ZIP code
79096
in Wheeler, TexasPopulation 2,095
41.08/ 100
Ranked #25,967 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 19%)
Ranked #1,364 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (bottom 27%)
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.
Grocery access
0.98 per 1,000 residents
in the top 0.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Nitrate in drinking water
33.2%
in the top 1.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of this area’s domestic-well groundwater at or above the federal nitrate limit of 10 milligrams per liter.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›Distance to a community health center
43.9 mi
in the top 1.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest federally funded community health center, which serves patients regardless of ability to pay.
Full methodology ›Uninsured (under 65)
20.1%
in the top 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST67thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 4.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›Pharmacy access
0.49 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of pharmacies 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 ›Dry extreme heat
62.8 days/year
in the top 6.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST35thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
64.1 mi
in the top 7.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST88thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Crowded housing
6.6%
in the top 9.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST80thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Mammography
68.6%
in the bottom 9.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST14thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›The read
Judged by its overall standing, Wheeler, Texas (ZIP 79096) sits in the bottom 19% nationally (25,967th) and the bottom 27% of Texas (1,364th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
The profile carries real weight, and several readings make that plain: modeled nitrate rests in the top 1.4% nationally, distance to a community health center settles in the top 1.7% nationally, and modeled uninsured lands in the top 4.5% nationally. Modeled extreme heat rests in the top 6.9% nationally. Better still, grocery settles in the top 0.4% nationally, and modeled industrial-pollution burden lands in the bottom 4.9% nationally. Pharmacy rests in the top 5.3% nationally. Distance to an emergency room settles at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Distance to a Superfund site lands in the top 7.7% nationally. Households without a vehicle rests at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs.
Placed beside its immediate neighbors, grocery runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put plainly, nitrate is a groundwater compound from fertilizer, manure, and sewage, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 79011, 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 83%
14%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 42%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 37%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 31%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 9%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 22%
11%
Disability
healthier than 24%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 11%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 3%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 70%
14%
About typical
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 58%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 24%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 22%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 34%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 35%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 38%
8%
Disability
healthier than 28%
7%
Healthcare Access
in the bottom 0.8%
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
73666
Oklahomashares a border
Score 36.52
Closest healthier
79011
Texasshares a border
Score 42.13
Similar health profile
79744
Texas97% similar profile
Score 40.48
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 | 28.7% | 27.0–30.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 39.4% | 37.4–41.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.7% | 8.2–9.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.0% | 9.3–10.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.2% | 7.5–9.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.9% | 7.8–10.1 |
| Depression among adults | 23.1% | 21.5–24.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.0% | 13.8–16.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.3% | 37.3–41.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.0% | 34.6–41.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.3% | 3.9–4.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 18.9% | 15.6–23.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 20.1% | 17.2–23.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.2% | 76.7–79.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 75.1% | 73.3–77.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.3% | 83.9–86.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 59.4% | 54.2–65.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 51.6% | 47.8–55.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 68.6% | 64.3–73.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.1% | 14.8–17.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.1% | 14.2–17.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 32.1% | 28.9–35.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.4% | 31.2–47.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 25.9% | 23.4–28.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.7% | 16.4–19.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.2% | 14.8–17.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.6% | 15.0–18.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 37.1% | 34.2–39.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.2% | 8.4–10.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.1% | 9.0–11.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.8% | 16.9–20.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.1% | 4.6–5.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.0% | 6.3–7.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 31.3% | 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+) | 20.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 17.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 75.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 6.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 11.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 35.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 20.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 39.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $67,165 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $160,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $963 | $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 | 79.7 yr ± 1.66 | 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 1.66 years of 79.7, 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