ZIP code
79912
in El Paso, TexasPopulation 78,819
58.58/ 100
Ranked #5,922 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 18%)
Ranked #177 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (top 9.5%)
Ranked #3 of 32 El Paso, TX ZIPs (top 9.4%)
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)
20.2%
in the top 4.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST68thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
577 units
in the top 3.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS96thDefinition & 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 5.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Park land
21.6%
in the top 6.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›PFOS in drinking water
92.7%
in the top 7.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Air-toxics cancer risk
38.1 per million
in the top 7.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air toxics, in cases per million people exposed over a lifetime.
Full methodology ›Dry extreme heat
53.3 days/year
in the top 8.4% 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 ›Lithium in drinking water
59 µg/L
in the top 9.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Transit access
2.7 per 1,000 residents
in the top 11.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS88thDefinition & source ›
The number of public-transit stops 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 ›Obesity
30.2%
in the bottom 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS18thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›The read
On the composite measure, ZIP 79912, one of several in El Paso, Texas stands in the top 18% healthiest ZIPs nationally (5,922nd) and the top 9.5% of Texas (177th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
Several signals sit on each side of the ledger here: subsidized affordable housing rests in the top 3.7% nationally, and park land lands in the top 6.4% nationally. Transit settles in the top 11.8% nationally. Working the other way, modeled uninsured rests in the top 4.4% nationally, modeled disaster risk lands in the top 5.5% nationally, and PFOS in drinking water settles in the top 7.7% nationally. Modeled air-toxics cancer risk rests in the top 7.9% nationally, modeled extreme heat lands in the top 8.4% nationally, and lithium in drinking water settles in the top 9.3% nationally. Homeownership rests in the bottom 10.8% nationally.
Set beside the wider area around it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For clarity, disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. PFOS in drinking water is a common one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. Air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. ZIP 79911, 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 91%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 78%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 70%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 82%
8%
Disability
healthier than 68%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 87%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 46%
14%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 22%
13%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 18%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 86%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 80%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 63%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 85%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 88%
8%
Disability
healthier than 75%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 91%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 87%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 29%
14%
“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.
Above what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 81.1 ± 0.9 years. A median household income of $72,943 predicts 78.8 years — 2.2 years above.
Ranked #795 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Highest-risk tenth
Air toxics and the years between the two ends of the risk scale
Modeled air-toxics cancer risk is 38.1 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 81.1 ± 0.9 years.
Ranked #1,729 of the 4,173 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by modeled air-toxics risk, 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
32792
Florida99% similar profile
Score 57.02
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 | 20.4% | 18.2–22.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 31.5% | 28.6–34.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 5.8% | 5.2–6.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 8.4% | 7.4–9.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.2% | 4.7–5.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.2% | 3.8–4.7 |
| Depression among adults | 19.5% | 16.9–22.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.0% | 11.5–14.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.0% | 30.8–37.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 30.2% | 26.0–34.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.8% | 2.6–3.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.9% | 7.4–10.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 20.2% | 17.9–22.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.2% | 73.4–78.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 76.8% | 73.6–79.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.6% | 85.0–88.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 61.0% | 57.0–65.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 61.0% | 58.1–63.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.4% | 70.7–81.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.3% | 14.7–20.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 9.2% | 8.0–10.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.1% | 23.0–29.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.3% | 30.4–38.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.3% | 18.2–22.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.4% | 13.7–17.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.4% | 11.1–13.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.3% | 12.0–14.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 28.0% | 25.1–31.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.1% | 5.5–6.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.1% | 6.4–7.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.8% | 11.3–14.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.7% | 3.4–4.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.2% | 5.7–6.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 27.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 49.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 33.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 53.0% | 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 | 23.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 47.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 14.5% | 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 | $72,943 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $264,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $1,238 | $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 | 81.1 yr ± 0.47 | 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 0.47 years of 81.1, 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