ZIP code
78956
in Schulenburg, TexasPopulation 5,243
43.59/ 100
Ranked #23,812 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 26%)
Ranked #1,132 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (bottom 39%)
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.
Fatal road crashes
59.1 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 2.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
156.2 days/year
in the top 3.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS97thDefinition & 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
77.2 days/year
in the top 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST47thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
8.9%
in the top 5.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Recreation access
1.2 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Grocery access
0.19 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of full supermarkets 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. ZipVitals’s food-access signal is derived from these in-ZIP densities — it is not USDA’s food-desert designation, which measures distance to the nearest supermarket. Where a leg is missing, a ZIP reads “not determinable,” never “not a food desert.”
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
5.2%
in the top 7.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Uninsured (under 65)
15.8%
in the top 9.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST48thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Radon
0.8 pCi/L
in the bottom 8.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST46thUS8thDefinition & 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
10.1 mi
in the top 13.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS86thDefinition & 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 ›The read
By its overall health score, Schulenburg, Texas (ZIP 78956) lands in the bottom 26% nationally (23,812th) and the bottom 39% of Texas (1,132nd).
The measures split the difference for this area: recreation registers in the top 6.4% nationally, and grocery sits in the top 7.8% nationally. Distance to a Superfund site rests in the top 11.8% nationally, and modeled radon is in the bottom 8.4% nationally. Against that, fatal road crashes stands in the top 2.4% nationally, modeled humid heat settles in the top 3.1% nationally, and modeled extreme heat lies in the top 5.3% nationally. Crowded housing resides in the top 5.7% nationally, modeled energy burden lands in the top 7.1% nationally, and modeled uninsured registers in the top 9.6% nationally.
To translate a couple of terms, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 77964, 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 84%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 64%
8%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 54%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 22%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 9%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 34%
13%
Disability
healthier than 23%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 8%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 35%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 72%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 79%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 74%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 69%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 10%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 3%
16%
Disability
healthier than 28%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 40%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 33%
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 83.5; chronic-disease standing 21.7 — 62 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #1,600 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
77964
Texasshares a border
Score 45.66
Closest healthier
77975
Texasshares a border
Score 51.84
Similar health profile
76945
Texas97% similar profile
Score 39.99
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 | 32.7% | 29.4–36.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 43.5% | 39.4–47.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.7% | 9.8–11.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.2% | 9.1–11.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.3% | 8.4–10.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.6% | 8.5–10.9 |
| Depression among adults | 21.8% | 18.8–24.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 16.3% | 14.4–18.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 42.5% | 38.2–46.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.2% | 28.8–43.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.9% | 4.5–5.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.9% | 12.3–17.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 15.8% | 13.8–17.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 82.4% | 79.9–84.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.0% | 75.7–82.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.5% | 87.1–89.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.9% | 61.2–70.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 57.0% | 53.5–60.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 69.6% | 61.7–76.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.8% | 11.5–16.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.7% | 12.7–16.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 31.1% | 26.7–35.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.8% | 29.7–42.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 25.0% | 22.1–28.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.2% | 14.5–18.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.4% | 14.6–18.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.0% | 13.4–16.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 37.8% | 33.6–42.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.1% | 9.0–11.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.9% | 8.8–11.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 20.3% | 17.9–22.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.1% | 4.5–5.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.7% | 6.0–7.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 10.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 13.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 12.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 19.3% | 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 | 7.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 79.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 21.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 71.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 8.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 7.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 54.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 25.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 43.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $67,903 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $248,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $1,031 | $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 | 80.5 yr ± 1.10 | 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 1.10 years of 80.5, 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