Care access · Health need meeting barriers to care

Health need and barriers to care in California

Some California ZIP codes carry two things at once: an elevated documented burden of health need, and real barriers to reaching care. This page is scoped to California.

CaliforniaData release 2026Documented inputs

Across parts of California, the same ZIP codes show elevated health need and limited access to care together. Here is what each of those two axes measures — and how we read the overlap without ever claiming one causes the other.

How we measure this →

Health needSix measuresZCTA-native

The need axis reads six measures of health need for each ZIP code: how many people lack insurance, live in poverty, or face food or housing insecurity, alongside the share reporting fair-or-poor health and the local burden of chronic conditions. A ZIP reads high-need when several of these are elevated at once.

Barriers to reaching careSix measuresDistance + supply

The access axis reads six barriers to reaching care: distance to the nearest emergency room and to the nearest community health center, how thin the local supply of physicians and pharmacies is, how many households have no vehicle, and how limited home internet is for telehealth. A ZIP reads low-access when several of these barriers stack up.

What this is — and isn't. These are two things established for the same place: an elevated burden of health need, and barriers to reaching care. This page does not claim one causes the other, does not say anyone is underserved because of their health, does not combine the two into a single risk number, and does not rank areas by how "bad" the overlap is. It reports where both are elevated together, measured against ZIP codes across the country, and nothing more.

California ZIP codes where need and access overlap

The ZIP codes (ZCTAs) in California where documented health need and barriers to reaching care are both elevated. Each one sits in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several measures of each — the comparison is national, and this list is California only. Each is tagged by how pronounced the overlap is — see the two labels below.

Severe care-access deficitelevated on both axes at the state's most pronounced levelAcute care-access deficitelevated on both axes, a step below severe

93202in ArmonaSevere care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes across a broader set of measures on both axes.
92309in BakerSevere care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes across a broader set of measures on both axes.
93206in ButtonwillowSevere care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes across a broader set of measures on both axes.
93608in Cantua CreekSevere care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes across a broader set of measures on both axes.
93234in HuronSevere care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes across a broader set of measures on both axes.
93242in LatonSevere care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes across a broader set of measures on both axes.
96058in MacdoelSevere care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes across a broader set of measures on both axes.
92257in NilandSevere care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes across a broader set of measures on both axes.
93646in Orange CoveSevere care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes across a broader set of measures on both axes.
92275in Salton CitySevere care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes across a broader set of measures on both axes.
93266in StratfordSevere care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes across a broader set of measures on both axes.
92283in WinterhavenSevere care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes across a broader set of measures on both axes.
93201in AlpaughAcute care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several measures of each.
93606in BiolaAcute care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several measures of each.
93205in BodfishAcute care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several measures of each.
95428in CoveloAcute care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several measures of each.
93616in Del ReyAcute care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several measures of each.
96109in DoyleAcute care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several measures of each.
93219in EarlimartAcute care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several measures of each.
95317in El NidoAcute care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several measures of each.
95319in EmpireAcute care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several measures of each.
92332in EssexAcute care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several measures of each.
93624in Five PointsAcute care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several measures of each.
96113in HerlongAcute care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several measures of each.
95546in HoopaAcute care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several measures of each.
93239in Kettleman CityAcute care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several measures of each.
95548in KlamathAcute care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several measures of each.
93543in LittlerockAcute care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several measures of each.
93249in Lost HillsAcute care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several measures of each.
92518in March Air Reserve BaseAcute care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several measures of each.
95955in MaxwellAcute care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several measures of each.
93640in MendotaAcute care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several measures of each.
95039in Moss LandingAcute care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several measures of each.
91330in NorthridgeAcute care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several measures of each.
92368in Oro GrandeAcute care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several measures of each.
95968in PalermoAcute care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several measures of each.
93591in PalmdaleAcute care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several measures of each.
93258in PortervilleAcute care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several measures of each.
91963in PotreroAcute care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several measures of each.
95560in RedwayAcute care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several measures of each.
93261in RichgroveAcute care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several measures of each.
93656in RiverdaleAcute care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several measures of each.
93660in San JoaquinAcute care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several measures of each.
93410in San Luis ObispoAcute care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several measures of each.
92273in SeeleyAcute care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several measures of each.
95374in StevinsonAcute care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several measures of each.
95979in StonyfordAcute care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several measures of each.
93267in StrathmoreAcute care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several measures of each.
93666in SultanaAcute care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several measures of each.
93270in Terra BellaAcute care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several measures of each.
95686in ThorntonAcute care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several measures of each.
93668in TranquillityAcute care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several measures of each.
93283in WeldonAcute care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several measures of each.
92282in WhitewaterAcute care-access deficit
Documented health need here overlaps with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several measures of each.

Coverage & how to read this

Read from public data, area by area — not a statement about any individual. A ZIP appears here only when enough of the underlying measures are observable to compute both axes; where too many are missing, its overlap is shown as not computed — limited data, never as "no deficit." A ZIP that is measured and simply does not carry the overlap is not listed either — absence from this list is never a claim that a place is fine. The comparison is national — a ZIP appears when it sits in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several measures of each axis — and this list is California only. Read the full methodology →

Each ZIP links to its full ZipVitals page. California only — the national list is on the explainer page.