ZIP code
79603
in Abilene, TexasPopulation 23,548
41.20/ 100
Ranked #25,877 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 19%)
Ranked #1,353 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (bottom 28%)
Ranked #22 of 24 Abilene, TX ZIPs (bottom 8.4%)
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)
23.3%
in the top 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST76thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›PFOA in drinking water
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOA, one of the man-made “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›PFOS in drinking water
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOS, one of the most common “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
121.2 mi
in the top 2.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Dry extreme heat
88.6 days/year
in the top 3.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST66thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 4.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS95thDefinition & 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 ›PFAS in drinking water
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFAS — man-made “forever chemicals” that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down — were detected in EPA testing.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
56.5%
in the bottom 6.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST23rdUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Vision disability
8.6%
in the top 9.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST80thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›Lead in tap water
0.000045 ppb
in the bottom 9.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
US9thDefinition & source ›
The lead level at the 90th percentile of tap-water samples reported by the public water systems serving this ZIP, in parts per billion — the EPA requires action above 15 ppb.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 79603, one of several in Abilene, Texas, by its overall standing, sits in the bottom 19% nationally (25,877th) and the bottom 28% of Texas (1,353rd).
The data points to real strain across a number of measures here: modeled uninsured registers in the top 2.9% nationally, PFOA in drinking water stands at the national maximum, and PFOS in drinking water lands at the national maximum. Modeled extreme heat is in the top 3.4% nationally, modeled disaster risk resides in the top 4.7% nationally, and PFAS in drinking water rests at the national maximum. Modeled colon screening lies in the bottom 6.6% nationally, and vision disability sits in the top 9.2% nationally. On the brighter side, distance to a Superfund site settles in the top 2.7% nationally, and lead in tap water registers in the bottom 9.3% nationally.
Held up against its neighbors, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined in plain terms, PFOA in drinking water is one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. PFOS in drinking water is a common one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. The nearest ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 79536, 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Abilene, TX metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
in the top 0.7%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 82%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 43%
21%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 19%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 6%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 15%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 31%
8%
Disability
healthier than 16%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 11%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
in the top 0.2%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 80%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 59%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 30%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 10%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 22%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 23%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 22%
8%
Disability
healthier than 18%
7%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
in the top 0.00%
14%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 11%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 11%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 11%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the bottom 0.00%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 33%
8%
Disability
in the bottom 0.00%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
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
3 of our published findings list 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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 73.6 ± 1.1 years. A median household income of $53,513 predicts 77.6 years — 4.1 years below.
Ranked #5,088 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 73.6 ± 1.1 years. The 47 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 77.6 years — 4.1 years below them.
Ranked #3,051 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 99.4 (top 1%); chronic-disease standing 43.3 — 56 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #2,029 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
79536
Texasshares a border
Score 44.92
Closest healthier
79562
Texasshares a border
Score 56.30
Similar health profile
30445
Georgia99% similar profile
Score 42.01
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 | 26.1% | 23.1–29.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.7% | 34.7–42.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.7% | 6.0–7.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.4% | 9.2–11.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.5% | 6.8–8.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.5% | 7.6–9.4 |
| Depression among adults | 22.8% | 19.5–26.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 16.1% | 14.2–18.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.8% | 33.5–42.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.9% | 31.8–48.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.3% | 4.0–4.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 18.7% | 15.4–22.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 23.3% | 20.9–25.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.3% | 73.6–78.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 73.8% | 69.9–77.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 82.9% | 81.0–84.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 56.5% | 50.9–61.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 47.1% | 43.1–50.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 71.3% | 62.5–78.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.6% | 12.8–18.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.8% | 14.7–19.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 35.0% | 30.1–40.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.5% | 32.5–46.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 28.6% | 25.5–31.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.2% | 17.1–21.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.6% | 14.8–18.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.6% | 16.7–20.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 37.9% | 33.5–42.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.1% | 7.3–9.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.4% | 10.2–12.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 19.2% | 17.1–21.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.9% | 5.4–6.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 8.6% | 7.9–9.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 22.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 27.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 17.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 16.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 88.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 33.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 62.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 9.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 39.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 14.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 35.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $53,513 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $120,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $1,068 | $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 | 73.5 yr ± 0.56 | 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 0.56 years of 73.5, 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