ZIP code
78661
in Prairie Lea, TexasPopulation 835
46.30/ 100
Ranked #20,992 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 35%)
Ranked #834 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (top 45%)
Ranked #80 of 89 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX ZIPs (bottom 10.2%)
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.
Crowded housing
16.3%
in the top 1.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Dry extreme heat
92.7 days/year
in the top 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
152.5 days/year
in the top 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST77thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Uninsured (under 65)
18%
in the top 6.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST59thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Floodplain exposure
41.7%
in the top 5.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Home broadband subscription
69.5%
in the bottom 5.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST6thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
43.8%
in the top 6.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
29.2%
in the top 7.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the bottom 9.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS9thDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
3.8%
in the top 9.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST80thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›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
Judged by its overall standing, Prairie Lea, Texas (ZIP 78661) sits in the bottom 35% nationally (20,992nd) and the top 45% of Texas (834th).
A few readings account for most of this area's strain: crowded housing settles in the top 1.9% nationally, modeled extreme heat lands in the top 2.2% nationally, and modeled humid heat rests in the top 4.0% nationally. Modeled uninsured settles in the top 6.5% nationally, floodplain exposure lands in the top 5.8% nationally, and home broadband subscription rests in the bottom 5.9% nationally. Housing-cost burden settles in the top 6.4% nationally, and poverty lands in the top 7.3% nationally. On the better side, households without a vehicle rests at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Modeled disaster risk settles in the bottom 9.2% nationally.
Placed beside its immediate neighbors, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put plainly, disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 78622, 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 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, 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 65%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 61%
14%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 51%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 50%
8%
Disability
healthier than 48%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 28%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 12%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the bottom 0.3%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 36%
5%
Lifting this score
Risk Behavior
healthier than 71%
11%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 53%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 41%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 42%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 51%
8%
Disability
healthier than 58%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 19%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 2%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 35%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 16%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 4%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 12%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 29%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 29%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 39%
8%
Disability
healthier than 22%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 1%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 11%
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
78622
Texasshares a border
Score 47.16
Closest healthier
78644
Texasabout 0.9 mi away
Score 46.54
Similar health profile
78372
Texas98% similar profile
Score 45.48
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 | 25.6% | 22.6–29.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.5% | 31.6–39.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.4% | 6.6–8.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.2% | 9.0–11.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.5% | 5.7–7.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.6% | 5.6–7.9 |
| Depression among adults | 22.5% | 19.1–26.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.3% | 11.5–15.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.8% | 32.4–41.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.5% | 31.3–48.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.7% | 3.3–4.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.9% | 8.8–13.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 18.0% | 14.9–21.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.9% | 75.0–80.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 75.5% | 71.6–79.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.2% | 84.3–88.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 58.5% | 53.2–63.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 53.2% | 49.5–56.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 70.2% | 61.7–77.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.0% | 13.1–19.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.8% | 10.6–15.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.3% | 23.6–33.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.6% | 30.0–43.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 22.0% | 19.0–25.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.2% | 15.3–19.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.0% | 12.3–16.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.3% | 13.4–17.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.5% | 28.1–37.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.2% | 6.3–8.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.6% | 7.5–9.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.4% | 13.3–18.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.6–4.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.8% | 5.2–6.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 29.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 32.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 15.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 9.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.3% | 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 | 69.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 43.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 91.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 16.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 47.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 18.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 27.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $82,896 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $209,700 | $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 | 77.5 yr ± 0.94 | 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 0.94 years of 77.5, 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