ZIP code
79605
in Abilene, TexasPopulation 28,467
48.20/ 100
Ranked #18,687 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 42%)
Ranked #666 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (top 36%)
Ranked #8 of 24 Abilene, TX ZIPs (top 33%)
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.
Distance to a Superfund site
122.2 mi
in the top 2.6% 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 3.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Dry extreme heat
85.3 days/year
in the top 4.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST57thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›Lead in tap water
0 ppb
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
US1stDefinition & 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 ›Fiber broadband
97.3%
in the top 7.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Floodplain exposure
33.9%
in the top 8.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Dental provider access
0.89 per 1,000 residents
in the top 8.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS91stDefinition & source ›
The number of dental offices 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 ›PFOA in drinking water
89.5%
in the top 8.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS91stDefinition & 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
89.5%
in the top 9.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Uninsured (under 65)
16.7%
in the top 8.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST53rdUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, ZIP 79605, one of several in Abilene, Texas lands in the bottom 42% nationally (18,687th) and the top 36% of Texas (666th).
The signals balance out across the profile, strengths against concerns: distance to a Superfund site sits in the top 2.6% nationally, and lead in tap water is at the national minimum. Fiber broadband settles in the top 7.7% nationally, and dental providers resides in the top 8.7% nationally. Set against that, modeled disaster risk registers in the top 3.4% nationally, modeled extreme heat rests in the top 4.2% nationally, and floodplain exposure stands in the top 8.4% nationally. PFOA in drinking water lies in the top 8.9% nationally, PFOS in drinking water lands in the top 9.1% nationally, and modeled uninsured sits in the top 8.0% nationally.
Set beside the nearby areas, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. A note on the terms: distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 79602, 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. 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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 71%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 99%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 70%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 45%
16%
Disability
healthier than 46%
7%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 11%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 37%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 32%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 3%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 99%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 63%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 59%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 54%
11%
Disability
healthier than 57%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 40%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 39%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 23%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 12%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 67%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 67%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 67%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 78%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 56%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 44%
8%
Disability
healthier than 44%
7%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 22%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the bottom 0.00%
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
One of our published findings lists 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 75.7 ± 1.1 years. A median household income of $62,929 predicts 78.3 years — 2.5 years below.
Ranked #3,466 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
79563
Texasshares a border
Score 43.35
Closest healthier
79602
Texasshares a border
Score 51.35
Similar health profile
76901
Texas98% similar profile
Score 45.94
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 | 24.4% | 21.6–27.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.5% | 30.6–38.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.4% | 6.7–8.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.3% | 9.2–11.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.2% | 5.6–6.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.9% | 6.2–7.7 |
| Depression among adults | 23.5% | 20.1–27.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.0% | 10.5–13.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.0% | 31.9–40.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.0% | 27.5–42.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.4% | 3.1–3.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.7% | 11.0–16.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 16.7% | 14.8–18.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 74.9% | 72.2–77.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 73.5% | 69.5–77.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.8% | 82.0–85.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 60.3% | 54.8–65.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 53.7% | 49.6–57.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 72.6% | 63.9–79.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.4% | 14.4–20.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.0% | 12.3–16.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.6% | 23.3–32.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.2% | 30.4–43.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.6% | 19.2–24.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.6% | 16.6–20.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.0% | 12.4–15.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.4% | 14.7–18.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.7% | 28.7–37.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.1% | 6.4–7.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.2% | 8.3–10.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.8% | 13.0–16.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.0% | 3.7–4.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.7% | 5.3–6.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 14.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 22.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 14.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 26.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.7% | 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) | 31.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 60.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 6.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 51.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 16.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 33.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $62,929 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $163,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $1,117 | $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 | 75.7 yr ± 0.57 | 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 0.57 years of 75.7, 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