ZIP code
78586
in San Benito, TexasPopulation 50,964
39.37/ 100
Ranked #27,160 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 15%)
Ranked #1,506 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (bottom 19%)
Ranked #13 of 16 Brownsville-Harlingen, TX ZIPs (bottom 19%)
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)
40%
in the top 0.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Vision disability
13.4%
in the top 1.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
50.1%
in the bottom 2.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST6thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Fair or poor health
35.5%
in the top 2.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
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 ›Self-care disability
7.7%
in the top 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
20.4%
in the top 3.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 3.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Crowded housing
10.9%
in the top 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
6.7%
in the top 5.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS94thDefinition & 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
By its overall health score, San Benito, Texas (ZIP 78586) lands in the bottom 15% nationally (27,160th) and the bottom 19% of Texas (1,506th).
The burdens that read clearest in the data come first: modeled uninsured is in the top 0.2% nationally, and vision disability stands in the top 1.1% nationally. Modeled colon screening settles in the bottom 2.0% nationally, and fair or poor health lies in the top 2.4% nationally. Modeled humid heat resides in the top 0.9% nationally, self-care disability lands in the top 3.6% nationally, and diabetes registers in the top 3.2% nationally. Modeled expected annual loss sits in the top 3.0% nationally, crowded housing rests in the top 4.0% nationally, and outer-floodplain exposure is in the top 5.6% nationally.
Weighed against the ZIPs nearby, expected annual loss runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To translate a couple of terms, 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. Outer-floodplain exposure is land with a lower but real 1-in-500 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "500-year floodplain". Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 78520, 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
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 96%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 66%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 83%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 55%
21%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 16%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 3%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 10%
11%
Disability
healthier than 5%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 4%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 96%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 72%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 80%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 43%
21%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 7%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 11%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 14%
11%
Disability
healthier than 6%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 14%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 86%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 64%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 36%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 7%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 7%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 7%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 7%
8%
Disability
healthier than 14%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 29%
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 78.9 ± 1.0 years. A median household income of $45,575 predicts 77.0 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
78520
Texasshares a border
Score 42.26
Closest healthier
78550
Texasshares a border
Score 44.28
Similar health profile
78852
Texas100% similar profile
Score 39.29
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 | 20.9% | 18.7–23.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.6% | 32.6–38.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 4.7% | 4.3–5.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.0% | 8.0–10.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.7% | 7.0–8.5 |
| 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 | 20.4% | 18.3–22.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.4% | 34.3–40.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 42.5% | 37.7–47.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.3% | 4.0–4.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 17.5% | 14.8–20.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 40.0% | 36.7–43.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.9% | 73.3–78.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 71.3% | 67.9–74.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 81.2% | 79.1–83.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 50.1% | 45.6–54.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 43.8% | 40.6–46.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 71.2% | 64.5–77.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.9% | 12.5–17.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.0% | 13.1–16.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 41.1% | 37.1–44.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 40.8% | 36.4–45.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 35.5% | 32.5–38.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.6% | 15.7–19.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 18.1% | 16.3–19.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 20.4% | 18.4–22.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 40.3% | 36.6–43.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.6% | 7.8–9.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 12.8% | 11.6–14.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 21.4% | 19.2–23.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 7.7% | 7.1–8.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 13.4% | 12.4–14.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 28.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 43.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 34.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 12.6% | 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 | 6.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 79.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 24.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 74.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 10.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 22.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 43.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 13.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 32.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $45,575 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $87,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $796 | $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 | 78.9 yr ± 0.52 | 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 0.52 years of 78.9, 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