ZIP code
78731
in Austin, TexasPopulation 27,507
68.67/ 100
Ranked #839 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 2.7%)
Ranked #15 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (top 0.9%)
Ranked #6 of 89 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX ZIPs (top 6.8%)
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.
Dental provider access
2.3 per 1,000 residents
in the top 0.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of dental offices 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 ›Physician access
4.8 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of physicians’ offices 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 ›Short sleep
27.3%
in the bottom 1.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Dry extreme heat
89.7 days/year
in the top 3.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST71stUS97thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›Outpatient-care access
0.77 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.3% 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 ›Cognitive disability
9.0%
in the bottom 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
1.1%
in the bottom 1.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
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 ›Independent-living disability
4.7%
in the bottom 1.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.
Full methodology ›Fair or poor health
11.2%
in the bottom 2.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, ZIP 78731, one of several in Austin, Texas lands in the top 2.7% healthiest ZIPs nationally (839th) and the top 0.9% of Texas (15th).
The picture here is genuinely mixed, with readings on both sides: dental providers registers in the top 0.9% nationally, and physicians rests in the top 1.4% nationally. Modeled short sleep stands in the bottom 1.9% nationally, and outpatient lies in the top 3.3% nationally. Modeled cognitive disability lands in the bottom 2.1% nationally, modeled energy burden sits in the bottom 1.3% nationally, and lead in tap water is at the national minimum. Modeled independent living disability settles in the bottom 1.6% nationally, and fair or poor health resides in the bottom 2.0% nationally. On the other side, modeled extreme heat registers in the top 3.1% nationally.
Set beside the nearby areas, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. A note on the 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. Extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. Energy burden is the share of household income that goes to home energy bills. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 78703, just across the boundary, ranks better overall.
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 95%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 95%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 70%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 81%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 97%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 85%
8%
Disability
healthier than 98%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 71%
5%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 12%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 92%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 97%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 99%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the top 0.3%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 92%
8%
Disability
healthier than 97%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 61%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 64%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 51%
14%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 60%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 84%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 93%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 98%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 90%
8%
Disability
healthier than 87%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 76%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 25%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 40%
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 82.1 ± 1.7 years. A median household income of $105,494 predicts 80.3 years — 1.8 years above.
Ranked #1,047 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
78703
Texasshares a border
Score 69.13
Closest healthier
78746
Texasshares a border
Score 71.43
Similar health profile
78739
Texas99% similar profile
Score 70.53
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 | 20.7% | 18.8–22.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 27.5% | 25.1–30.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.7% | 8.0–9.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 8.9% | 7.9–9.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.5% | 4.0–5.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 3.6% | 3.2–4.1 |
| Depression among adults | 21.7% | 19.3–24.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 7.7% | 6.8–8.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.3% | 32.5–38.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 25.9% | 22.8–29.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.2% | 2.0–2.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 4.5% | 3.6–5.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.5% | 6.5–8.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 74.8% | 72.1–77.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 76.1% | 73.5–78.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.8% | 88.6–91.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.7% | 67.3–73.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 71.8% | 69.3–74.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 81.1% | 76.0–85.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.6% | 16.3–21.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 6.4% | 5.4–7.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 14.6% | 12.7–16.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 27.3% | 24.3–30.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 11.2% | 9.9–12.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 13.3% | 11.9–14.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 8.7% | 7.8–9.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 9.0% | 8.0–10.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 19.8% | 17.7–22.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.7–5.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 4.7% | 4.2–5.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 8.3% | 7.3–9.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.0% | 1.8–2.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 2.7% | 2.5–3.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 10.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 1.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 78.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 95.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 34.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 53.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 11.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 54.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 19.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 42.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $105,494 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $903,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $1,737 | $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 | 82.1 yr ± 0.85 | 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 0.85 years of 82.1, 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