ZIP code
79109
in Amarillo, TexasPopulation 43,578
52.92/ 100
Ranked #12,195 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 38%)
Ranked #371 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (top 20%)
Ranked #8 of 26 Amarillo, 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.
Natural-disaster risk
in the top 1.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$1
in the top 1.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
0.00%
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
6.6%
in the top 5.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 0.2%-annual-chance flood band — the “500-year” zone, a lower but real 1-in-500 yearly chance.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
400 units
in the top 5.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Walkability
130 intersections/sq mi
in the top 6.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Fiber broadband
97.7%
in the top 7.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Pharmacy access
0.38 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Park land
6.1%
in the top 16% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS84thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Floodplain exposure
1.7%
in the bottom 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS16thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite health measure, ZIP 79109, one of several in Amarillo, Texas ranks in the top 38% healthiest ZIPs nationally (12,195th) and the top 20% of Texas (371st).
The picture here is genuinely mixed, with readings on both sides: subsidized affordable housing settles in the top 5.9% nationally, and walkability resides in the top 6.8% nationally. Fiber broadband registers in the top 7.2% nationally, and pharmacy rests in the top 9.2% nationally. On the other side, modeled disaster risk stands in the top 1.0% nationally, expected annual loss lies in the top 1.9% nationally, and tree cover lands at the national minimum. Outer-floodplain exposure sits in the top 5.8% nationally, modeled extreme heat is in the top 10.2% nationally, and homeownership settles in the bottom 14.1% nationally.
Read against the ZIPs closest to it, expected annual loss runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To spell things out, disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Outer-floodplain exposure is land with a lower but real 1-in-500 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "500-year floodplain". Close by, ZIP 79119, 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Amarillo, 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 71%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 75%
16%
Disability
healthier than 61%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 74%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 46%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 54%
11%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 29%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 40%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 27%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 60%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 76%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 72%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 75%
11%
Disability
healthier than 69%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 97%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 68%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 30%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 34%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 64%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 79%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 79%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 71%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 64%
8%
Disability
healthier than 64%
7%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 57%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 21%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 14%
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
79102
Texasshares a border
Score 39.13
Closest healthier
79119
Texasshares a border
Score 60.90
Similar health profile
89002
Nevada97% similar profile
Score 53.97
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 | 25.8% | 23.2–28.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.8% | 31.3–38.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.4% | 7.7–9.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.1% | 9.1–11.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.2% | 5.6–6.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.6% | 5.9–7.3 |
| Depression among adults | 24.0% | 21.0–27.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.5% | 10.1–12.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.3% | 32.7–40.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.5% | 29.2–42.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.3% | 3.1–3.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.4% | 8.6–12.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 13.1% | 11.6–14.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.3% | 73.8–78.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 75.2% | 71.9–78.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.1% | 84.6–87.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.1% | 60.6–69.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 60.1% | 56.9–63.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.3% | 67.3–80.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.2% | 15.5–21.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.5% | 11.0–14.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.1% | 20.8–27.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.4% | 30.0–41.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.4% | 17.3–21.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.3% | 15.6–19.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.1% | 11.8–14.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.5% | 13.1–16.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.3% | 27.9–35.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.2% | 6.4–8.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.1% | 7.3–8.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.9% | 12.4–15.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.3–3.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.9% | 4.5–5.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 13.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 16.3% | 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+) | 32.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 31.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 57.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 50.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 18.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 38.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $70,435 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $222,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $986 | $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 | 78.5 yr ± 0.61 | 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 0.61 years of 78.5, 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