ZIP code
79720
in Big Spring, TexasPopulation 29,936
42.14/ 100
Ranked #25,094 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 22%)
Ranked #1,281 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (bottom 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.
Uninsured (under 65)
24.2%
in the top 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST78thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Nitrate in drinking water
21.2%
in the top 2.1% 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 4.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS96thDefinition & 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
79.8 days/year
in the top 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST49thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 6.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
348 units
in the top 6.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST88thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
57.6%
in the bottom 8.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST28thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Mental-health provider access
0.094 per 1,000 residents
in the top 11.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS89thDefinition & source ›
The number of mental-health clinics 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 ›The read
By the composite health measure, Big Spring, Texas (ZIP 79720) ranks in the bottom 22% nationally (25,094th) and the bottom 31% of Texas (1,281st), based on limited data; treat as directional.
A number of measures mark where this area is under strain: modeled uninsured rests in the top 2.6% nationally, and nitrate stands in the top 2.1% nationally. Modeled disaster risk lies in the top 4.4% nationally, and extreme heat lands in the top 5.0% nationally. Modeled expected annual loss sits in the top 6.1% nationally, and colon screening is in the bottom 8.4% nationally. On the brighter side, distance to an emergency room settles at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Subsidized affordable housing resides in the top 6.9% nationally. Distance to a community health center registers at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Mental-health providers rests in the top 11.5% 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, nitrate is a groundwater compound from fertilizer, manure, and sewage, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. 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. Close by, ZIP 79511, 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.
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 61%
21%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 41%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 46%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 17%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 5%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 16%
11%
Disability
healthier than 28%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 4%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 49%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 45%
8%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 36%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 11%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 21%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 25%
11%
Disability
healthier than 34%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 15%
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
2 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 73.9 ± 1.1 years. A median household income of $68,785 predicts 78.6 years — 4.7 years below.
Ranked #5,431 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 73.9 ± 1.1 years. The 48 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 78.4 years — 4.5 years below them.
Ranked #3,226 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
79331
Texasshares a border
Score 37.73
Closest healthier
79511
Texasshares a border
Score 47.09
Similar health profile
77568
Texas99% similar profile
Score 44.96
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 | 24.2% | 21.3–27.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.4% | 32.3–40.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.7% | 6.1–7.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.7% | 8.6–10.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.9% | 6.2–7.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.2% | 6.5–8.0 |
| Depression among adults | 22.0% | 18.8–25.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.5% | 12.7–16.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.8% | 32.5–41.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.6% | 30.2–47.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.7% | 3.5–4.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 17.2% | 14.2–20.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 24.2% | 21.6–27.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 74.5% | 71.6–77.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 72.7% | 68.6–76.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.1% | 81.1–85.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 57.6% | 52.3–62.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 49.1% | 45.4–52.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 70.6% | 62.0–78.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.2% | 14.2–20.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.7% | 13.8–17.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 32.8% | 28.2–37.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.9% | 31.6–46.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 26.3% | 23.5–29.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.0% | 16.1–20.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.5% | 13.8–17.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.3% | 15.5–19.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 35.9% | 31.7–40.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.8% | 7.0–8.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.6% | 8.7–10.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.9% | 15.0–18.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.0% | 4.6–5.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.4% | 6.8–8.1 |
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 | 19.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 18.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 15.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.4% | 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 | 86.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 25.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 69.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 9.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 42.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 13.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 37.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $68,785 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $152,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $1,032 | $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 | 73.9 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 73.9, 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