ZIP code
79821
in Anthony, TexasPopulation 7,227
45.70/ 100
Ranked #21,650 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 32%)
Ranked #889 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (top 48%)
Ranked #16 of 32 El Paso, TX ZIPs (top 50%)
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)
32.5%
in the top 0.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
52.2%
in the bottom 3.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST10thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Lithium in drinking water
96 µg/L
in the top 2.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The average detected level of lithium — a natural trace metal with no federal drinking-water limit yet — across the public water systems serving this ZIP, in micrograms per liter.
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 ›Tree cover
0.00%
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Vision disability
9.3%
in the top 6.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
23.1%
in the top 5.1% 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 ›Crowded housing
8.8%
in the top 5.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Fair or poor health
29.4%
in the top 9.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST81stUS90thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›Dry extreme heat
53.6 days/year
in the top 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST24thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›Grocery access
0.16 per 1,000 residents
in the top 11.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS89thDefinition & source ›
The number of full supermarkets 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. ZipVitals’s food-access signal is derived from these in-ZIP densities — it is not USDA’s food-desert designation, which measures distance to the nearest supermarket. Where a leg is missing, a ZIP reads “not determinable,” never “not a food desert.”
Full methodology ›The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, Anthony, Texas (ZIP 79821) ranks in the bottom 32% nationally (21,650th) and the top 48% of Texas (889th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
The burdens that read clearest in the data come first: modeled uninsured rests in the top 0.7% nationally, and colon screening is in the bottom 3.0% nationally. Lithium in drinking water stands in the top 2.7% nationally, and modeled tree cover settles at the national minimum. Modeled vision disability lies in the top 6.6% nationally, modeled arsenic resides in the top 5.1% nationally, and crowded housing lands in the top 5.7% nationally. Modeled fair or poor health registers in the top 9.6% nationally, and extreme heat sits in the top 8.3% nationally. Better still, grocery rests in the top 11.0% nationally.
In plainer terms, lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 79835, 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.
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 81%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 63%
8%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 59%
16%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 54%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 20%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 4%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 12%
11%
Disability
healthier than 23%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 17%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 72%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 69%
8%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 87%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 59%
16%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 48%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 13%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 14%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 19%
11%
Disability
healthier than 27%
7%
“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 76.3 ± 1.5 years. A median household income of $59,232 predicts 78.0 years — 1.8 years below.
Ranked #2,203 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 76.3 ± 1.5 years. The 47 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 79.4 years — 3.1 years below them.
Ranked #2,453 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
79835
Texasshares a border
Score 46.65
Closest healthier
79911
Texasshares a border
Score 62.06
Similar health profile
77014
Texas98% similar profile
Score 45.07
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 | 20.1% | 17.8–22.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.1% | 30.9–37.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 4.3% | 3.9–4.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 8.5% | 7.4–9.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.1% | 5.4–6.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.3% | 4.6–6.2 |
| Depression among adults | 19.6% | 16.9–22.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 16.3% | 14.4–18.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.4% | 31.1–37.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.6% | 30.9–40.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.3% | 3.0–3.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 16.8% | 14.0–20.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 32.5% | 28.3–37.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 73.5% | 70.4–76.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 73.3% | 69.7–76.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 82.5% | 80.2–84.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 52.2% | 48.0–56.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 46.8% | 43.6–50.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 70.6% | 64.0–76.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.8% | 15.0–20.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.4% | 12.1–16.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 35.5% | 30.9–40.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.2% | 35.0–43.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 29.4% | 25.8–33.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.8% | 15.7–20.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.1% | 14.1–18.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.9% | 15.5–20.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 35.3% | 31.1–39.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.2% | 6.3–8.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.5% | 8.2–10.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.9% | 14.6–19.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.6% | 5.0–6.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 9.3% | 8.2–10.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 18.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 34.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 25.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 12.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 30.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 78.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 8.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 27.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 40.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 12.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 36.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $59,232 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $153,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $1,053 | $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 ± 0.77 | 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 0.77 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