ZIP code
79251
in Quail, TexasPopulation 31
36.16/ 100
Ranked #28,924 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 9.8%)
Ranked #1,689 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (bottom 9.6%)
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.
Nitrate in drinking water
85.3%
in the top 0.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Housing-cost burden
0.00%
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
0.00%
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
0.00%
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
100%
at the national maximum
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
7.2%
in the bottom 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS4thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
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
28.9 mi
in the top 4.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Walkability
1.5 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 4.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST3rdUS5thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Dry extreme heat
77.2 days/year
in the top 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST46thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
10.6%
in the top 6.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, Quail, Texas (ZIP 79251) lands in the bottom 9.8% nationally (28,924th) and the bottom 9.6% of Texas (1,689th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
Several measures weigh most on this area's profile, and they come first: modeled nitrate rests in the top 0.2% nationally, and distance to a community health center stands in the top 4.4% nationally. Walkability lies in the bottom 4.8% nationally, and modeled extreme heat lands in the top 5.3% nationally. Modeled coronary heart disease sits in the top 6.0% nationally. On the better side, housing-cost burden is at the national minimum, modeled transportation noise settles at the national minimum, and poverty resides at the national minimum. Homeownership registers at the national maximum, and modeled pfas rests in the bottom 3.6% nationally.
A note on the terms: nitrate is a groundwater compound from fertilizer, manure, and sewage, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 79057, just across the boundary, 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 68%
14%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 44%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 7%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 31%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 19%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 27%
11%
Disability
healthier than 13%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 3%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 3%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 49%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 59%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 42%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 42%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 2%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 22%
16%
Disability
healthier than 15%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 12%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the bottom 0.9%
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
79057
Texasshares a border
Score 43.57
Closest healthier
79079
Texasshares a border
Score 39.98
Similar health profile
76388
Texas99% similar profile
Score 33.70
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 | 35.8% | 31.6–40.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 46.5% | 41.4–51.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.6% | 10.3–13.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.5% | 9.2–12.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 10.6% | 8.7–12.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 12.2% | 9.2–15.5 |
| Depression among adults | 23.8% | 20.1–27.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 17.3% | 14.4–20.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 44.7% | 39.6–49.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.7% | 29.8–48.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.4% | 4.4–6.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 22.5% | 18.6–27.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 15.4% | 10.7–21.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 82.3% | 79.3–84.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.3% | 74.4–81.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.2% | 85.3–90.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 59.8% | 53.7–65.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 48.0% | 44.2–51.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 68.8% | 64.1–73.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.5% | 11.8–17.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.1% | 13.2–23.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 32.0% | 24.9–39.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.5% | 30.2–45.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 27.4% | 21.4–33.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.9% | 14.2–19.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 18.1% | 14.8–21.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.2% | 12.9–19.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 39.7% | 32.6–46.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 11.1% | 9.3–13.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.1% | 8.7–13.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 22.5% | 17.8–27.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 6.0% | 4.6–7.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.2% | 5.6–8.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 0.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 0.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 38.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 29.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.0% | 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 | 92.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 0.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 100.0% | 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 | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 45.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 45.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 64.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | — | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $133,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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 | 76.3 yr ± 1.74 | 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 1.74 years of 76.3, 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