ZIP code
78597
in South Padre Island, TexasPopulation 2,935
57.71/ 100
Ranked #6,636 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 21%)
Ranked #200 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (top 10.8%)
Ranked #1 of 16 Brownsville-Harlingen, TX ZIPs (top 6.3%)
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.
Floodplain exposure
98.3%
in the top 0.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
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 ›Mental-health provider access
0.4 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of mental-health clinics 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 ›Slow internet speeds
8.3%
in the top 1.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
167.5 days/year
in the top 2.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Outpatient-care access
0.81 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of outpatient clinics 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 ›Distance to a nursing home
18.7 mi
in the top 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
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 ›Distance to an emergency room
20.5 mi
in the top 5.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Recreation access
1.2 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of places for physical recreation — gyms, sports, and fitness venues — 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 ›Civic-institution access
0.81 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of civic and social organizations 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 ›Cross-source signals
Combined exposures in this ZIP
More than one environmental exposure stands out in this ZIP. Each is established independently and shown on its own above; they are grouped here for context — not because one causes the other.
This area ranks among the highest 10% of US ZIP codes for both humid-heat days and flood exposure.
See the full flooding, evacuation & humid-heat analysis →
The read
South Padre Island, Texas (ZIP 78597), by its composite score, sits in the top 21% healthiest ZIPs nationally (6,636th) and the top 10.8% of Texas (200th).
The data opens plainly on what marks this place: floodplain exposure lies in the top 0.3% nationally, and slow internet speeds rests in the top 1.6% nationally. Modeled humid heat resides in the top 2.3% nationally, and distance to a nursing home is in the top 3.8% nationally. Distance to an emergency room lands in the top 5.2% nationally. More encouragingly, mental-health providers stands in the top 1.3% nationally, outpatient registers in the top 3.0% nationally, and lead in tap water settles at the national minimum. Recreation sits in the top 5.8% nationally, and civic lies in the top 6.1% nationally.
Next to the surrounding area, floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For anyone unfamiliar, lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. Among the ZIPs nearby, none ranks healthier overall than this one.
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
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 70%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 98%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 87%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 88%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 93%
8%
Disability
healthier than 67%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 54%
21%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 1%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 13%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 71%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 97%
14%
Preventive Care
in the top 0.5%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 96%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 98%
8%
Disability
healthier than 74%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 41%
21%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 5%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 14%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
in the top 0.00%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 93%
14%
Preventive Care
in the top 0.00%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the top 0.00%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 93%
8%
Disability
in the top 0.00%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 29%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 14%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the bottom 0.00%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
78521
Texasshares a border
Score 36.21
Similar health profile
33051
Florida99% similar profile
Score 56.42
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 | 27.8% | 24.8–30.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.9% | 35.4–42.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.7% | 9.7–11.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.0% | 7.9–10.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.9% | 6.9–9.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.9% | 5.6–8.6 |
| Depression among adults | 19.3% | 16.8–22.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.2% | 13.2–17.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 42.6% | 39.1–46.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 32.8% | 28.5–37.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.9% | 3.4–4.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 6.7% | 5.5–8.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.5% | 10.1–15.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 83.0% | 80.5–85.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.4% | 76.5–82.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 91.4% | 90.0–92.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 71.9% | 67.9–75.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 68.7% | 65.8–71.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.6% | 74.1–84.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.9% | 12.6–17.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 9.5% | 7.5–11.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 21.7% | 18.2–25.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.3% | 29.3–37.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.9% | 15.1–21.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 12.5% | 10.9–14.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.6% | 10.8–14.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 10.7% | 9.1–12.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 27.5% | 23.8–31.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.3% | 7.3–9.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.9% | 5.8–8.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.4% | 11.9–17.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.2–4.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.1% | 4.4–5.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 15.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 16.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 53.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 84.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 38.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 70.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 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 | 91.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 40.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 61.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $68,421 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $527,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $1,521 | $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 | 86.4 yr ± 3.54 | 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 3.54 years of 86.4, 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