ZIP code
79849
in San Elizario, TexasPopulation 14,409
38.01/ 100
Ranked #28,009 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 12.7%)
Ranked #1,603 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (bottom 14.2%)
Ranked #25 of 32 El Paso, TX ZIPs (bottom 22%)
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)
40.8%
in the top 0.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Vision disability
13.0%
in the top 1.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
48.7%
in the bottom 1.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST4thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Fair or poor health
36.9%
in the top 1.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
87.9%
in the top 0.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
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 ›Arsenic in groundwater
42.1%
in the top 1.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Self-care disability
7.6%
in the top 3.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
14.9%
in the top 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
21.9%
in the top 4.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
19.2%
in the top 5.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite measure, San Elizario, Texas (ZIP 79849) sits in the bottom 12.7% nationally (28,009th) and the bottom 14.2% of Texas (1,603rd), based on limited data; treat as directional.
Where this area is stretched, the data is unambiguous: modeled uninsured rests in the top 0.2% nationally, vision disability sits in the top 1.3% nationally, and colon screening registers in the bottom 1.6% nationally. Modeled fair or poor health lands in the top 1.6% nationally, pfas resides in the top 0.7% nationally, and arsenic lies in the top 1.4% nationally. Modeled self-care disability settles in the top 3.9% nationally, and crowded housing stands in the top 2.2% nationally. Modeled cognitive disability is in the top 4.1% nationally, and diabetes rests in the top 5.2% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs that surround it, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain language, pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. ZIP 79836, 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 67%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 62%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 36%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 31%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 2%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 6%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 35%
8%
Disability
healthier than 5%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 10%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 55%
21%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 50%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 54%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 29%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 19%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 6%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 7%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 26%
8%
Disability
healthier than 6%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
79836
Texasshares a border
Score 39.41
Closest healthier
79838
Texasshares a border
Score 39.79
Similar health profile
77039
Texas99% similar profile
Score 31.89
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 | 21.3% | 19.0–23.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.5% | 32.3–38.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 3.9% | 3.5–4.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.2% | 8.1–10.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.8% | 6.2–7.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.3% | 5.6–7.1 |
| Depression among adults | 21.1% | 18.3–24.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 19.2% | 17.3–21.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.4% | 32.3–38.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.3% | 33.5–43.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.9% | 3.6–4.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 17.9% | 15.0–21.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 40.8% | 37.0–44.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 74.3% | 71.5–77.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 73.2% | 69.6–76.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 79.7% | 77.3–81.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 48.7% | 44.4–53.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 41.0% | 38.0–44.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 67.7% | 61.0–74.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.6% | 13.1–18.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.1% | 14.0–18.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 43.4% | 39.2–47.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 40.1% | 35.9–44.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 36.9% | 33.5–40.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 20.0% | 18.0–22.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 19.1% | 17.1–21.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 21.9% | 19.7–24.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 41.6% | 37.8–45.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.9% | 7.1–8.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 12.5% | 11.2–13.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 21.2% | 19.0–23.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 7.6% | 6.9–8.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 13.0% | 11.9–14.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 32.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 48.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 41.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 5.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 88.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 23.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 74.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 14.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 34.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 32.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 12.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 30.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $44,831 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $109,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $919 | $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 | 77.2 yr ± 1.32 | 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 1.32 years of 77.2, 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