ZIP code
78614
in Cost, TexasPopulation 262
39.62/ 100
Ranked #27,001 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 16%)
Ranked #1,481 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (bottom 21%)
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)
19.9%
in the top 4.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST66thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Dry extreme heat
90.9 days/year
in the top 2.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST76thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
6.5%
in the bottom 2.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS3rdDefinition & 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 ›Crowded housing
13.2%
in the top 2.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
153.8 days/year
in the top 3.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST81stUS96thDefinition & 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
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 ›Transportation noise
0.04%
in the bottom 6.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›Mammography
68.5%
in the bottom 8.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST13thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
58.3%
in the bottom 9.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST32ndUS10thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Tooth loss
22.7%
in the top 11.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS89thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›The read
Cost, Texas (ZIP 78614), by its overall standing, sits in the bottom 16% nationally (27,001st) and the bottom 21% of Texas (1,481st).
The profile opens balanced, with readings on either hand: modeled pfas stands in the bottom 2.8% nationally, and transportation noise lands in the bottom 6.7% nationally. Unemployment is at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Households without a vehicle resides at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. By contrast, modeled uninsured rests in the top 4.6% nationally, and extreme heat lies in the top 2.7% nationally. Crowded housing sits in the top 2.8% nationally, and modeled humid heat settles in the top 3.7% nationally. PFAS in drinking water registers at the national maximum, and modeled mammography stands in the bottom 8.8% nationally.
Defined in plain 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. PFAS in drinking water is the family of man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. Extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. The nearest ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 78122, 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 97%
14%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 41%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 18%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 33%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 10%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 23%
11%
Disability
healthier than 14%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 8%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 34%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 96%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 7%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 24%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 37%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 35%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 37%
8%
Disability
healthier than 16%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 37%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 32%
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
78122
Texasshares a border
Score 40.23
Closest healthier
78140
Texasshares a border
Score 42.48
Similar health profile
38641
Mississippi99% similar profile
Score 42.43
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 | 30.5% | 26.9–34.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 42.8% | 38.3–47.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.2% | 8.2–10.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.1% | 8.9–11.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.9% | 8.6–11.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.5% | 8.8–12.3 |
| Depression among adults | 22.9% | 19.5–26.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 16.6% | 14.3–19.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 41.8% | 37.2–46.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.8% | 30.1–47.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.9% | 4.3–5.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 22.7% | 19.0–26.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 19.9% | 16.8–23.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.8% | 76.8–82.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 75.6% | 71.5–79.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.3% | 83.2–87.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 58.3% | 52.7–63.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 52.6% | 48.7–56.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 68.5% | 59.4–76.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.3% | 12.5–18.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.1% | 15.1–21.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 34.2% | 28.6–40.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.1% | 29.1–43.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 28.5% | 24.5–32.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.9% | 15.8–20.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.6% | 15.2–20.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.5% | 15.2–20.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 39.8% | 34.4–45.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.6% | 9.3–12.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.0% | 9.5–12.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 20.8% | 17.8–24.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.8% | 4.9–6.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.7% | 6.7–8.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 21.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 47.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 18.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 26.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 81.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 36.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 81.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 13.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 11.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 47.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 23.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 51.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | — | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | — | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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 | 78.2 yr ± 0.92 | 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 0.92 years of 78.2, 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