ZIP code
78721
in Austin, TexasPopulation 10,997
58.61/ 100
Ranked #5,884 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 18%)
Ranked #174 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (top 9.4%)
Ranked #47 of 89 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX ZIPs (bottom 47%)
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.
Subsidized affordable housing
755 units
in the top 2.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Dry extreme heat
91.4 days/year
in the top 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST79thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
11.8%
in the top 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Coronary heart disease
3.9%
in the bottom 3.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
4.3%
in the bottom 2.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
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 ›High cholesterol
30.5%
in the bottom 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Transit access
4.9 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of public-transit stops 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 ›Humid extreme heat
145.2 days/year
in the top 6.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST64thUS94thDefinition & 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)
17.8%
in the top 6.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST58thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 78721, one of several in Austin, Texas, by its overall standing, sits in the top 18% healthiest ZIPs nationally (5,884th) and the top 9.4% of Texas (174th).
The measures fall on both sides of the ledger for this area: subsidized affordable housing resides in the top 2.4% nationally, modeled coronary heart disease rests in the bottom 3.0% nationally, and modeled hearing disability lies in the bottom 2.8% nationally. Lead in tap water sits at the national minimum, modeled high cholesterol settles in the bottom 4.0% nationally, and transit registers in the top 5.3% nationally. Set against that, modeled extreme heat stands in the top 2.6% nationally, and outer-floodplain exposure lands in the top 3.3% nationally. Modeled humid heat is in the top 6.0% nationally, and uninsured resides in the top 6.6% nationally.
Held up against its neighbors, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined in plain terms, lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. 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 78702, 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 94%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 99%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 69%
14%
Disability
healthier than 78%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 83%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 58%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 50%
8%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 14%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 10%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 90%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
in the top 1.0%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 78%
11%
Disability
healthier than 81%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 80%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 50%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 46%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 50%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 49%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 95%
16%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 61%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 51%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 41%
11%
Disability
healthier than 43%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 51%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 23%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 36%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 37%
8%
“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
2 of our published findings list 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 what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 75.3 ± 1.8 years. A median household income of $84,573 predicts 79.4 years — 4.1 years below.
Ranked #5,111 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 75.3 ± 1.8 years. The 42 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 80.1 years — 4.8 years below them.
Ranked #3,331 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
78702
Texasshares a border
Score 61.02
Closest healthier
78723
Texasshares a border
Score 60.24
Similar health profile
78626
Texas98% similar profile
Score 56.87
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 | 16.9% | 15.2–18.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 27.8% | 25.5–30.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 4.2% | 3.8–4.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.9% | 8.8–11.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 3.9% | 3.5–4.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.0% | 3.6–4.7 |
| Depression among adults | 22.3% | 19.9–24.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.0% | 8.9–11.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 30.5% | 28.0–33.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.0% | 30.3–38.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.6% | 2.4–2.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.1% | 10.9–15.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 17.8% | 15.1–20.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 69.7% | 67.1–72.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 71.9% | 68.8–74.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.7% | 82.6–86.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 63.0% | 59.3–66.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 53.4% | 50.5–56.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.0% | 74.7–84.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.1% | 16.7–21.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 10.7% | 9.0–12.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.1% | 20.1–26.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.4% | 32.1–39.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.9% | 16.7–21.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.4% | 15.6–19.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.0% | 9.7–12.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.2% | 12.5–16.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 25.9% | 23.0–28.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.8–4.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.5% | 6.6–8.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.1% | 9.8–12.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.4% | 3.0–3.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.7–5.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 25.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 16.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 15.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 51.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 10.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 86.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 38.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 51.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 15.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 37.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 8.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 33.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $84,573 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $523,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $1,482 | $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 | 75.3 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 75.3, 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