ZIP code
79936
in El Paso, TexasPopulation 102,991
51.20/ 100
Ranked #14,547 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 45%)
Ranked #451 of 1,868 Texas ZIPs (top 24%)
Ranked #7 of 32 El Paso, TX ZIPs (top 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)
26.4%
in the top 1.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST82ndUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
87.7 per million
in the top 0.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 1.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›PFOS in drinking water
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
788 units
in the top 2.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
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 ›PFAS in drinking water
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFAS — man-made “forever chemicals” that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down — were 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 ›Colon-cancer screening
56.7%
in the bottom 6.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST24thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Dry extreme heat
57.6 days/year
in the top 7.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST29thUS92ndDefinition & 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 9.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS91stDefinition & 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 ›The read
By the composite health measure, ZIP 79936, one of several in El Paso, Texas ranks in the top 45% healthiest ZIPs nationally (14,547th) and the top 24% of Texas (451st), based on limited data; treat as directional.
A number of measures pull each way for this area: subsidized affordable housing settles in the top 2.2% nationally. Set against that, modeled uninsured resides in the top 1.9% nationally, and air-toxics cancer risk registers in the top 0.2% nationally. Modeled disaster risk rests in the top 1.2% nationally, PFOS in drinking water stands at the national maximum, and modeled tree cover lies at the national minimum. PFAS in drinking water lands at the national maximum, modeled colon screening sits in the bottom 6.9% nationally, and modeled extreme heat is in the top 7.7% nationally. Lithium in drinking water settles in the top 9.2% nationally.
Read against the ZIPs closest to it, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To spell things out, air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. 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. Close by, ZIP 79938, 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 88%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 68%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 78%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 94%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 44%
11%
Disability
healthier than 46%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 16%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 8%
13%
Not placed: Climate / Disaster Risk — too little of each is measured here to compare reliably. They still count toward the score (together 5% of it); we just will not publish a standing we cannot stand behind.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 81%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 69%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 62%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 85%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 94%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 56%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 11%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 31%
13%
Not placed: Climate / Disaster Risk — too little of each is measured here to compare reliably. They still count toward the score (together 5% of it); we just will not publish a standing we cannot stand behind.
“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.
Highest-risk tenth
Air toxics and the years between the two ends of the risk scale
Modeled air-toxics cancer risk is 87.7 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 78.8 ± 1.1 years.
Ranked #13 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
79907
Texasshares a border
Score 39.17
Closest healthier
79938
Texasshares a border
Score 54.48
Similar health profile
77084
Texas98% similar profile
Score 49.63
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 | 20.0% | 17.8–22.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.3% | 29.3–35.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 4.7% | 4.2–5.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 8.5% | 7.5–9.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.3% | 4.8–5.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.3% | 3.9–4.8 |
| Depression among adults | 19.2% | 16.6–21.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.1% | 13.4–16.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.4% | 31.2–37.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 33.0% | 28.6–37.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.9% | 2.7–3.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.3% | 9.4–13.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 26.4% | 23.7–29.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.7% | 72.8–78.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 75.7% | 72.3–78.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.4% | 83.8–87.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 56.7% | 52.5–60.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 53.7% | 50.6–56.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.4% | 67.3–79.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.1% | 14.4–19.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 10.5% | 9.1–12.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 31.1% | 27.6–34.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.2% | 33.1–41.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 24.6% | 22.1–27.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.3% | 14.5–18.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.2% | 12.6–15.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.2% | 13.6–16.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.2% | 27.9–34.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.2% | 5.5–6.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.0% | 7.1–8.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.9% | 13.2–16.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.2–5.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.6% | 7.0–8.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TX median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 13.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 12.4% (3.5–26.4%) n=1,869 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 23.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 22.3% (8.2–41.5%) n=1,862 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 13.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.2% (2.5–30.0%) n=1,881 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 27.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.9% (9.0–51.4%) n=1,881 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.4%) n=1,865 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.7% (0.0–10.8%) n=1,868 |
| Broadband subscription | 92.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (75.0–97.3%) n=1,868 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 30.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 26.2% (8.8–40.3%) n=1,868 |
| Homeownership rate | 70.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (46.4–92.3%) n=1,868 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 3.1% (0.0–9.0%) n=1,868 |
| Foreign-born population | 20.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.1% (0.1–26.4%) n=1,886 |
| Single-parent households | 44.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.5% (34.3–70.6%) n=1,861 |
| Population 65+ | 14.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 16.1% (8.6–30.1%) n=1,886 |
| Median age | 35.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 38.3 yr (30.9–52.3) n=1,866 |
| Median household income | $67,198 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $69,983 ($46,006–$112,413) n=1,737 |
| Median home value | $179,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $210,500 ($97,060–$429,760) n=1,693 |
| Median gross rent | $1,264 | $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 | 78.8 yr ± 0.57 | 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 0.57 years of 78.8, 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