.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 38.7% | 35.2–42.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.9% | 8.1–9.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.9% | 10.7–13.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 21.0% | 18.9–23.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 7.2% | 6.5–7.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 12.0% | 11.0–13.0 |
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 | 35.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 26.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 13.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 8.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 8.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 75.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 28.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 71.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 5.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 17.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 55.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 18.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 37.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $49,383 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $103,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $1,038 | $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 | 77.8 yr ± 0.63 | 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 0.63 years of 77.8, 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