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Overall Health Score
Some healthcare services require significant travel or wait times in 79536.
Data sources: CMS NPPES, Hospital Compare, ACS 5-Year Estimates. Scores recomputed monthly.
62/100
Moderate Access
Comparisons
How the 62/100 overall health score for 79536 is calculated
Demographics, insurance coverage, and social determinants of health
Physician density, specialist availability, and telehealth
Hospital proximity, bed count, ER access, and facility quality
Commute times, public transit access, and vehicle availability
Each condition score reflects access to the specific specialists, screening facilities, and treatment centers relevant to that condition
Each score uses the same E2SFCA spatial access methodology but filtered to condition-relevant providers — the diabetes score weights endocrinologists and diabetes care centers, while the breast cancer score weights mammography facilities and oncologists.
Access to neurologists, memory care, and cognitive health services
Access to rheumatologists, orthopedics, and pain management
Access to pulmonologists, allergists, and respiratory care
Access to mammography, oncologists, and breast cancer treatment
Access to pulmonary specialists and respiratory therapy
Access to cardiologists, blood pressure management, and heart care
Access to oncologists, thoracic surgeons, and lung cancer screening
Access to urologists, oncologists, and prostate screening
Access to endocrinologists, insulin providers, and diabetes care
Access to diabetes management, nutrition, and primary care
Health insurance coverage and social determinants of health
The Insurance Index reflects the demographic and social determinants of health in 79536. It factors in insurance coverage, poverty rates, age distribution, and population vulnerability to provide a composite view of community health readiness.
Physician density, specialist availability, and telehealth access
The Provider Density metric measures the availability of healthcare professionals near 79536. This includes primary care physicians, specialists, dentists, mental health professionals, and telehealth availability. A higher score means more providers per capita within a reasonable driving distance.
Hospital proximity, bed count, ER access, and facility quality
The Hospital Proximity metric evaluates distance to hospitals, emergency rooms, urgent care centers, and inpatient facilities near 79536. It factors in hospital quality ratings, bed availability, trauma center level, and average travel time to the nearest emergency department.
Commute infrastructure, public transit access, and vehicle availability
The Transit Access metric captures how easily residents can physically reach healthcare facilities. It combines commute patterns, public transit access, vehicle ownership rates, and walk/bike infrastructure to assess transportation barriers to care.
ZIP code 79536 on the map
Health scores for ZIP codes near 79536
Scores can vary dramatically between neighboring ZIP codes. A 20-point difference often means the boundary between having a hospital within 15 minutes versus needing to drive 45 minutes.
| ZIP Code | City | Score | Grade | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 79563 | Tye, TX | 90 | A | 7.82 mi |
| 79603 | Abilene, TX | 91 | A | 9.49 mi |
| 79561 | Trent, TX | 53 | D+ | 9.59 mi |
| 79607 | Dyess Afb, TX | 95 | A+ | 11.61 mi |
| 79606 | Abilene, TX | 94 | A | 14.14 mi |
| 79605 | Abilene, TX | 96 | A+ | 14.67 mi |
| 79525 | Hawley, TX | 82 | B+ | 15.86 mi |
| 79537 | Nolan, TX | 37 | F | 17.16 mi |
| 79560 | Sylvester, TX | 43 | D- | 17.44 mi |
| 79508 | Buffalo Gap, TX | 67 | C+ | 18.22 mi |
Active physicians sorted by proximity to Merkel, Texas
Showing 15 physicians
View on MapProvider density is one of the strongest predictors of healthcare access. ZIPs with fewer than 1 provider per 1,000 residents are classified as Health Professional Shortage Areas by HRSA.
Telehealth access and commute patterns affecting healthcare delivery
Telehealth Boost reflects broadband availability and telehealth-capable providers. A higher percentage indicates greater virtual care access, reducing reliance on physical travel.
How transportation barriers affect healthcare access
58/100
Moderate Transportation Vulnerability
Higher scores = more vulnerable to transportation barriers
2.0%
Zero-Vehicle Households
14.09 mi
Nearest Hospital
6,080
Population
Transportation is the #1 non-medical barrier to healthcare access. Patients who lack reliable transportation miss 3x more appointments and have worse outcomes across every chronic condition.
Merkel, Texas
77.3% of the population in 79536 drive to work alone. 1.0% take public transportation. Approximately 43.3% of residents get to work in less than 30 minutes. The average household size is approximately 3.04 members with about 1.74 cars per household. About 2.0% of households have no vehicle, which can significantly impact access to healthcare facilities.
An estimated 80.1% of residents has some form of health insurance. N/A have public health insurance like Medicare, Medicaid, VA, or TRICARE. About N/A have private health insurance. With 19.9% of the population uninsured, access to affordable care remains a significant challenge in this area.
ZIP code 79536 has a total population of 6,080 with a median age of 31.8. The area is 88.0% White, 1.2% Black, 0.1% Asian, and 13.7% Hispanic or Latino. The male-to-female ratio is 0.87. There are 1,745 residents under 18 and 887 residents over 65.
The median household income in 79536 is $71,346. 17.7% of households earn under $25,000 per year. 7.5% earn $200,000 or more. Moderate income levels may present some barriers to healthcare access depending on insurance coverage and out-of-pocket costs.
There are 2,313 housing units in 79536, with 1,586 owner-occupied and 394 renter-occupied. The median monthly housing cost is $1,187. Approximately 333 units are vacant.
Key demographic data for ZIP code 79536
Population density, median age, and income directly affect healthcare infrastructure. Older, wealthier communities attract more specialists. Younger, lower-income areas often have higher uninsured rates and fewer providers.
Population diversity in ZIP 79536
Healthcare access disparities correlate with racial composition. Racial and ethnic minorities are disproportionately located in Health Professional Shortage Areas, and Asian communities often face language access barriers. Source: HRSA, Health Workforce Analysis
Median: $71,346
Median household income is the strongest single predictor of health insurance coverage. ZIPs below $35,000 median income have uninsured rates 3–4x higher than ZIPs above $100,000.
15.8% hold a bachelor's degree or higher
Education level correlates with health literacy — the ability to understand medical information and navigate the healthcare system. Areas with higher bachelor's degree rates typically have better preventive care utilization.
Community reviews for ZIP 79536
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See how 79536 stacks up against nearby ZIP codes in healthcare access.
The CartoChrome Health Score uses an Enhanced Two-Step Floating Catchment Area (E2SFCA) algorithm combining 21 public data sources across 8 components. Each ZIP code receives a composite 0-100 score based on provider density, facility access, transportation infrastructure, and social determinants of health.
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