ZIP code
79706
in Midland, TexasPopulation 34,281
51.35/ 100
Ranked #14,346 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 45%)
Ranked #443 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (top 24%)
Too few scored ZIPs in the Midland, TX metro area to rank within it.
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
28.2%
in the top 1.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS98thDefinition & 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 Superfund site
In this ZIP
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Uninsured (under 65)
20.4%
in the top 4.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST69thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Fatal road crashes
51.6 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 3.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS97thDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›Dry extreme heat
85.9 days/year
in the top 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST59thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
23.4%
in the top 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS95thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms 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 ›Coronary heart disease
4.2%
in the bottom 4.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
20.2%
in the top 5.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report binge drinking — five or more drinks on one occasion for men, four or more for women.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
414 units
in the top 5.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 6.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›The read
On the composite measure, ZIP 79706, one of several in Midland, Texas stands in the top 45% healthiest ZIPs nationally (14,346th) and the top 24% of Texas (443rd), based on limited data; treat as directional.
A balanced set of signals defines this area, not any single one: modeled coronary heart disease registers in the bottom 4.1% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing lies in the top 5.7% nationally. By contrast, modeled nitrate is in the top 1.7% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site registers at the national minimum. Modeled uninsured lies in the top 4.2% nationally, fatal road crashes is in the top 3.5% nationally, and modeled extreme heat registers in the top 4.0% nationally. Modeled arsenic lies in the top 5.0% nationally, binge drinking is in the top 5.5% nationally, and disaster risk registers in the top 6.7% nationally.
For clarity, nitrate is a groundwater compound from fertilizer, manure, and sewage, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. ZIP 79705, just across the boundary, ranks better overall among the ZIPs nearby.
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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 93%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 68%
16%
Disability
healthier than 77%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 74%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 50%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 30%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 6%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 21%
11%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 4%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 89%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 68%
16%
Disability
healthier than 80%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 67%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 51%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 18%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 24%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 32%
11%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
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 ›
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 79.0 ± 1.0 years. A median household income of $108,059 predicts 80.4 years — 1.4 years below.
Ranked #1,698 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
79701
Texasshares a border
Score 41.60
Closest healthier
79705
Texasshares a border
Score 53.79
Similar health profile
78109
Texas98% similar profile
Score 52.30
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 | 18.1% | 15.7–20.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 28.3% | 24.7–32.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 5.1% | 4.6–5.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.5% | 8.4–10.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.2% | 3.7–4.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.5% | 4.0–5.0 |
| Depression among adults | 21.9% | 18.6–25.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.9% | 8.6–11.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 31.4% | 27.4–35.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.4% | 28.0–43.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.3% | 2.1–2.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.5% | 10.3–15.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 20.4% | 18.0–22.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 69.1% | 65.7–72.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 70.6% | 66.2–74.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.8% | 81.9–85.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 57.0% | 51.9–62.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 55.3% | 51.7–59.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.7% | 66.1–80.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 20.2% | 16.7–24.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.0% | 10.3–13.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.7% | 21.7–29.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 40.7% | 34.1–47.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.5% | 17.2–21.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.6% | 15.6–19.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.2% | 10.8–13.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.2% | 13.6–17.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.8% | 25.9–33.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.1% | 4.5–5.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.1% | 6.4–7.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.1% | 9.7–12.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.2% | 2.9–3.4 |
| 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 | 8.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 19.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 15.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 22.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 88.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 19.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 79.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 6.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 11.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 38.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 10.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 35.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $108,059 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $316,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $1,247 | $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 | 79.0 yr ± 0.51 | 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 0.51 years of 79.0, 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