ZIP code
78959
in Waelder, TexasPopulation 1,157
43.12/ 100
Ranked #24,268 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 24%)
Ranked #1,185 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (bottom 37%)
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.
Uninsured (under 65)
25.7%
in the top 2.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST81stUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Fatal road crashes
155.6 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 0.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Dry extreme heat
87.1 days/year
in the top 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST62ndUS96thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
151.3 days/year
in the top 4.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST74thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Diabetes
18.1%
in the top 7.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
57.5 mi
in the top 9.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST85thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›Radon
0.8 pCi/L
in the bottom 5.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST34thUS6thDefinition & 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 ›The read
By the composite health measure, Waelder, Texas (ZIP 78959) ranks in the bottom 24% nationally (24,268th) and the bottom 37% of Texas (1,185th).
A number of measures mark where this area is under strain: modeled uninsured sits in the top 2.0% nationally, and fatal road crashes is in the top 0.2% nationally. Modeled extreme heat settles in the top 3.8% nationally, and humid heat resides in the top 4.4% nationally. Modeled diabetes registers in the top 7.8% nationally, fair or poor health rests in the top 10.4% nationally, and vision disability stands in the top 10.1% nationally. Distance to an emergency room lies in the top 11.1% nationally, and modeled transportation noise lands in the top 11.9% nationally. On the brighter side, distance to a Superfund site sits in the top 9.4% nationally.
Read against the ZIPs closest to it, fatal road crashes runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To spell things out, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. 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. Close by, ZIP 78632, just across the boundary, ranks healthier 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 81%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 73%
8%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 45%
16%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 31%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 10%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 30%
11%
Disability
healthier than 18%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 5%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 26%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 66%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 79%
8%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 44%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 18%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 39%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 37%
13%
Disability
healthier than 22%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 22%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 27%
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
78629
Texasshares a border
Score 40.07
Closest healthier
78632
Texasshares a border
Score 44.84
Similar health profile
78389
Texas98% similar profile
Score 44.75
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 | 28.3% | 25.3–31.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 42.0% | 38.0–45.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.8% | 7.2–8.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.6% | 8.6–10.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.6% | 7.8–9.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.2% | 7.2–9.2 |
| Depression among adults | 20.1% | 17.3–23.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 18.1% | 16.0–20.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 41.2% | 37.3–45.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.0% | 32.5–47.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.6% | 4.2–5.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 17.8% | 15.0–20.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 25.7% | 22.0–29.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.0% | 77.6–82.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 76.4% | 72.9–79.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.4% | 84.6–87.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 60.6% | 55.8–65.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 49.5% | 46.0–53.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 71.1% | 63.4–77.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.1% | 11.8–16.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.6% | 12.7–16.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 35.7% | 31.0–40.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.5% | 32.2–44.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 29.0% | 25.9–32.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.3% | 14.5–18.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.8% | 15.0–18.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.3% | 14.5–18.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 38.5% | 34.4–42.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.2% | 8.2–10.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.9% | 8.8–11.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 20.4% | 18.2–22.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.7% | 5.1–6.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 8.4% | 7.5–9.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 34.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 20.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 17.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 88.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 24.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 76.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 15.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 50.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 29.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 49.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $60,472 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | — | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $936 | $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 | 81.1 yr ± 1.40 | 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 1.40 years of 81.1, 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