ZIP code
78950
in New Ulm, TexasPopulation 2,300
53.61/ 100
Ranked #11,213 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 35%)
Ranked #340 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (top 18%)
Ranked #73 of 237 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX ZIPs (top 31%)
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.
Humid extreme heat
149.2 days/year
in the top 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST70thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Dry extreme heat
69.6 days/year
in the top 6.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST41stUS94thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›Recreation access
0.93 per 1,000 residents
in the top 10.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS90thDefinition & 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 ›Radon
0.8 pCi/L
in the bottom 7.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST41stUS7thDefinition & source ›
The modeled typical indoor radon level for this area, in picocuries per liter — the EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or above.
Modeled from indoor-radon measurements. In Alaska and Hawaii, where those measurements are not published, a US Geological Survey geologic radon-potential category stands in — a coarser input, disclosed rather than hidden.
Full methodology ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
8.7 mi
in the top 17% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS83rdDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest facility that handles enough hazardous chemicals to require an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
11.8%
in the bottom 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS16thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
68.8%
in the top 29% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS71stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, New Ulm, Texas (ZIP 78950) lands in the top 35% healthiest ZIPs nationally (11,213th) and the top 18% of Texas (340th).
The measures that set this area apart are worth putting up front: recreation sits in the top 10.3% nationally, and modeled radon is in the bottom 7.2% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility settles in the top 17% nationally, and poverty resides in the bottom 17% nationally. Modeled cognitive disability registers in the bottom 16% nationally. Set against that, modeled humid heat rests in the top 5.0% nationally, modeled extreme heat stands in the top 6.0% nationally, and distance to a community health center lies in the top 11.8% nationally. Slow internet speeds lands in the top 11.9% nationally, and modeled high cholesterol sits in the top 14.2% nationally.
A note on the terms: radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 78931, less than a tenth of a mile away, 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 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 94%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 77%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 81%
8%
Disability
healthier than 66%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 44%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 56%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 59%
13%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 13%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 11%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 91%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 93%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 90%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 88%
8%
Disability
healthier than 73%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 72%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 55%
16%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 30%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 12%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
in the top 0.5%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 94%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 87%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 79%
8%
Disability
healthier than 65%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 62%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 47%
16%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 15%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 2%
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.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 93.6 (top 10%); chronic-disease standing 43.6 — 50 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #2,494 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
77418
Texasshares a border
Score 47.90
Closest healthier
78931
Texasless than 0.1 mi away
Score 54.54
Similar health profile
78058
Texas97% similar profile
Score 57.00
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 | 30.9% | 28.1–33.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 40.4% | 37.0–43.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.6% | 10.7–12.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.6% | 8.7–10.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.0% | 7.2–8.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.5% | 6.4–8.8 |
| Depression among adults | 21.2% | 18.8–23.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.1% | 11.5–14.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 42.3% | 38.8–45.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 32.5% | 27.1–38.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.9% | 3.5–4.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.8% | 11.1–14.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.0% | 8.5–11.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.7% | 79.5–83.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.7% | 76.1–81.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.4% | 89.3–91.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.8% | 65.3–72.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 59.5% | 56.7–62.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 71.4% | 65.3–77.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.8% | 13.7–18.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.6% | 9.6–13.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.3% | 19.8–27.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.8% | 29.4–38.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.2% | 15.8–20.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.2% | 12.8–15.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.4% | 11.8–15.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.8% | 10.4–13.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.7% | 26.9–34.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.8% | 7.8–9.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.0% | 6.1–8.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.9% | 12.9–17.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.5% | 3.0–3.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.8–4.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 4.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 3.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 26.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 88.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 29.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 85.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 58.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 25.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 49.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $91,354 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $247,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $1,304 | $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 | 78.7 yr ± 1.26 | 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 1.26 years of 78.7, 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